Coach Winters Post-Game Press Conference audio

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (3-1 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) recorded a 17-7 home field victory over the Ohio Dominican Panthers (0-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.

Junior linebacker Zach Easterly (Southfield, Mich./Cass Tech) blocked an ODU punt on the game's first possession with junior safety Kenny Loney (Novi, Mich./Walled Lake Western) recovering at the Panther 29.

The Warriors used nine plays to cover the 29 yards with freshman running back Jessie Johnson (Monroe, Mich.) scoring his first collegiate touchdown on a third-and-goal from the two.  It was third consecutive third-down conversion on the drive as senior wide receiver Travis Campbell (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville North) had a six-yard reception on a third-and-four from sophomore quaterback Mickey Mohner (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey), and freshman running back Toney Davis (Muskegon Hts., Mich./Muskegon) gained two yards on a third-and-one.  Freshman kicker Stefan Terleckyj (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott) added the PAT giving WSU a 7-0 lead.

Following a Panther punt to the WSU 12, the Warriors drove 73 yards in nine plays with Terleckyj connecting on a 33-yard field goal, a career-long with 2:32 left in the opening period.  Junior running back Josh Renel (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) began the drive with a 49-yard run to cross midfield.

ODU's third drive also ended with a punt.  Wayne State went 51 yards in seven plays but Terleckyj's 23-yard attempt from the right hash was just wide right.  The big play on the drive was a 42-yard pass reception by junior Troy Burrell (Port Huron, Mich.) on a third-and-seven from the WSU 46.

The Panthers put together their most successful drive of the opening half by going 52 yards in 12 plays.  Chris Vortkamp's 45-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

WSU drove deep into ODU territory but a fourth-down pass was intercepted at the Panther five by Eisen Hardy.

Renel finished the first half with 108 rushing yards on 13 carries, while Ohio Dominican had 106 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes.

Wayne State took the second half kickoff and drove 66 yards in 10 plays with Renel scoring on a seven-yard scamper.  The big play of the drive was an 11-yard Mohner to Renel pass play on a third-and-11 from the ODU 18.

After an ODU punt, the Warriors moved into ODU territory but an "interesting" holding penalty downfield negated a big play and a sack preceded WSU's only punt of the contest.

The Panthers drove 75 yards in eight plays with quarterback Billy Griffin scoring on a one-yard sneak.  Vortkamp's PAT made it 17-7.

Renel took the ensuing short kickoff 29 yards to the ODU 46.  Junior wide receiver Donald Brown (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) had an 11-yard reception on a third-and-six, and two plays later freshman Dominique Maybanks (Muskegon, Mich.) took a reverse into the end zone but another "interesting" downfield holding penalty negated the touchdown.  Wayne State continued driving but a fourth-and-goal from the one resulted in loss yardage.

Ohio Dominican drove into WSU territory but Vortkamp's 54-yard field goal was just short.  However, the Panthers drive was aided by an "interesting" defensive holding penalty on a play where Easterly cut inside the receiver, intercepted the pass and took it into the end zone.

The Warriors drove 53 yards on the ensuing possession but a fourth-down pass was incomplete.

On ODU's sixth play, senior cornerback Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) recorded his 14th career interception returning it six yards to the ODU 32.  The return yardage pushed his career total over the 300-yard plateau.

WSU was able to run out the clock with three running plays.

Renel gained a game-high 189 yards (three shy of his career high) on 35 carries.  Mark Nichols led ODU with 90 yards on 14 rushing attempts.  WSU held a 264-141 advantage on the ground.

Mohner completed 15-of-23 passes for 183 yards, with six different players having receptions.  Campbell had a career-best four receptions (for 45 yards), while Brown tied his career-high with four catches (for 52 yards).  Burrell extended his reception streak to 15 games with three catches.

Griffin completed 12-of-28 passes for 112 yards with Tyler Purcell leading the way with three receptions for 39 yards.

Renel finished the game with 272 all-purpose yards (189 rushing, 16 receiving, 38 punt return, and 29 kickoff return).

Wayne State will its annual Homecoming contest next Saturday (Oct. 2) with a noon kickoff against Northern Michigan.