Football | 11/6/2014 9:00:00 AM

DETROIT -- With its sights set on a seven-win season, the Wayne State University football team (5-4, 4-4 GLIAC) travels to Lake Erie (4-5, 3-5 GLIAC) on Saturday for a 1 PM kickoff at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium. The Green & Gold have won its last two games over Ohio programs by a combined 68 points including its largest road win since Sept. 11, 2010 with last week's 43-10 win at Findlay.

ON THE AIR
Sean Baligian (play-by-play) and former WSU football running back Josh Renel (color analyst) will call the action this Saturday on WDTK The Patriot 1400 AM/92.7 FM Radio.  Fans can also check out the live simulcast on wdtkam.com. Jenn Goethel serves as the sideline reporter for home games only.

THE SERIES
Wayne State won the first three meetings (2010-11-12) before the Storm posted a 35-17 home field win a year ago on Sept. 21.  Last year's score was the fewest points scored by WSU in the series and the most allowed by the Warriors.

MILESTONE WATCH
- Desmond Martin needs 130 rushing yards to move into fifth place all-time and ahead of Hall of Fame
inductee Steve Lee (1988-91, 2,552).
- Michael Johnson needs 118 receiving yards to move into sixth place all-time.
- Nores Fradi needs 2.5 sacks to move into third place on the WSU all-time charts.

QUICK HITS
- Wayne State's 33 point road win last Saturday at Findlay, was the largest margin of victory in an away contest since a 63-14 triumph at Tiffin on Sept. 11, 2010.
- WSU won its first game in November since 2011 last Saturday.  The Warriors went 0-2 in 2012 and 0-3 in 2013 in November.
- Nores Fradi recorded 3.5 sacks at Findlay last Saturday to break the WSU single-season record for tackles for loss of 20.0 set by Gary Ruttan in 1994.  Fradi's 46.0 (39-14) career tackles for loss rank second in school history behind Leo Wells' mark of 53.0 (44-18) set from 2002-05.

LAKE ERIE STORYLINES
After recording its second consecutive victory in the Buckeye state last week, Wayne State will try to make it three straight wins this Saturday as the Warriors travel to Painesville, Ohio, to face the Lake Erie Storm.  LEC had won three consecutive contests until being outscored 66-56 at Ferris State last Saturday.  WSU is 7-3 in Ohio over the last five seasons, and will try and equal the 3-0 mark in Ohio set by the 2010 squad who recorded victories at Tiffin, Lake Erie and Findlay.  Wayne State is +10 in turnover margin the last two weeks after going -10 in the first seven games combined.

FINDLAY RECAP
Wayne State won all three phases of the game at Findlay in posting a 43-10 triumph over the Oilers.

Desmond Martin broke off a 48-yard run on the second play of the game, but after a couple of negative plays, the Warrior punt by Paul Graham was downed at the UF 11.  On Findlay's first play, quarterback Verlon Reed scrambled after getting a low shotgun snap and was forced out of bounds with the ball not coming completely outside the goal line for a safety.

Val Showers returned the free kick 21 yards to the Warrior 48. Six consecutive carries by Martin netted 35 yards, and even with an 11-yard completion from Carl Roscoe to Michael Johnson on third-and-14, WSU had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Graham. 

The next four series (two for each team) ended in punts.  Then Oilers gained four yards on their first series of the second quarter, before Dustin Carlin blocked the UF punt with Jay Hayes picking the ball up on a bounce and going in for a touchdown from 10 yards out.  On Findlay's ensuring drive, Zak Bielecki picked off a third down pass from Verlon Reed, the GLIAC leader in passing yards per game.  It was Bielecki's first career interception.

The Warriors drove 47 yards in seven plays with Graham converting his fourth field goal of at least 40 yards this season, this one from 41 yards extending WSU's lead to 15-0 with 6:36 remaining in the first half.  It took UF just six plays to get on the scoreboard as Chauncey Bridges scampered 50 yards on a third-and-two pulling the Oilers within eight at 15-7.

Wayne State began the second half with an onside kick that Majd Khytaz recovered, however the Warriors were penalized for an illegal block. On the next play, Khytaz's short kickoff was mishandled with Brook Higgins recovering on his first play of the game.

Three straight running plays, two by Martin sandwiched around a 25-yard gain for Doug Griffin, concluded with Martin's four-yard touchdown run restoring WSU's 15-point margin at 22-7.

