Wayne State Football Weekly Game Notes

GRAND VALLEY STORYLINES

Wayne State will play its final regular-season road game this Saturday at Grand Valley.  Kickoff at Lubbers Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on Xfinity Channel 900.

WSU last played the Lakers on Nov. 7, 2009, and this is just the second game at Lubbers Stadium since 2005 because the 2007 contest was played at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park.
    
FERRIS STATE RECAP

Wayne State converted three first half Ferris State turnovers into a 21-0 in the first 19 minutes of the contest, but the Bulldogs rebounded to score 35 points and record a 35-24 road win at Adams Field.

Each squad garnered two first downs on their opening series before having a punt.  On FSU's second series, Ed Viverette forced a fumble which was recovered by Nick Thomas.  Seven plays later the Warriors had a 7-0 lead after Toney Davis went six yards up the middle on a third-and-two for his 42nd career rushing touchdown.  Stefan Terleckyj converted the PAT for his 219th career point, which moved him into fifth on the all-time WSU scoring chart.

The Bulldogs responded with a 70-yard drive, however Ferris quarterback Jason Vander Laan was hit by Viverette inside the WSU five with Gerren DuHart recovering for the Warriors on the fourth play of the second quarter.  Wayne State benefited from a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as a member of the FSU coaching staff came well on to the field.  After an incomplete pass, Mickey Mohner scrambled for 15 yards and Desmond Martin followed with a 65-yard run being caught at the one-yard line by Jordan Morgan.  Following an illegal motion penalty, Davis scored again from six yards out putting the Warriors ahead 14-0.

On Ferris State's first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Skyler Stoker caught a pass from Vander Laan but was hit Ryan Hankins forcing a fumble that was recovered by Andrew Matt at the WSU 47.

Martin was credited with a  three-yard gain on the first play due to a holding penalty, then went for 53 yards on the ensuing play.  Davis tallied his third rushing touchdown on the next play, this one from seven yards out.

The Bulldogs went 68 yards in 12 plays using 5:31 on the clock for their first touchdown of the game.  Vander Laan completed a five-yard scoring toss to Cody Dewitt in the back of the end zone on third-and-goal.  Following a 29-yard WSU punt into the wind, Ferris drove 36 yards in five plays with Korey Ringer scoring on a four-yard TD run with 1:50 remaining in the first half.

WSU held a 242-238 edge in total offense in the first half, despite having the ball for nearly five minutes less than Ferris State.

Wayne State's first drive of the second half went three-and-out and the Bulldogs used 5:39 on the clock to go 64 yards in 14 plays to knot the game at 21.  Vander Laan had a five-yard touchdown run.

After another Warrior punt, FSU only had to go 43 yards following A.J. McEwen's 26-yard punt return, the longest allowed by WSU in 34 games (Northwood's O'Neil Thomas had a 28-yard punt return on Sept. 4, 2010).  Dwayne Williams had a four-yard touchdown rush around the right end to complete FSU's 28 consecutive points.

Wayne State picked up two first downs in its first four plays of the ensuing drive, but back-to-back one-yard losses followed by a six-yard completion led to a 26-yard field goal by Terleckyj.  With his six points, Terleckyj passed Ed Skowneski (1972-75) for fourth place on the all-time WSU scoring list with 224 points.

Ferris State answered back with an eight-play, 71-yard drive with Vander Laan scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game with 12:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

WSU had two possessions the rest of the game, but went three-and-out in both and possessed the ball for just 2:29 in the fourth quarter.

Wayne State had two running backs both go over 100-yard rushing in the same game for the first time since Nov. 5, 2011, when Davis (120 yards) and Josh Renel (114 yards) accomplished the feat at Indianapolis.  Davis finished with 139 yards and three touchdowns, while Martin had 121 yards on three carries.  Vander Laan rushed for a game-high 244 yards and two scores.

