WAYNE STATE FOOTBALL GAME ONE NOTES

ASHLAND STORYLINES

    The fifth-ranked Wayne State University Warriors were one win short of hoisting the national championship trophy last season, and now its back to the beginning -- as the 2012 campaign starts with a familiar GLIAC foe in the program's 95th season of intercollegiate football.

    The “Road Warriors” as the team was coined during last season's remarkable playoff run - look to win their fifth consecutive season opener, as they travel to Ashland University for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Eagles on Saturday, Sept. 8.

    WSU won six straight road games a year ago and was victorious in 11 of its last 12 contests away from Detroit before losing to Pittsburg State in the national championship game last December.  Wayne State won 12 games last season and is a staggering 21-6 in its last 27 contests, with a 12-3 mark in its last 15 road games.  The Warriors look to start strong again this season, after beginning last season 6-0, their best start since 1967.
    
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

    The Warriors return 41 letterwinners, including 14 starters (six on offense, seven on defense and one kicker).

    Senior captain Mickey Mohner has started the last 34 games (24-10) under center for Wayne State, and holds numerous career passing records including most touchdowns (48), passing yards (5,937) and completions (417).

    Junior tailback Toney Davis rushed for 1,557 yards and 22 touchdowns a year ago, behind the blocking of All-American fullback Chet Privett.  Despite the graduation loss of Josh Renel (1,353 rushing yards), the tailback position will be deep with juniors Jessie Johnson and Jay Hayes, sophomore Desmond Martin and redshirt freshman Chris Burks.

    The offensive line has four veteran players in senior guards Curtis Ferguson and Mike Hinkle, senior tackle Sean McCarthy and sophomore center Thom Box.  Sophomore Ben Walker is slated for the left tackle spot held by Joe Long for the last four seasons.

    At wide receiver, the Warriors have significant depth with five letterwinners returning, plus the addition of Western Michigan transfer Michael Johnson.  Replacing the production of Troy Burrell (87 catches, 1,633 yards) will be done by committee led by  seniors Steve Conway and Kaunda Hancock, juniors Dominique Maybanks and James Jackson, along with aforementioned Johnson.

    The linebacking contingent may be the deepest position on the squad with the return of all-league middle linebacker Nick Thomas.  Junior captain Ed Viverette has garnered pre-season recognition, while sophomores Steve O'Shell, Nores Fradi and Marcell Jones along with junior Moe Davenport give the Warriors great depth at the position.

    Four seniors anchor the defensive line in ends Greg Hasse and Pat Cecile with Zach Houghton and Serxho Guraleci in the middle.  Juniors Andrew Matt and Mike Laamanen, and sophomore Justice Akuezue form a veteran group up front.

    Junior Antwon Robinson has 10 career interceptions from his safety position, while Will Gardner and Mazen Jaddou are two other veterans in the secondary.  Senior cornerback Aaron Cornett had a strong 2011, while sophomore Gerren DuHart recorded an interception in the national championship game after breaking up a fourth-down pass on the last drive of the game at Winston-Salem State.

    Junior kicker Stefan Terleckyj played an instrumental role last year as he set the school record for both season and career made PATs.  He also handled the punting duties a year ago pinning the opponents inside the 20 yard line 26 times in only 61 attempts.

    The return game will be led by Jackson, who had two kickoff returns for a touchdown a year ago.

IN THE POLLS

    Wayne State enters the season ranked No. 5 in the nation according to the AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll.  WSU received one first-place vote, and 502 total points placing them fifth. The only other GLIAC teams ranked in the polls are Grand Valley (7th) and  Hillsdale (17th).

    The Warriors were picked to finish second in the GLIAC North Division behind GVSU, while Ashland was voted first in the South Division.

ON THE HEADSET

    Head coach Paul Winters, the reigning AFCA National Coach of the Year, begins his ninth season at the helm of the Wayne State football program.  The Warriors are 35-14 over the last four seasons including a 27-13 GLIAC record in that span.

    Ashland's Lee Owens has compiled a 55-33 mark with the Eagles.  His career record as a college head coach is 95-94, which includes nine seasons at Akron.  All nine years were spent with Winters serving on his Zips staff.

SCOUTING ASHLAND

    The Eagles began the 2012 campaign with a 37-14 home field non-conference win over Indianapolis on August 30.

    Quarterback Taylor Housewright completed 16-of-25 passes for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Anthony Capasso led the AU receiving corps with six catches for a game-best 120 yards.  Dan Piko and Steve Nagy each had a touchdown reception.

    Anthony Taylor rushed for a game-high 104 yards on 14 carries, which included a 47-yard touchdown run in the final four minutes of the game.  Jordan McCune added 80 yards on 17 attempts.

    Brian Gamble paced the AU defense with 11 tackles, while Cody Bloom added nine tackles and an interception.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH ASHLAND

        This game marks the 28th meeting between the Warriors and the Eagles.  WSU is 6-21 all-time against Ashland, including a 3-11 mark at AU.  The Purple and Gold handed the Warriors one of their three regular-season losses last season in a 20-17 nailbiter also at Jack Miller Stadium.  Ashland senior Gregg Berkshire kicked a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds to end a 10-game Warrior winning streak, which was tied for the longest in the nation at the time.

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 Saturday, 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.  Ryan Ermanni and Rod Beard will announce all five home games.  The game against the Storm will also be replayed on Wednesday, Sept. 19th at 8:00 p.m., and again on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 9:00 a.m.

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

• Junior running back Toney Davis needs 165 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 12 passing attempts to move into second place on the all-time list (Mark Friday is currently second with 746 passing attempts).

• Senior quarterback Mickey Mohner needs 76 plays of total offense to move into fifth place on the all-time list (David Chudzinski 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 two passes defended (interceptions + break-ups) to move into sixth place on the all-time list (Mark Makela is currently sixth 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 27-11 (The 1973-76 and 1975-78 classes both went 28-13).