Marquette, Mich. -- The Wayne State University football team (3-4 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) suffered its third consecutive setback on a field goal in the final 30 seconds at Northern Michigan University (2-5 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon in the Superior Dome.

After each team turned the ball over on its initial possession, the Warrior defense forced a three-and-out and the WSU offense went 66 yards in eight plays with senior Desmond Martin (Redford, Mich. / Thurston) scoring on a 20-yard scamper going nearly untouched and diving into the end zone from a few yards out giving the guests a 7-0 lead with 6:53 left in the first quarter.  Big plays on the drive included a 10-yard catch by Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) on a third-and-four and Carl Roscoe (Kentwood, Mich. /Kelloggsville) scrambling for 12 yards on a third-and-10.  Martin also had an 18-yard run the play immediately before his TD run.

The Wildcats answered with a 78-yard drive culminating in a 20-yard field goal by Ryan Laberge with 2:13 remaining in the opening stanza.

Wayne State gained 34 yards on its first five plays of the ensuing drive, but a bad shotgun snapped led to an 11-yard loss.  The Warrior offense gained 14 yards on the next play via a run from Martin and concluded with a career-long 47-yard field goal by freshman Paul Graham (Commerce Twp., Mich. /Orchard Lake St. Mary's).

The WSU defense held on a fourth down pass and the Wayne State offense responded with an eight-play drive as Graham made a 31-yard field goal increasing the Warrior advantage to 13-3 with 5:32 left in the second quarter.  Big plays on the drive were a Val Showers (Detroit, Mich. / Crockett) 10-yard catch on third-and-three, and Will Wheat (Grand Blanc, Mich.) hauling in a 24-yard pass from Roscoe moving WSU into field goal range.

The Wildcats scored their first touchdown with just 1:54 remaining before intermission on a three-yard run by Wyatt Jurasin capping a 10-play, 58-yard drive.

Wayne State moved down the field with the help of a 15-yard pass interference penalty plus a 16-yard reception by Trent Brodbeck (Toledo, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit) on a third-and-13.  On second-and-one, Roscoe found Hicks over the middle and Hicks gained plenty of yards after the catch to complete a 37-yard scoring play pushing the Warrior lead to 20-10 at halftime.

On the first play from scrimmage after intermission, Showers went 33 yards on a reverse, but WSU had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Graham making it 23-10.

NMU responded with a 62-yard scoring drive to pull within six at 23-17 with 8:36 left in the third period.

The Warriors went three-and-out on its next possession, and Wildcat Austin Young returned the punt 66 yards for a touchdown giving the hosts a 24-23 lead with 6:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Wayne State was unable to convert a fourth down play following the kickoff, but the WSU defense stepped up and stopped a fourth-and-one run by Jurasin.  However, a halfback option pass on the next play was intercepted by the Wildcats.

NMU made a 22-yard field goal just over four minutes into the fourth period increasing its advantage to 27-23.

The Warriors were able to regain the lead at 30-27 as Michael Johnson (Detroit, Mich. / Clintondale) scored on a nine-yard reception on a third-and-seven play.  His previous catch on the drive went for 30 yards and put him over the 100-yard receiving mark for the second time this season.  Johnson earlier had a 20-yard reception on a third-and-nine in WSU territory.

The Wildcats knotted the game at 30 with a 26-yard field goal by Laberge which came four plays after an 84-yard kickoff return by Marcus Tucker.

Wayne State drove into NMU territory but a fake punt on fourth down was incomplete leading to a 12-play Wildcat drive concluding in a 24-yard field goal by Laberge.

WSU's second down pass attempt went off the hands of a Warrior receiver into the hands of an NMU linebacker to end the hopes of a game-winning drive.

Martin finished with a game-high 135 yards and one score, while Jurasin led Northern with 68 yards and one touchdown.

Roscoe was 14-of-30 for 241 yards and two touchdowns along with two interceptions.  NMU's Shaye Brown passed for 346 yards and one touchdown on 29-of-42.

Johnson led all receivers with 116 yards, while Tucker led NMU with 114 receiving yards and Trey Hipke had a game-best nine catches.

Nores Fradi (Dearborn Hts., Mich. / Dearborn) had a game-high 3.5 tackles for loss as did Anthony DeDamos (Rockford, Mich.) to pace the Warrior defense.  Brandon Lee (Detroit, Mich. / Southeastern) totaled a game-best nine tackles (6-3), which included two for loss.

Wayne State will host Walsh University next Saturday at Tom Adams Field with kickoff slated for noon on Trick-or-Treat with the Warriors Day.