WAYNE STATE WEEKLY GAME NOTES

LAKE ERIE STORYLINES

The Wayne State University Warriors will play its first home game since Nov. 12 this Saturday after having played the last six games outside of Michigan.

WSU has won its last four home openers since dropping a 21-14 decision to Michigan Tech on Sept. 1, 2007.  The last four home openers have all been non-conference affairs.

The Warriors are 6-2 in their last eight home games and 9-3 over the last two seasons at Adams Field.

ASHLAND RECAP

Wayne State was unable to win its fifth consecutive season opener last Saturday falling 7-0 at Ashland.

It was the first time WSU had been shutout since a 34-0 loss at Grand Valley on Oct. 2, 2004, ending a streak of 86 straight games of putting points on the board.  In fact, the Warriors were held under 10 points only five times during the streak.

The lone Eagle touchdown drive lasted only three plays and covered seven yards following a Wayne State turnover.  The seven points allowed is the fewest by WSU squad in a season opener since a 9-3 win over California (Pa.) on Sept. 5, 1987.

It was a defensive struggle as WSU was held to 162 yards (76 rushing, 86 passing), while Ashland managed 278 yards of total offense (97 rushing, 181 passing).  In addition, both squads struggled on third down (AU 4-14, WSU 3-13).

The Warriors were 0-for-3 in the red zone with two missed field goals and not being able to convert on a fourth-down play from scrimmage, while AU was 1-for-2 with a missed field goal.

Toney Davis rushed for a game-high 70 yards, while Mickey Mohner completed 10-of-19 for 86 yards.  Dominique Maybanks led WSU with three catches, while Michael Johnson had a team-high 45 receiving yards.

Ed Viverette led the Wayne State defense with 12 tackles plus had three quarterback hurries.  Nores Fradi totaled 10 tackles including WSU's lone sack.  Nick Thomas, playing his first game since October 2010, had eight tackles.  Gerren DuHart contributed nine tackles and two pass break-ups.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State is 19th in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Warriors were picked to finish second in the GLIAC North Division behind Grand Valley, while Lake Erie was voted fourth in the eight-team South Division.

The Warriors are ranked No. 14 in the nation according to this week's Massey Ratings (masseyratings.com) Poll. 

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 35-15 over the last four-plus seasons including a 27-14 GLIAC record in that span.

Lake Erie's Mark McNellie has compiled a 16-30 mark in his fifth year with the Storm.

SCOUTING LAKE ERIE

The Storm are 0-2 after dropping a 36-33 non-conference decision at former GLIAC member Gannon in week one.  Last Saturday, LEC fell at home, 49-21, to Ferris State.

Freshman Brandon Phenix rushed for 130 yards against the Golden Knights, while Anthony Bilal gained 99 yards vs. the Bulldogs.

Quarterback Patrick Nicely has completed 26-of-55 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.  Aaron Lindgren is the top receiver with eight catches for 174 yards and score.

Marcus Rogers leads the LEC defense with 21 tackles, while Stacy Woodford has a team-best 14 solo tackles and two interceptions.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH LAKE ERIE

This game marks the third meeting between the Warriors and the Storm, and the second in Detroit.

WSU won the initial meeting 28-16 in Painesville on Oct. 9, 2010.  Toney Davis led WSU with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Mohner passed for 215 yards and a pair of scores.

Wayne State recorded a 45-24 win at Adams Field on Oct. 8, 2011, as Mohner completed 18-of-24 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns.  Troy Burrell had eight receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns, while Josh Renel gained 128 yards on the ground.

WDTK AND WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS

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.

XFINITY

Saturday's home opener on Sept. 15 will be televised live on Comcast Channel 900 with Ryan Ermanni and Rod Beard broadcasting the contest. The game will also be replayed on Wednesday, Sept. 19th at 8:00 p.m., and again on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 9:00 a.m.  All five WSU home games will be televised by Comcast/Xfinity.

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

WAYNE STATE WARRIOR MARCHING BAND

Saturday's halftime show pays tribute with a “Dance Club Playlist”.

UPCOMING CAREER MILESTONES

• Junior running back Toney Davis needs 95 rushing yards to move into seventh place on the all-time list (Craig Duppong is currently seventh with 2,404 rushing yards).

• Junior running back Toney Davis needs three rushing touchdowns to move into third place on the all-time list (Joe Gough is currently third with 33 rushing touchdowns).

• Senior quarterback Mickey Mohner needs 80 passing attempts to move into first place on the all-time list (Michael Gluski is currently first with 833 passing attempts).

• Senior quarterback Mickey Mohner needs 48 plays of total offense to move into fifth place on the all-time list (Mark Friday is currently fifth with 896 plays).

• Junior running back Toney Davis needs 15 points to move into seventh place on the all-time list (Craig Duppong is currently seventh with 206 points).

• Junior place-kicker Stefan Terleckyj needs 10 points to move into seventh place on the all-time list (Josh Renel is currently tied-for-sixth with Toney Davis at 192 points).

• 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 sixth place on the all-time list (Mark Makela is currently tied-for-sixth with Cornett with 26 passes defended).

• The 2012 senior class needs one win to move into a third-place tie on the all-time list for wins by a class.  The 2012 senior class is 27-12 (The 1973-76 and 1975-78 classes both went 28-13).