Week Three Game Notes
DETROIT -- After splitting its season-opening homestand against Michigan Tech and #13 Carson-Newman, the Wayne State University football team (1-1, 0-1 GLIAC) will attempt to register its first road victory since 2012. The Warriors travel to Canton, Ohio to meet Malone (0-0, 0-2 GLIAC) at the home of the annual NFL Hall of Fame Game, Fawcett Stadium. MALONE STORYLINESWayne State will be traveling to Malone for the first road game of the season. This is only the third time these two teams are meeting. The Warriors lead the all-time series 2-0. Last year, the Pioneers came to Tom Adams Field where Wayne State won 38-27 on September 28, 2013.  WSU is looking to start 2-1 for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
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WARRIORS NAME CAPTAINS FOR 2014 SEASONWayne 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 (Milan, Mich.), senior cornerback
Gerren DuHart (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic), senior linebacker
Nores Fradi (Dearborn Hts., Mich. / Dearborn), senior running back
Desmond Martin (Redford, Mich. / Thurston) and senior left tackle
Ben Walker (Oxford, Mich. / Lake Orion).
Box will be in his second year as a captain while the other four are first-year captains.
Prior to the announcement of the 2014 captains, nine previous WSU captains spoke about their time in Detroit:Â 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).
CARSON-NEWMAN RECAPThe Wayne State University football team rebounded from a last play setback during the Michigan Tech game with a solid 14-point fourth quarter to upend No. 13 Carson-Newman by a 41-31 margin at Tom Adams Field.
The Warriors entered the contest having suffered seven consecutive losses since starting last season at 3-2. Senior leadership was exhibited by running back
Desmond Martin, wide receiver
Michael Johnson, kick returner
Val Showers, and cornerback
Gerren DuHart.
Martin set a career-high with 235 rushing yards, the 13th highest total in school history and his total was the second-highest mark ever allowed by the Eagles.
Johnson totaled game-high marks of five receptions for 65 yards along with a late second quarter touchdown which gave the Warriors the lead at intermission.
Showers eclipsed the school record for kickoff return yards in game with 191 yards including an 87-yard return for a touchdown just moments after C-N had knotted the game at 10 early in the second period. The previous mark of 177 was set by Tom Badalamenti in 1985 vs. Ferris State.
Despite totaling just three solo tackles, DuHart had three pass break-ups all coming at key moments in the contest.
It was a back-and-forth contest that was tied at 7, 10, 17 and 24 before Wayne State freshman kicker
Paul Graham connected on his second field goal giving the Warriors a 27-24 advantage just past the midpoint of the third quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Carson-Newman took its first lead of the night as running back Andy Hibbett scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 57-yard pass play after tallying his first three scores on runs of 76, 18 and 1 yards.
After the Warriors went three-and-out, WSU's defense allowed a couple of first downs but forced a punt that was returned 25 yards by freshman
Ron Brant, the longest by a Wayne State returned since 2011.
The Warriors regained the lead with a six-play, 55-yard drive culminating in a six-yard scamper by Martin, his second TD run of the game.
Once again, the WSU defense bent but did not break allowing three first downs but forcing another punt by the Eagles which went for a touchback.
This time, the Wayne State offense sealed the victory with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that included four first downs. Junior tight end
Ethan Walsh had an 11-yard reception on a second-and-eight, and Johnson later gained 22 yards on a jet sweep. Martin finished off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run with 3:13 remaining.
Junior signal caller
Carl Roscoe completed 11-of-16 passes for 128 yards with one touchdown, while senior
Doug Griffin was 3-of-4 for 30 yards.
Hibbett led C-N with 196 yards on 21 carries, while quarterback De'Andre Thomas was 5-of-14 for 128 yards and one score.
Junior linebacker
Marcell Jones recorded a game-high 10 tackles to lead the Wayne State defense.
SCOUTING MALONEThe Pioneers are looking to improve upon the 2-9 overall record from a year ago as they are in their third year in the GLIAC.
Fifth-year head coach Eric Hehman is currently 0-2 this season after facing Ohio Dominican (2-0, 1-0 GLIAC) and Michigan Tech (2-0, 2-0 GLIAC) in the first two weeks.
Leading the Pioneers this season are junior running back Justin Davis, and sophomores Kyle Nutter and Ronnie Beers. Davis leads the squad with 69 rushing yards and has one of Malone's two rushing touchdowns. Nutter and Beers have combined for 70 yards on 21 carries. Senior quarterback Brandyn Eckhart has completed 20-of-31 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He has also carried the ball 31 times but has lost four fumbles.
Senior wide receiver Josh McLaughlin has a team-best six receptions for 69 yards and the lone receiving score.
Demarco Donaldson, a 2013 All-GLIAC Second Team selection, leads the Pioneers with 22 tackles along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Junior linebacker Fred Baker Jr., and freshman defensive back Cameron Mammen each have 16 tackles, while freshman linebacker Ryan Weber has one sack to lead the squad.
IN THE POLLSWayne State was predicted to finish sixth out of eight teams in the 2014 GLIAC Preseason Coaches North Division Poll.
One of Wayne State's 2014 opponents is ranked inside the top 25 as Carson-Newman dropped to No. 21 in the poll. Currently Wayne State is receiving one vote in the AFCA poll.
Other GLIAC teams to receive votes in this week's AFCA poll were Ohio Dominican (10th), Ferris State (24th), Findlay, Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech, Saginaw Valley State, and Ashland.
ON THE HEADSETPaul Winters is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Warriors. He has a 57-57 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).
Eric Hehman is in his ninth year overall as a head coach and fourth year at the helm of Malone. His current overall record is 38-56.
NORTHEAST OHIO HOMECOMINGWSU head coach
Paul Winters grew up in Akron, attended St. Vincent High School and played for the Akron Zips. Freshman safety/punt returner
Ron Brant played high school football for Uniontown Green, while junior wide receiver
Jamel Hicks graduated from East Cleveland Shaw H.S. The other six Ohio players on the Wayne State roster are all from Northwest Ohio.
COLLEGIATE DEBUTSDuring the Michigan Tech game on Sept. 4th, nine Warriors made their collegiate debuts:Â
Ron Brant,
Jake Carrizales,
Dustin Carlin,
DeAndre Grady,
Paul Graham,
James Howard,
Blake Mazur,
Tommy Richardson and
Andy Zimmerman.
Another three Warriors made their WSU debuts in the MTU contest:Â
Rabeah Beydoun,
Ashawn Butler, and
Garrett Wiska.
Making their collegiate debut during the Carson-Newman game were:Â
Jamel Hicks,
Manny Mendoza and
Alex Ziedas.
NIGHT GAMEWayne State's second home game of the 2014 campaign last Saturday was the third collegiate home night game in Adams Field history. The lights were added to the football stadium in August of 2012.
ALL SIX HOME GAMES TELEVISEDAll 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, while the Carson-Newman match-up was shown only a tape-delayed basis. Every game will also be available On-Demand.
WDTK AND WARRIOR ALL-ACCESSAll 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.
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WINTERS ON WEDNESDAY'SThe weekly Winters on Wednesday's 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 Wednesday's radio show airs every Wednesday from 7-8 pm on Newstalk 1400 AM (and 92.7 FM) and is simulcast on wdtkam.com.