Findlay's Tyler Bugeja connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt on the eighth play of the Oiler's ensuing possession cutting Wayne State's advantage to 22-10 with 9:45 remaining in the third period.  Later in the period, Marcell Jones made a one-hand interception on a third-and-three pass by Reed and took it back 26 yards for WSU's first pick six since Gerren DuHart went 82 yards against Hillsdale on October 6, 2012.

On Findlay's last drive of the third quarter, Bielecki recorded his second interception of the game, giving the Warriors great field position at the UF 47.  WSU used 5:11 on the clock and scored on the ninth play with Martin crossing the goal line on a two-yard jaunt.  Sean Guinane, in his first significant playing time of the season, had two completions on the drive for 15 yards, both to Johnson with Martin carrying the ball the other seven plays.

The Guinane-to-Johnson accounted for the game's final score with a 17-yard touchdown pass play after the Warrior defense stopped a fourth down pass from Mitchell Faine to Reed for three yards on a fourth-and-six.

Martin led the Warriors with 35 carries for 184 yards and two scores as Wayne State rushed for 218 yards in the contest.  Findlay rushed for 115 yards 28 attempts with Bridges leading the hosts with 52 yards, although 50 came on one play.

Roscoe was 6-of-9 for 72 yards, while Guinane was also 6-of-9, but for 77 yards and one score.  Reed completed 10-of-21 passes for 103 yards but was intercepted three times.  Faine was 6-of-10 for 49 yards.
Johnson led all receivers with nine catches for 99 yards and one touchdown.  The GLIAC's leading receiver in terms of yardage Lloyd Henry (104.0 ypg) was limited to seven catches for 88 yards.  WSU won the time of possession battle 36:13 to 23:47 and converted 6-of-16 third down opportunities.  The Warriors finished with 367 yards of total offense compared to Findlay's 267.

Defensively for Wayne State, Nores Fradi had a team-best 11 tackles including 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.  Jones contributed seven tackles (3-4) plus his pick six.

SCOUTING LAKE ERIE
The Storm are 3-5 in the league and just 2-2 when scoring over 40 points in GLIAC games.  Lake Erie is third in the GLIAC in points scored (286), but last in points allowed at 385 (60 more than Malone).

Junior Anthony Bilal is leading the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (186.2) and rushing touchdowns (24).  He has almost as many rushing attempts (202) as the Storm have passing attempts (206) this season.

Junior quarterback Mitchel Hokavar has completed 63 percent (84-of-133) his passes for 1,242 yards and nine touchdowns to only five interceptions.  He is also the third-leading rusher for LEC with 259 yards behind Bilal and sophomore Brandon Phenix, who has gained 480 yards on 81 attempts with two scores.

Senior Tommy Jackson has a squad-best 31 receptions for 575 yards (18.5 ypc) with one touchdown.  Junior Shane Van Fleteren has 20 catches for 288 yards and three scores.

Lake Erie has attempted just two field goals this season with freshman Mike Muzic making the lone three-pointer and that was from 20 yards out.  He is 35-of-37 on PATs.  Senior David Bojalad is one of the top punters in the loop averaging 37.9 yards.

Sophomore Tony Andrews has one kickoff return for a touchdown this season and is averaging 24.2 yards per return.  LEC does not have any punt return yards this season.

Senior linebacker Tanner Wells leads the Storm with 62 tackles (30-32) along with two interceptions.  Christian Cole, a sophomore linebacker, has made 61 stops (27-34).  Junior cornerback Devantae Sims is third in tackles with 52 (32-20), but is near the top in the GLIAC with eight pass break-ups.  Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Wheeler has a team-high 2.5 sacks, while junior defensive back Nick Kirschner has a squad-best four tackles for loss with junior defensive end Davon Daniels garnering 3.5 tackles for loss.  Andrews has 10 passes defended with eight interceptions (for 155 yard) and two pass break-ups.

ON THE HEADSET
Paul Winters is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Warriors.  He has a 61-60 record at Wayne State and has equaled the second-place mark of 11 coaching seasons with the legendary David Holmes (1918-28) this fall.  Joseph Gembis holds the WSU mark with 14 seasons (1932-45). 

Mark McNellie has compiled a 27-48 record in his seventh season as head coach at Lake Erie.  In their fifth year in the GLIAC, the Storm have equaled their best mark for wins in a season with four.

IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was predicted to finish sixth out of eight teams in the 2014 GLIAC Preseason Coaches North Division Poll.  Two of Wayne State's 2014 opponents are ranked inside the top 25 this week as Michigan Tech moved up to No. 20 in the poll after a win, while Carson-Newman fell to No. 24 after losing to No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne.  Other GLIAC teams to receive votes in this week's AFCA poll were Ferris State (4th), Ohio Dominican (11th), and Ashland (22nd).

NATIONAL STATISTICS
The Warriors are third nationally in fewest penalties per game (4.00) and sixth in fewest penalty yards per game (37.56).  WSU leads the GLIAC and is seventh nationally with 13 fumble recoveries, and ranks 16th in Division II in tackles for loss per game (8.8).  Wayne State leads the GLIAC in sacks (2.67 per game), which ranks 41st nationally.  Offensively, Wayne State is second in red zone offense (90.9%), 13th in passing yards per completion (15.11), 13th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.00 per game), 19th in fewest tackles for loss allowed (5.11 per game), 34th in third-down conversion pct. (.444), and 36th in rushing offense (206.2 ypg).  In terms of special teams, WSU is 19th in the nation with two blocked punts, 34th nationally in kickoff return average (22.41), and 35th in kickoff return defense (17.87 ypr).

Paul Graham is one of three kickers still perfect in field goal percentage, and ranks 16th in field goals made per game (1.33).  Marcell Jones is fourth nationally in fumble recoveries (3), while Carl Roscoe is also fourth in passing yards per completion (16.08).  Michael Johnson is 15th in receiving touchdowns (9) with Desmond Martin ranking 12th in rushing touchdowns (13).  Martin is also eighth in rushing yards (1,210) and 26th in all-purpose yards per game (149.11).  Nores Fradi is seventh in solo tackles per game (6.8) and second in tackles for loss per game (2.6), while Zak Bielecki is 13th in solo tackles per game (6.2).

COLLEGIATE DEBUTS
During the Michigan Tech game on Sept. 4th, nine Warriors made their collegiate debuts:  Ron Brant, Dustin Carlin, Jake Carrizales, DeAndre Grady, Paul Graham, James Howard, Blake Mazur, Tommy Richardson and Andy Zimmerman.  Another three made their WSU debuts in the MTU contest:  Rabeah Beydoun, Ashawn Butler, and Garrett Wiska.  Making their collegiate debut during the Carson-Newman game were Jamel Hicks, Brook Higgins, Manny Mendoza and Alex Ziedas.  Making their collegiate debut at Malone were Romello Brown.  Making their WSU debut during the Northwood game were Derrick Rodgers and Sam Tate.

WARRIORS NAME CAPTAINS FOR 2014 SEASON
Wayne State University head football coach Paul Winters, who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Warriors, announced his 2014 captains during a special "Captains Presentation" prior to the scrimmage on August 23rd.

The 2014 WSU captains will be senior center Thom Box, senior cornerback Gerren DuHart, senior linebacker Nores Fradi, senior running back Desmond Martin and senior left tackle Ben Walker.

Box will be in his second year as a captain while the other four are first-year captains.  Senior Marcell Jones served as WSU's fourth captain for the Northern Michigan and Walsh games as both Box and Walker did not dress due to injuries.

Prior to the announcement of the 2014 captains, nine previous WSU captains spoke about their time in Detroit:  Jeff Bero (1985-88), Dale Dwojakowski (1989-92), Michael Hall (2002-05), Huston Julian (1997-2000), Steve Lee (1988-91), Josh Renel (2008-11), Donald Urban (1962-64), Ed Viverette (2010-13) and Leo Wells (2002-05).

ALL SIX HOME GAMES TELEVISED
All six of Wayne State's home games will be broadcast on Comcast Xfinity Channel 900.  The broadcast team of Ryan Ermanni, Rod Beard and Joe Abramson will have the call from Tom Adams Field.  Every league contest will be shown live plus on a tape-delayed basis at noon on Sundays, 8 pm on Wednesdays and 9 am on Thursdays. The post-game report from each contest will also be available On-Demand.

WINTERS ON WEDNESDAYS
The weekly Winters on Wednesdays radio show began its third season on Sept. 3 with head coach Paul Winters joining host Rod Beard, and co-host Ashley Raymond in the studio.  The Winters on Wednesdays radio show airs every Wednesday from 7-8 pm on Newstalk 1400 AM (and 92.7 FM) and is simulcast on wdtkam.com.

WDTK AND 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 call the action from the broadcast booth, while Jenn Goethel will handle the sideline reporting for each home contest.