WAYNE STATE FOOTBALL WEEKLY GAME NOTES

MICHIGAN TECH STORYLINES

Wayne State will play its final regular-season game this Saturday as the Michigan Tech Huskies invade Adams Field for a noon kickoff.  In addition to recognizing the 13 seniors, Saturday is also “Salute to the Armed Forces Day,” and will feature free tickets to any service men and women with a military ID or in uniform. This offer also includes their family.

A win would assure WSU its fifth consecutive winning season for only the second time in school history (first since the 1974-78 Tartar squads went 35-16).

Head coach Paul Winters will equal the school record for games coached at 101 this Saturday.  Joseph G. Gembis, who coached from 1932-45, went 42-51-8 in his 14 seasons, while Winters has compiled a 53-47 mark in his 100 contests.

GRAND VALLEY RECAP

Wayne State closed out the road portion of its 2012 schedule with a 35-13 setback at Grand Valley last Saturday evening.

The Warrior defense forced a three-and-out on the game's opening possession.  On WSU's first two plays, Mickey Mohner completed passes to Ethan Walsh and Dominique Maybanks for eight and five yards, respectively.  A third consecutive pass was ruled out of bounds by the side judge even though his partner originally ruled it a catch which television replay confirmed.  Wayne State still managed a first down as Trent Brodbeck hauled in a 13-yard reception on a third-and-10.  After a holding penalty and a dropped pass near the goal line, Stefan Terleckyj connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal attempt.

Terleckyj's boot tied for the second longest in school history (Robert Klick kicked two 51-yard field goals 10/14/89 at Ashland and 10/20/90 at Northern Michigan).  WSU's school record 52-yard field goal was kicked on Oct. 15, 1920, by Harold Grant Iler of Detroit Junior College vs. Assumption.

A 45-yard kickoff return by Kirk Spencer gave the Lakers great field position at the 50 yard line.  On the sixth play of the drive, Michael Ratay rushed three yards up the middle for the game's first touchdown.

On WSU's first play of the ensuing drive, Mohner completed a six-yard pass to Walsh to move ahead of Joique Bell as WSU's all-time leader in total offense yards.  Terleckyj had a 50-yard punt after a third down pass was dropped by a Warrior preventing the first down.

Andrew Matt notched his second interception of the season on GVSU's fourth play of the drive, returning it to the Laker 31.  Three Desmond Martin carries netted just two yards and Terleckyj nailed a 46-yard field goal attempt, his 31st career field goal, which moved him past Matt Fishburn (1994-97) into second place on the WSU all-time list.

Grand Valley went 78 yards in seven plays with Ratay scoring on a three-yard run left for a 14-6 lead.  Following a Warrior punt, the Lakers went 90 yards in eight plays with Kirk Spencer scoring on a 53-yard rush right to make it 21-6 just past the midpoint of the second quarter.  Wayne State garnered a pair of first downs on the next drive on back-to-back completions to Davis and Michael Johnson with Davis earning a first down with an 11-yard catch on a third-and-10.

Charles Johnson of Grand Valley fumbled Terleckyj's punt after calling for a fair catch but was able to recover his own miscue.  The Lakers drove into the red zone but a bad snap (in the shotgun) cost GV 12 yards then Gerren DuHart intercepted a pass in the end zone for his team-leading third pick of the campaign.  Grand Valley held a 316-113 advantage in total yards during the first 30 minutes.

Wayne State punted after picking up one first down on its first drive after halftime.  GV went 67 yards in two plays with Charles Johnson catching a four-yard slant pass from Isiah Grimes after a 57-yard run by Spencer.

Both teams punted on their next drives, with WSU taking over at its 17 yard line after Will Lyons recovered a fumbled punt return by Michael Johnson.  Wayne State put together a 17-play drive covering 83 yards using primarily running plays by Davis and Jessie Johnson.  Michael Johnson had a nine-yard catch on a third-and-five, followed by a 16-yard run for Davis which was WSU's longest play from scrimmage in the game.  On a third-and-10, Mohner scrambled for nine yards receiving a nice block from Jessie Johnson.  WSU brought out the punt team forcing GVSU to take a timeout.  After the break, Davis rushed four yards for a first down, then gained 19 yards on the next two carries.  Jessie Johnson had six straight rushing attempts for 19 yards setting up a fourth-and-goal from the GVSU 2.  Mohner faked the run and found Sean McAuliffe all alone in the end zone for his first career reception.

Following a Warrior punt, Grand Valley drove 67 yards completing a fourth down pass (instead of going for a field goal) from Grimes to Charles Johnson with 1:29 left on the ninth play of the drive.

GVSU held a 319-88 advantage in rushing yards with Spencer rushing for 228 and one score and Ratay adding 118 yards and two scores.  Davis led WSU with 55 yards on 11 attempts.

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. 26 in the nation according to this week's Massey Ratings (masseyratings.com) Poll.  Michigan Tech moved up seven spots in the Massey Ratings from 17th to 10th after last week's win at home against 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 40-18 over the last four-plus seasons including a 32-17 GLIAC record in that span.

Michigan Tech's Ted Kearly has compiled a 43-29 mark in his seventh year with the Huskies.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH

The Huskies snapped a two-game losing streak with a 42-14 home field win over Hillsdale last Saturday.

Cedric Barber leads MTU in rushing with 375 yards and six touchdowns.  Tyler Scarlett, the reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, has completed 182-of-289 passes for 2,427 yards and 25 touchdowns.  Matt Curtin and Bryan LaChapelle each have 47 receptions with Curtin contributing 838 yards and 12 touchdowns to LaChapelle's 600 yards and six scores.

Justin Armstrong leads the Huskie defense with 66 tackles (37-29), which includes six tackles for loss.  DeShawn is tied for the league lead with five interceptions, while Nelson Wienke has 7.5 sacks among his team-leading 10 tackles for loss.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH MICHIGAN TECH

Wayne State won the first 10 meetings (1967-1994), but only seven of the last 13 contests.  The Warriors are 9-2 at home vs. the Huskies with both setbacks coming by seven points (42-35 in 2003 and 21-14 in 2007).  Saturday's meeting will be the latest in the season eclipsing the Nov. 5, 1994, matchup in Detroit won 31-13 by the Tartars as Joe Gough ran for 190 yards and three scores.

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.

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

• Terleckyj needs two made field goals to move into a tie for first on the all-time list (David Chudzinski is currently first with 33 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).

• The 2012 senior class is 32-15, while the 2011 senior class compiled a 35-14 record.

UPCOMING SEASON MILESTONES

• Davis needs 51 rushing yards for his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season.

• Viverette needs eight tackles to reach 100 for the season.

WAYNE STATE WARRIOR MARCHING BAND

Saturday's halftime show pays tribute to Copland- America's Composer.