CANTON, Ohio – After a sluggish start, the Wayne State University football team (2-1 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) rattled off 36 consecutive points to record a 39-15 road victory at Malone University (0-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) Saturday evening at Fawcett Stadium, home of the annual NFL Hall of Fame game.
 
The Warriors drove 61 yards on the game's opening drive with senior running back Desmond Martin (Redford, Mich. / Thurston) gaining 54 yards on two carries leading to a 21-yard field goal by freshman Paul Graham (Commerce Twp., Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's).
 
After the WSU defense forced a three-and-out, a third down pass from junior quarterback Carl Roscoe (Kentwood, Mich. / Kelloggsville) bounced off the shoulder pads of wide receiver Will Wheat (Grand Blanc, Mich.) into the hands of Pioneer defensive back Daniel Tepe, who returned it 29 yards to the Warrior eight.
 
Two plays later Malone had a 6-3 advantage after the two-point conversion rush failed.
 
Another interception on the ensuing drive, preceded the Wayne State defense stopping the Pioneers.
 
For the third consecutive drive, the Warriors had a turnover (a fumble by senior quarterback Doug Griffin) but the defense re-grouped with sophomore linebacker Anthony DeDamos (Rockford, Mich.) forcing a fumble inside the five, with junior defensive tackle Ryan Hankins (Davison, Mich.) making the recovery.
 
The first period didn't end any better for WSU as a snap in shotgun formation went over Roscoe's head with the ball ending up out of the back of the end zone.  The safety pushed Malone's lead to 8-3.  The Pioneers went 48 yards in three plays following the free kick with Brandyn Eckhart completing a four-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Beers.
 
The Warrior offense responded on its first drive of the second stanza with a 62-yard drive on nine plays with Martin scoring on a seven-yard scamper.  He had six carries for 49 yards on the scoring drive which pulled the Wayne State within 15-10.
 
Neither team was able to score the rest of the half before intermission.  WSU held a 246-133 edge in total offense during the first 30 minutes but four turnovers plus a safety contributed to the Warrior five point deficit.  Martin gained 144 yards on 17 attempts prior to halftime.
 
Wayne State's defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half, with the Warrior offense putting together a nine-play, 64-yard drive to regain the lead at 18-15.  On a third-and-six, Roscoe completed a 29-yard scoring toss to senior wide receiver Michael Johnson (Detroit, Mich. / Clintondale).  Johnson had three catches for 51 yards on the drive.  Griffin scored on a two-point conversion rush.
 
The WSU defense bent but didn't break stopping the Pioneers on a fourth-and-four from the WSU 35.
 
Later in the third quarter, Wayne State's defense forced another three-and-out and the Warrior offense responded with 41-yard scoring drive that took seven plays and concluded on a three-yard touchdown jaunt by Martin.
 
On the second play of Malone's ensuing drive, Wayne State forced a fumble that was recovered at the Pioneer three.  Martin took the handoff on the next play and scored his third touchdown of the game increasing the Warrior advantage to 32-15.
 
Freshman Ron Brant (Uniontown, Ohio / Green), playing less than 30 minutes from his hometown, returned the Malone punt 34 yards setting up the WSU offense in the red zone.
 
Freshman Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill), making his collegiate debut, totaled 18 yards on two rushing attempts to score his first collegiate touchdown to complete the scoring.
 
Wayne State racked up 424 yards of total offense compared to Malone's 225 yards.  The Warriors gained 280 yards on the ground and 144 through the air, while the WSU defense limited the Pioneers to 133 rushing yards and 92 passing.
 
Martin led all rushers with 200 yards on 29 attempts with three rushing touchdowns with Malone's Justin Davis totaling a team-best 51 yards on 18 carries.
 
Roscoe passed for 143 yards on 8-of-18 with one touchdown.  Senior Sean Guinane (St. Joseph, Mich.), in his season debut, connected on his only pass attempt to freshman Manny Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester), for his first career reception.   Two Malone signal callers, plus a half-back option combined to go 6-of-20 through the air for 92 yards.
 
Johnson had game-high totals of six receptions for 79 yards.
 
WSU junior safety Zak Bielecki (Macomb, Mich. / Lutheran North) had a game-best 10 tackles, including one for loss.  The Warrior defense totaled four sacks – one each by Nores Fradi (Dearborn Hts., Mich. / Dearborn) and Jake Carrizales (Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry), along with half-sacks by Ashawn Butler (Port Huron, Mich.), Justice Akuezue (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron), Alex Medenbach (Muskegon, Mich. / Catholic Central) and Dustin Carlin (Sterling Hts., Mich. / Utica Stevenson).
 
Wayne State returns to Midtown Detroit for the next two Saturday's hosting Northwood on Sept. 27 in the annual Homecoming contest, before entertaining Tiffin on Oct. 4.