WSU Weekly Football Game Notes

Game #6 - Wayne State at Hillsdale
Date:  Saturday, Oct. 12
Time:  1 p.m.
Location:  Hillsdale, Mich.
Stadium:  Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium (8,500)
Live stats:  livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate
Live video:  wsuathletics.com/showcase
Live audio:  WDTK 1400 AM/92.7 FM (wdtkam.com)

HILLSDALE STORYLINES
Wayne State is looking for its first road victory of the season Saturday at Hillsdale.  The Warriors have won their last three meetings with Hillsdale and are winners in four out of the last five against the Chargers.
    
After two straight home games, Wayne State plays three of its next four games away from Detroit, starting with Saturday's contest at HC.  Overall, WSU plays four of its final six regular season games away from home.
    
WSU is also riding a two-game conference win streak after defeating Northwood 31-17 in its Homecoming contest last Saturday.  The victory was Wayne State's ninth straight Homecoming win.
    
The Warriors are currently tied-for-second in the GLIAC North Division with Ferris State at 3-1.  Saginaw Valley is the only undefeated conference team in the division at 4-0.  Hillsdale is tied-for-fourth with a 2-1 league record.

QUICK HITS
Senior wide receiver Dominique Maybanks reached 1,000 career receiving yards in last week's victory over Northwood.  He had three catches for 20 yards increasing his career total to 1,006 receiving yards.

Wayne State is outscoring its opponents 48-7 in the fourth quarter through five games this season.

The six takeaways against Northwood are the most in a game by the Warriors since they recorded six at Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 26, 2011, in a 38-26 triumph in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
    
With two interceptions against Northwood, senior safety Antwon Robinson moved into a tie-for-10th on the all-time WSU interceptions chart with 12.

ON THE AIR
Sean Baligian (play-by-play), former WSU football running back Josh Renel (color) and Lisa Seymour (sideline) will call the action all season on WDTK The Patriot 1400 AM/92.7 FM Radio.  Fans can also check out the live simulcast on wdtkam.com.

NORTHWOOD RECAP
The Warriors recorded their ninth consecutive Homecoming game victory with a 31-17 triumph over visiting Northwood University.  The Warriors trailed 17-10 at halftime before out-scoring the Timberwolves 21-0 over the final 30 minutes.
    
Three turnovers (two by NU) on the first five possessions of the contest prevented either offense from gaining any momentum.  Gerren DuHart had an interception on Northwood's second offensive possession, and following a WSU punt, Ed Viverette recorded his first career pick returning it 16 yards to the NU 14.
    
After three plays by the Warrior offense netted seven yards Stefan Terleckyj converted a 24-yard field goal attempt for the first points of the game.   The Timberwolves responded with an 11-play drive covering 77 yards as Cameron Jackson scored on a one-yard plunge to give the visitors a 7-3 lead with 3:06 remaining in the first period.
    
NU's Bryan Thomas returned a Wayne State punt 53 yards to the WS five leading to a 22-yard field goal by Keegan Haggarty after the Warrior defense yielded just one yard in three plays.  Following a WSU interception, Northwood's 32-yard field goal attempt was blocked.  The Warriors had to punt on the ensuing drive, but Thomas fumbled with Marcell Jones making his second fumble recovery of the season.
    
Carl Roscoe connected with Michael Johnson on a 51-yard bomb to start the drive, and two Toney Davis runs netted the final 10 yards.  Northwood had a seven-play, 51-yard drive just before intermission to take a 17-10 advantage on Mitch Robinson's 20-yard scoring pass to Carrington Thompson with 1:43 left.  Just before half, tight end Aaron Weston recorded his first career reception for 14 yards on a second-and-13 following a Northwood timeout.
    
On WSU's second drive of the third quarter, Roscoe teamed up with wide receiver Val Showers on a 51-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-six play to knot the game at 17.  It was Showers' second TD catch of the season.   The rest of the third period featured five punts as both defenses tightened up.
    
After three more punts to start the fourth quarter, NU's Mitch Robinson was pressured by defensive tackle Justice Akuezue on a third-and-13 with safety Antwon Robinson making a diving interception, similar to a diving catch in centerfield by former Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds.  It was Antwon Robinson's 11th career interception and first since the 2011 national championship game.
    
The Warrior offense responded with a nine-play drive using over four minutes on the clock to take a 24-17 lead on a one-yard rush by Davis.  It was Davis' 49th career rushing touchdown.  Both Davis and Desmond Martin converted third down rushing plays on the drive.
    
On Northwood's next possession, the Timberwolves gained one first down, but on third-and-nine, Mitch Robinson was sacked by Justice Akuezue with Nores Fradi scooping up the fumble and racing 12 yards for his first career touchdown.  Terleckyj's fourth PAT of the contest increased the Warrior lead to 31-17.
    
Three plays into NU's next drive, Antwon Robinson picked off another Mitch Robinson pass to record his third career game with two interceptions.  With the two picks, Antwon Robinson has moved into a tie-for-10th on the all-time WSU interceptions chart with 12.
    
Both Martin and Davis rushed for 68 yards for the Warriors, who totaled 155 yards on the ground.  Jackson led Northwood with 29 yards on 10 carries.  The WSU defense limited NU to 18 rushing yards on 26 attempts (0.7 yards per carry).
    
