Wayne State Weekly Game Notes


• NORTHWOOD GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State will begin its 93rd season of intercollegiate football this Saturday at home against Northwood in a non-conference contest. The teams were not originally scheduled to play in the revised GLIAC format which has three teams off each schedule for the next two years (2010 and 2011).

The two teams WSU will not be playing are Ferris State and Grand Valley.

This will be the third time in Paul Winters' tenure at WSU that the Warriors open the season against the Timberwolves.

Wayne State is coming off its second straight winning season and the third in the past four years after finishing 6-5 in 2009. Following their 47-40 win against Ashland (Oct. 3), the AFCA ranked the Warriors 19th in the country, which earned them their highest ranking in school history.

The WSU running game played a key part in earning the accolade as it ranked eighth nationally (233.73 yards per game). The Warriors contingent will try to duplicate as it heads into the 2010 season. Gone is All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Joique Bell and replacing him will be tough.

• TRAINING CAMP RECAP

Forty (40) past letterwinners were among the 96 players participating in the fall camp, which included 48 freshmen (25 redshirt and 23 true).

Six three-time letterwinners (wide receivers Travis Campbell and Ed Sanders, offensive lineman Marc Cuddeback, linebacker Matt Faulkner, and defensive backs Stan Thornton and Kenny Watson) are among 12 seniors on the roster.

With the loss of Bell, the offense's biggest question mark will be at running back. Josh Renel and Toney Davis should share time at the position with others contributing as well.

Offensively, 20 letterwinners return. The offensive line is experienced as four of its five starters are back. Mickey Mohner returns at quarterback after playing in 10 games, starting the final seven contests, and Nick Moeller is slated to be his back up.

At wide receiver, the Warriors have significant depth with six letterwinners returning, including leading receiver Troy Burrell.

The eight returning starters on the defensive side, among the 20 returning letterwinners, are defensive linemen Greg Hasse, Zach Houghton and Jon Robinson, linebacker Nick Thomas, and defensive backs Thornton and Watson.

Thornton and Renel are slated to handle to the return duties, while freshman Stefan Terleckyj was recruited to solidify the kicking duties. Senior back-up quarterback Zack George will handle the punting chores.

• IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected eighth in the 2010 GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll, while Northwood was tabbed for fifth.

• ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 27-37 record entering his seventh year with the Warriors.  WSU is 14-8 in its last 22 games.  The Warriors are 16-16 in games at Adams Field under Winters including a 9-3 mark in the last 12 contests.

Northwood's Mike Sullivan has compiled a 9-11 record in his two years with the Timberwolves.

• ALL-TIME SERIES

WSU trails 13-18-0 in the all-time series which began in 1975.  The Warriors are 6-7 at home vs. Northwood, but have lost the last six in Motown.
 
• SCOUTING NORTHWOOD

The Timberwolves went 7-3 last year including a 5-0 record at home.  Northwood finished the year on a four-game winning streak.

NU has 33 returning letterwinners including 15 starters (six on both offense and defense, and three on special teams).

Alcorn State transfer Aaron Shavers is slated to take over the quarterback duties.  Running backs Anthony Brandon, Jimmy Parsons and O'Neil Thomas all return.

The strength of the NU defensive line will be in the middle, where Second Team All-GLIAC performer Andrew Smith leads the way. 

At linebacker, Northwood returns two key performers in Andrew DeWeerd and Kevin Berrien. DeWeerd was named Second Team All-GLIAC last year when he led the team in tackles (80) and tackles for loss, while Berrien was second on the team in tackles (53). 

In the defensive backfield, Northwood will feature a new look. Only Fabian Jackson at free safety returns.

• STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Sanders needs 233 receiving yards to tie Chad Fietsam (1984-87) for 10th place on the WSU all-time list.

Renel has 41 career punt returns and will tie George Crawford (1965-68) for fifth place on the WSU chart with his next return.  Renel needs two punt return yards to pass Sterling Walker (1999-01) for sixth place.

Thornton has 41 career kickoff returns and will tie Steve Lee (1988-91) for seventh place on the WSU chart with his next return.  Thornton needs 417 kickoff return yards to pass Thabiti Williamson (1999-02) for third place.

Thornton will tie Matt Didio (1981-83) for seventh place on the all-time list with his next interception.  Thornton is second in career interception return yards with 252.  Chuck Aldrich (1979-82) has the school record at 373.

• THIS AND THAT

All Wayne State football games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM).  Fans can also listen to all WSU football games online at wdtkam.com or watch the home games via Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 fee per game.