Wayne State Football Weekly Game Notes

• ODU GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State has started 2-1 for the third consecutive year and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. In all three previous 2-1 starts, the Warriors won game No. 4 of the season, all vs. Findlay.

This will be the first football contest ever between WSU and Ohio Dominican.

The Warriors are 6-1 in their last seven games against Ohio-based schools.

• MICHIGAN TECH RECAP

Wayne State led 7-0 early but the host Michigan Tech Huskies scored the final 24 points for a 24-7 win last Saturday.

After MTU drove 40 yards on the first drive of the game, Daunte Akra intercepted a screen pass on a third-and-16.

Mickey Mohner engineered a 10-play, 58 yard drive culminating in a one-yard pass from Mohner to Troy Burrell just past the midpoint of the opening quarter. Mohner completed two third-down passes on the drive, a 10-yarder to Ed Sanders on a third-and-five near midfield; and a seven-yard completion to Burrell on a third-and-six.

On the ensuing drive, the Huskies drove inside the Warrior 10-yard line, but MTU running back Phil Milbrath fumbled with Kenny Loney recovering for WSU.

After a WSU punt into the wind, Michigan Tech drove 47 yards in three plays. Milbrath started the drive with a 33-yard run and Tim Schmalz finished with a one-yard plunge at the 10:57 mark of the second quarter.

The Warriors answered with a 12-play drive but a third down pass from Mohner was intercepted at the Huskie one-yard line.

WSU had turnovers on its first two drives of the second half. Following a Warrior fumble, Michigan Tech drove 54 yards on six plays with Brian LaChappelle hauling in a three-yard pass for the eventual game-winning score. LaChappelle had a 36-yard reception earlier in the drive.

The Huskies sealed the win with a 16-play, 71-yard drive following a WSU punt. The key play was a five-yard run by sixth-year senior quarterback Steve Short on a fourth-and-three from the WSU 48. Schmalz concluded the drive with a one-yard run two minutes into the fourth period.

Wayne State drove inside the Huskie 35-yard line, but a false start penalty on a third-and-one was followed by a five-yard Mohner completion to Donald Brown and a three-yard loss by Renel on fourth down.

MTU kicker Tyler Cattelino completed the scoring with a 40-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the contest.

Michigan Tech held a 188-90 rushing yards advantage, with Milbrath rushing for 128 yards on 29 attempts to lead the hosts. Renel finished with 72 yards on 14 carries. Mohner completed 14-of-26 for 100 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Short passed for exactly 200 yards on 17-of-30. Michigan Tech held a 38-22 advantage in time of possession.

• ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 29-38 record in his seventh year with the Warriors. WSU is 16-9 in its last 25 games. The Warriors are 17-16 in games at Adams Field under Winters including a 10-3 mark in the last 13 contests.

Ohio Dominican's Bill Conley has compiled a 0-2 record in his first year as a collegiate head coach.

• ALL-TIME SERIES

This will be the first football meeting between the schools.

• SCOUTING OHIO DOMINICAN

The Panthers have had a tough indoctrination into the GLIAC with back-to-back home losses (28-12 to Northwood and 34-28 to Ferris State). ODU scored 22 second-half points against the Bulldogs to make it interesting.

Mike Noffsinger has rushed 36 times for 204 yards and a touchdown. Billy Grififn has completed 33-of-72 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Purcell has a team-high 12 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Kevin Guthrie has a team-best 27 tackles (12-15), while Brice Everett has one interception and two pass break-ups.

• STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

The seven points scored by WSU was the fewest since a 6-0 Warrior triumph over Indianapolis at Adams Field in a torrential downpour on Sept. 13, 2008.

Burrell extended his reception streak to 14 games with a game-high seven catches for 55 yards and WSU's lone touchdown.

Burrell has 15 catches in three games in 2010 after setting a career-high with 25 receptions a year ago.

Akra tallied his first career interception which led to WSU's lone scoring drive.

Junior linebacker Raleigh Ross recorded a career-high 14 tackles (5-9) in his eighth career start. Three of his nine assisted tackles were for negative yardage against the Huskies.

After having four previous 100-yard all-purpose games in his first two years, Renel had his third consecutive of 2010. Renel rushed for 72 yards and had 64 yards on three kickoff returns at MTU.

Sanders had a 10-yard reception against the Huskies to surpass the 900-yard total for career receiving yards.

Wayne State will play four of its next five games at home, where it has compiled a 10-3 record over the last two-plus seasons.

• 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.

This Saturday's game will be televised live on Comcast Channel 900 with Dave Zoran and Eric Pate calling the action and Joe Abramson serving as the sideline reporter.  The contest will also be replayed on Comcast Channel 900 on Tuesday, Sept. 28 (9:00 pm); Wednesday, Sept. 29 (9:00 am); Monday, Oct. 4 (Noon); Tuesday, Oct. 12 (9:00 pm), Wednesday, Oct. 13 (9:00 am) and Monday, Oct. 18 (noon).