Roscoe completed 13-of-20 for 185 yards and one score, while eight other completions were deemed laterals.  Northwood's Mitch Robinson completed 28-of-49 passes for 252 yards but was intercepted four times.  NU's Thompson led all receivers with 12 catches for 121 yards, while Dominique Maybanks and Davis each had three receptions for the Warriors.
    
Moe Davenport led the Wayne State defense with 10 tackles (5-5) including a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries.  Brandon McKay-Lee, in his first appearance of the season, totaled six tackles (5-1) along with a forced fumble, a pass break-up, and a quarterback hurry.  The Warrior defensive unit made five tackles for loss, including two sacks, three forced fumbles and four interceptions as part of creating six turnovers.

ON THE HEADSET
Paul Winters is in his 10th season as head coach of the Wayne State football program.  He has a 56-50 record in his Warrior tenure, including a 43-21 mark in his last five-plus seasons.  In the 2013 season opener against Carson-Newman, Winters became the all-time leader in Wayne State football history in games coached (102).
    
Hillsdale's Keith Otterbein has a 74-55 record in his 12th season as the Hillsdale head coach.  He has a 43-19 mark in games played in Hillsdale throughout his tenure.

SCOUTING HILLSDALE
The Chargers are 2-3 overall, but 2-1 in the GLIAC with road victories over Malone and Northern Michigan.  Hillsdale most recently defeated the Wildcats on Oct. 5.  Hillsdale plays four its final six games of the regular season at home.
    
Senior quarterback Sam Landry is 93-for-156  for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns against just one interception.  He is averaging 230 passing yards per game.  As a team, Hillsdale has three rushers over 100 yards with sophomore Wade Wood leading the squad with 145 rushing yards on 33 carries.  Junior tailback Alex Koski is second on the team with 144 yards, while senior Isaac Spence has 127 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
    
Four receivers have more than 10 catches, with junior wide receiver Evan Sassack leading the squad with 13 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.  Junior Evan Bach has 12 catches for 188 yards and two scores for HC.
    
A trio of senior linebackers lead the Charger defense statistically. Brett Pasche leads the GLIAC with 66 total tackles.  Devin Moynihan is second on the team with 49 tackles, while Steven Embry leads the team with three interceptions.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH HILLSDALE
The Warriors are 16-37-1 against the Chargers all-time in the series, which dates back to 1926.  Wayne State has won the last three meetings, including the last one in Hillsdale, a 27-24 double-overtime win on Oct. 22, 2011.  WSU is 6-19 overall in games played at Hillsdale.  Four of the last five matchups have come down to seven points or less, with Wayne State winning all four games.  

IN THE POLLS
Ohio Dominican and Grand Valley remain as the two GLIAC teams in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll, which was released on Monday.  The Panthers rise to No. 20 in the rankings, while the Lakers jump one spot to No. 24 in the poll.  Saginaw Valley (eight votes) and Ferris State (two votes) are the other two teams receiving votes in the rankings.
    
In the D2football.com poll, which was released on Tuesday, ODU is ranked No. 18, while GVSU comes in at No. 24.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Warriors are first in the GLIAC and 30th in the nation in passing defense, allowing just 189.2 passing yards per game.  WSU is also in the top 50 in rushing offense, averaging 202.2 rushing yards per game which is 42nd in the country.
    
Wayne State is 27th in Division II in time of possession, holding the ball 32:23 per game.
    
Ed Viverette is tied for fourth in the nation with 1.5 sacks per game, while Stefan Terleckyj ranks first in the league and 10th overall in the country in punting average at 43.4 yards per punt.

TERLECKYJ EARNS SEPTEMBER FRED MITCHELL HONOR
Stefan Terleckyj was one of 26 student-athletes recognized earlier this month as the Fred Mitchell Award honored 26 collegiate place-kickers for their excellence on and off the football field during the month of September.
    
Terleckyj was one of 18 seniors selected and just one of seven Division II place-kickers bestowed with the monthly accolade.
    
The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award) is provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams. The recipient of the award is chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community.
    
Terleckyj is second on the team in scoring with 28 points from 3 of 5 field goals and 19 of 19 extra points in 2013. He is a 2012 Fred Mitchell Award Finalist, who owns the school record for the most kicking points (266), which is also third in school history.

VIVERETTE EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Along with being named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Ashland, senior linebacker Ed Viverette was selected as the D2football.com National Defensive Player of the Week.  Viverette totaled nine tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and he returned a fumble 42 yards for WSU's first defensive touchdown of the season.
    
The last Warrior to be honored with a national player of the week accolade was safety Jeremy Jones, who was also selected as the D2football.com National Defensive Player of the Week following a 27-10 win over Michigan Tech on Sept. 17, 2011.

COMCAST XFINITY
All five of Wayne State's home games will be broadcast on Comcast Xfinity Channel 900.  The broadcast team of Ryan Ermanni (play-by-play), Rod Beard (color) and Joe Abramson (sideline) will have the call from Tom Adams Field.  Each home Saturday telecast will be replayed at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, 8 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. on Thursday the week following the live broadcast.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
All Wayne State football games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM/92.7 FM).  Fans can listen to the games online at wdtkam.com or watch the home games via Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 per game fee.  Sean Baligian and former WSU running back Josh Renel will handle the call in the booth, while Lisa Seymour will handle the sideline reporting for each contest.  

WINTERS ON WEDNESDAYS
Join Paul Winters and host Rod Beard every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. on WDTK 1400 AM for an hour of Warrior football.  The radio show will also be streamed online at wdtkam.com.