Vander Laan was 8-of-10 passing for 75 yards with Stoker catching a game-high three passes.  Jake Lampman finished with a game-best 32 receiving yards.  Mohner was 5-of-14 for 54 yards and was sacked four times.

Viverette finished with a game-high 17 tackles (7-10) and two forced fumbles.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was picked to finish second in the GLIAC North Division behind Grand Valley in the 2012 GLIAC preseason coaches poll.  The Warriors are ranked No. 24 in the nation according to this week's Massey Ratings (masseyratings.com) Poll.  Grand Valley moved up nine spots in the Massey Ratings from 21st to 12th after last week's win at Hillsdale.

ON THE HEADSET

Head coach Paul Winters, the reigning AFCA National Coach of the Year, is in his ninth season at the helm of the Wayne State football program.  The Warriors are 40-17 over the last four-plus seasons including a 32-16 GLIAC record in that span.

Grand Valley's Matt Mitchell has compiled a 26-7 mark in his third year with the Lakers.

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY

The Lakers have won two straight after dropping back-to-back contests at home to Ferris State (40-24) and at Northern Michigan (38-10).

Kirk Spencer leads GVSU in rushing with 728 yards, while Michael Ratay has a team-best seven rushing touchdowns.  Isiah Grimes has completed 83-of-143 passes for 1,618 yards and 16 touchdowns since taking over for the injured Heath Parling.  Charles Johnson has 52 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Brad Horling leads the Laker defense with 80 tackles (46-34), which includes nine tackles for loss.  Reggie Williams has a team-high four interceptions to go along with a punt return and a kickoff return for a touchdown this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH GRAND VALLEY

Since Wayne State won back-to-back meetings in 1983 and 1984 to even the series at 5-5, Grand Valley has won the last 23 meetings.  WSU's last win at Lubbers Stadium was a 30-3 decision on Nov. 10, 1984.  The Tartar defense led by Paul Butcher (12 tackles) and John Taylor (10 tackles) held GVSU to seven yards rushing, while Arnold Thompson had two rushing touchdowns.

WDTK, WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS AND COMCAST/XFINITY

All Wayne State football games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM).  Fans can also listen online at wdtkam.com or watch the home games via Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 fee per game. Sean Baligian and WSU Athletics Hall of Famer Joe Gough will call the action every week, while Lisa Seymour will again handle sideline reporting duties.  Fans can ask questions of Joe during each broadcast via Twitter at #ASKGOUGH.  In addition, every home game plus this Saturday's game at Grand Valley will be televised live on Xfinity channel 900.

WINTERS ON WEDNESDAYS

Join head coach Paul Winters and host Rod Beard every Wednesday from 7-8 pm on 1400 AM for an hour of Warrior football.  The radio show will also be streamed online at wdtkam.com.

UPCOMING CAREER MILESTONES

• Davis needs 12 rushing attempts to move into third place on the all-time list (Ed Skowneski is currently third with 649 carries).

• Mohner needs 8 plays of total offense to move into second place on the all-time list (Skowneski is currently second with 1,036 plays).

• Mohner needs 40 yards of total offense to move into first place on the all-time list (Joique Bell is currently first with 7,008 yards).

• Terleckyj needs seven points to move into sole possession of third place on the all-time list (Pierre Brown is currently third at 230 points).

• Terleckyj needs one made field goal to move into a tie for second place on the all-time list (Matt Fishburn is currently second with 30 made field goals).

• Junior safety Antwon Robinson needs 32 interception return yards to move into 10th place on the all-time list (Terry Rusin and Mark Makela are currently tied-for-10th with 168 interception return yards).

• Senior cornerback Aaron Cornett needs one pass defended (interceptions + break-ups) to move into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list (Cornett is currently tied with Dante Dunn for fifth place with 29 passes defended).

• The 2012 senior class needs three wins to move into a tie for first place on the all-time list for wins by a class.  The 2012 senior class is 32-14, while the 2011 senior class compiled a 35-14 record.