Aug. 29, 2009

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DETROIT - The Wayne State University football team (1-0) began 2009 in similar fashion to last season's campaign, a home field win over Mercyhurst College (0-1), 31-13 in 2009. The similarities did not end there.

Last year after MC scored on its opening drive, Dante Dunn went 93 yards on the ensuing kickoff. In today's contest, junior Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) took the game's opening kickoff 92 yards for his second career kickoff return for six points.

Following a Laker punt, the Warriors drove 80 yards in 13 played with Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) scoring on a three-yard run on third down and goal. Bell carried 10 times on the drive for 53 yards. It was WSU's third third-down conversion of the drive.

Mercyhurst pulled with seven as the Lakers drove 67 yards in eight plays with Ben Jennings scoring on a one-yard run off the right side.

Wayne State regained its 14-point lead midway through second period as Zack George (Deshler, Ohio/Patrick Henry) completed a 16-yard scoring strike to senior Aaron Higginbottom (Flint, Mich./Beecher) on a third-and-11. Higginbottom also had a 16-yard reception on the second play of the drive.

MC drove 20 yards following the kickoff but was stopped on a fourth-and-one from midfield.

On WSU's first play, Bell gained 35 yards followed by two runs from Bruno Shkreli (Livonia, Mich./Clarenceville) totaling five yards. After an incomplete pass, Anthony Morasso (Detroit, Mich./Harper Woods Notre Dame) connected on a 26-yard field goal attempt.

The Warriors led 24-7 at halftime and held a 174-147 edge in total offense including a 107-11 advantage in rushing yards. Bell led all ball carriers in the opening 30 minutes with 91 yards on 17 attempts.

The visitors recorded the only points of the third quarter on a two-yard scoring run by Jennings with 2:18 left in the stanza. Robert Giambra's kick failed as it bounced off the right upright.

Shkreli returned the kickoff 21 yards and the WSU offense then completed the scoring with a seven play, 69-yard drive with Bell scoring on a one-yard run for his 61st career rushing touchdown (66th total). The big play of the drive was a 60-yard reception by Higginbottom on a first-and-19 from the WSU 35.

Mercyhurst drove inside the Warrior 25 on its next two possessions. Kenny Loney (Novi, Mich./Walled Lake Western) intercepted a Joe Laffey pass inside the five, then a Giambra 33-yard field goal attempt was short.

Bell led all rushers with 135 yards and two touchdowns. George completed 8-of-15 for 152 yards for WSU, while Laffey had 17 completions in 37 attempts for 218 yards.

Higginbottom had three receptions for 92 yards for WSU, while MC's Josh Szeluga had a game-high six catches for 100 yards.

The Warrior defense was led by Nick Thomas (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) who had 10 tackles including 1.5 for loss. Laker Bryant Kimball had a game-best 11 tackles plus an interception.

Wayne State begins GLIAC play on Sept. 5 with a home contest vs. Saginaw Valley at noon.

Notes:

Joique Bell moved into 24th place on the NCAA Division II all-time scoring list with 396 points. Pittsburg State's Nathan Alleman (2003-06) is 23rd with 401 points. Bell also recorded his 28th 100-yard rushing effort of his collegiate career.

Zack George has led WSU to two season-opening game victories: 36-14 at Michigan Tech on Sept. 2, 2006, and today.

Josh Renel moved into 10th place on the WSU all-time punt return list with 26.

Stan Thornton, who had the fifth longest kickoff return for a touchdown in school history (92 yards), moved into 10th place on the WSU all-time kickoff return yards chart at 718. He also had his 10th career interception and moved into sixth place at 188 interception return yards. Thornton is tied with Cornelius Dillard for eighth on the WSU all-time passes defended chart with 10 interceptions and 12 break-ups.

Aaron Higginbottom recorded a career-best with 92 receiving yards. He also hauled in his fifth career touchdown catch.

Anthony Morasso had a career-high seven points in the contest with a 26-yard field goal and a career-best five extra points made.