DETROIT – The Wayne State University football team (1-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) finished off a strong comeback effort against the Truman State Bulldogs, winning 21-20 at Tom Adams Field on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors trailed 20-7 early in the third quarter, but strong efforts from the defense as a whole in the second half catapulted the offense to scoring 14 unanswered points and sealing the victory for WSU.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Truman State jumped on the board in the first quarter after marching down the field and ending it with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Devonte Black to Felix Neboh.
• Wayne State was held scoreless in the first quarter, but scored quickly in the second period on an eight-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback D.J. Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) to sophomore wide receiver Manny Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester).
• Truman responded on the ensuing drive concluding with a 27-yard field goal from kicker Nick Dolezal to give the visiting Bulldogs a 10-7 advantage.
• After Truman State recovered a Warriors fumble, Devonte Black connects on a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brass Woods for the final score of the first half (TSU led 17-7 at intermission).
• The Bulldogs added to their lead with a 35-yard field goal from Dolezal in the third quarter.
• On the third play of the fourth quarter Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass from Zezula, pulling WSU within six at 20-14.
• After the WSU defense forced a three-and-out, sophomore Dustin Carlin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Utica Stevenson) blocked his second career punt giving the Warriors a red zone possession.  Wayne State finished the drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) putting the Warriors in the lead at 21-20.

WARRIOR PLAYER TIDBITS
• Cornerback Lairren Johnson (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) recorded his first collegiate career interception in the first quarter.
• Zezula made his first collegiate start and tossed two touchdown passes for the second consecutive game.
• Mendoza's touchdown reception in the second quarter was his first collegiate touchdown.
• Brown's rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter was the second of his collegiate career.  His first rushing TD was Sept. 20, 2014, at Malone.
• Backup tight end Aaron Weston (Comstock Park, Mich. / Rockford) made a key block in the fourth quarter in the backfield to help Zezula avoid a costly sack and rush for a 30-yard gain, WSU's longest run of the season.  Weston was filling in for fifth-year senior tight end Ethan Walsh (Canton, Mich. / Salem), who was injured in the first half last week at Michigan Tech.
 • Hicks tied his career-high in receptions (six) that he set last week against the Huskies.
 • Sophomore Paul Graham (Commerce Twp., Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) punted 11 times (most by a WSU punter since Oct. 30, 2004) for 410 yards (tied-for-10th all-time for one game).  However, his most important play was with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter and WSU leading 21-20.  The Warriors had a 4th-and-25 at the WSU 48, and the snap went over his head, he went and retrieved the ball and punted it with his left foot (normally a right-footed punter).  Even though he was only credited with 19 yards on that punt, it actually saved WSU almost 40 yards in field position had he been tackled or had it blocked.

WARRIOR TEAM TIDBITS
 • After allowing only 63 yards in the second half against Michigan Tech, the Warriors defense only permitted 60 yards on 31 plays in the second half against Truman State.
 • The WSU defense has surrendered only three points in the second half of the first two games combined this season.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
• D.J. Zezula completed 9-of-20 pass attempts for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
• Romello Brown totaled a game-high 73 rushing yards on 24 attempts along with his game-winning touchdown.
• Jamel Hicks recorded game-best totals of six receptions and 77 receiving yards, including a touchdown.
• Sophomore cornerback James Howard (Detroit, Mich. / Chandler Park Academy) led the team in tackles with 7 (five solo, two assisted) including one for loss.
• Junior cornerback Lairren Johnson, in his first career start, tallied two pass break-ups and a sack in addition to his interception.

THE FINAL STATISTICS
• Wayne State held a 271-227 edge in total offense over Truman State.
• The Warriors recorded a 174-100 margin in rushing yards.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host GLIAC foe Malone next week Saturday, September 19 at Tom Adams Field with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.