Football | 9/17/2015 8:15:00 AM

DETROIT -- Winners of five of its last six games, the Wayne State University football team (1-1, 0-1 GLIAC) host Malone (0-2, 0-2 GLIAC) at 6 PM in the first of two home night games at Tom Adams Field this season.

This weekend's game is the Tartar/Warrior Reunion contest. Whether you are a Tartar or a Warrior, join us at the game! In addition, The Warrior Jhatka student organization, which features Bollywood dancing will perform at halftime. The Campus Activities team will also host a special postgame party.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Malone enters Saturday's game with an 0-2 overall record with both defeats coming to GLIAC foes. The Pioneers fell at home to Ohio Dominican, 51-29, ranked eighth in the country at the time, to open the season. Malone faired much better last weekend with a 28-27 setback at Michigan Tech. MU was predicted to finish seventh in the South Division. Matt Blasiole is the team's leading rusher with 114 yards on 37 attempts and has accounted for all three of MU's rushing touchdowns. Will Szpor, the team's signal caller, is completing 65 percent of his passes and has thrown for three touchdowns and one interception in two games. The Pioneers, who will be leaving the league following this season for the GMAC, feature two solid receiving options. Eian Elsass has caught nine passes for 119 yards and a score with a long of 44, while Ashton Dulin has seven receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns including an 82-yard reception. Jordan Johnson is a game changer returning punts and has four returns for an average of 23.8 yards per return including a 76-yard punt return for a TD. Also, a threat in the return game is Tyler Billie, who is averaging 20.8 yards per kickoff return. Linebacker Ryan Weber leads the team with 18 total tackles, while safety Lucas Haupt has 17 tackles (13 solo). As a team, MU is averaging 24.0 points per contest on 322 yards per game and allowing 43.5 points per contest on 406.5 yards per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Malone joined the league prior to the 2012 season and WSU has taken all three meetings since. The Warriors won the first-ever meeting at Malone, 38-14 in 2012, before winning at home in 2013, 38-27. Last season, WSU topped the Pioneers 39-15 in Canton, Ohio.

LAST TIME OUT
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 to sophomore wide receiver Manny Mendoza. 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 connected 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 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 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 putting the Warriors in the lead at 21-20.

WATCH D.J. RUN
D.J. Zezula's 30-yard run against Truman State marked only the third time in the last six-plus seasons (2009-present) that a Warrior signal caller had a gain of at least 30 yards (Doug Griffin had rushes of 54 yards at Northern Michigan and 41 yards vs. Grand Valley State, both in 2013). Kevin Smith had a 34-yard carry in 2008 against Indianapolis; Randy Hutchison had two in 2003 (72 yards vs. Gannon, and 30 yards vs. Northwood) and two in 2002 (49 yards at Michigan Tech, and 37 yards at Ferris State).

WARRIOR SMARTS
Wayne State had 26 student-athletes receive Academic All-GLIAC honors for the 2014 season including two senior captains (Thom Box and Ben Walker) who were honored for the fourth time.  Three-time honorees on the current squad include Zak Bielecki, Carl Roscoe, Mike Sawchuk, Nate Theaker and Ethan Walsh.

QUICK STARTS
Over the last seven years (2008-14), WSU is 24-8 in August and September while never posting losing month during that stretch. WSU is 2-0 in August (wins in 2008 and 2009) and 22-8 in September (4-0 in 2011, 3-1 on five occasions, and 2-2 in 2013). WSU is 16-15 in October (4-1 in 2010, 3-1 in 2008, 3-2 in 2011, 2-2 in 2012, 2-3 in 2009, and 1-3 in both 2013 and 2014) and 9-8 in November (3-0 in 2014, 2-0 in 2010, 3-1 in 2011, 1-1 in 2008, 0-1 in 2009, 0-2 in 2012, and 0-3 in 2013). Additionally, the Warriors are 2-1 in December (all in 2011).

100 GLIAC WINS
With its next conference victory, Wayne State will collect its 100th GLIAC win. WSU has been a part of the GLIAC from 1975 until 1989, and currently since 1999.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Prior to a scrimmage on August 22, head coach Paul Winters selected his captains for the 2015 season. The 2015 WSU captains will be senior quarterback Carl Roscoe, senior safety Zak Bielecki, senior tight end Ethan Walsh and senior defensive end Ashawn Butler. All four are first-year captains. Prior to the announcement of the 2015 captains, nine previous WSU captains spoke about their time in Detroit:  Leit Jones (1967-69), Tom Sheppard (1967-70), Enrico Odorico (1961-63), Ed Skowneski (1972-75), Tom Hurley (1972-75), Dale Dwojakowski (1989-92), Grant Fodor (2003-06), Leo Wells (2002-05), Frank Lietke (2004-07) and Steve Lee (1988-91).

JUCO CAPTAINS
The last three Junior College players to be a captain at WSU prior to Ashawn Butler this season were Daunte Akra in 2010 after playing two years at Grand Rapids CC, Andrew Bates in 2008 after also playing two seasons at GRCC and Craig Duppong in 2003 after playing two years at Joliet JC.

WINNING WHEN EXECUTING
WSU has won its last six games when rushing for over 200 yards. During the past four season, the Warriors are 16-4 when accomplishing the feat including an 8-1 mark on the road. The only loss in that span came at Michigan Tech in 2013 (28-21). Under Coach Winters, the Green & Gold are 35-13 under those parameters including a 20-6 mark at home.

2015 SIGNING CLASS
The 30 NLI signees for 2015 marks the second largest class in Paul Winters 12 years at WSU.  The only larger signing class was in 2012 (31).

CONSISTENT LEADER
Paul Winters has become the second-longest tenured football coach in program history this fall with 12 seasons.  He was tied with the founder of WSU athletics David Holmes.  Hall of Fame coach Joseph Gembis holds the WSU record with 14 seasons (1932-45).

STAFF CONTINUITY
The football coaching staff entered the 2015 season with several names that have been with the program for a number of years. Along with Winters entering his 12th season, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Kazmierski is in his 12th season with the Green & Gold. Linebackers coach Keith McKenzie is in his eighth season, offensive line coach Scott Wooster is in his seventh season, defensive coordinator and secondary coach Brad Wilson is in his fourth season and quarterbacks coach Jeff Reardon is in his third season with the Warriors. E.J. Henderson returns to the program after serving three years previously (2004-06).

MODEL OF SUCCESS
Wayne State has compiled at least a .500 season in six of the last seven years combining for a 50-31 mark in that span.  Prior to Coach Winters arrival in 2004, The Tartars/Warriors had 10 consecutive losing seasons on the field and only one winning season on the field in 19 years.

WARRIORS ON TV
All five of Wayne State's remaining home games will be broadcast on Comcast Xfinity Channel 900.  The broadcast team of Joe Abramson, Rod Beard and Kevin Brechmacher will have the call from Tom Adams Field.  Every contest will be shown live plus each game will also be available On-Demand.

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. Former Warrior Ryan Oshnock will serve as the color analyst for three contests.

WINTERS ON WEDNESDAYS
The weekly Winters on Wednesday's radio show began its fourth season on Sept. 2 with head coach Paul Winters joining host Rod Beard and co-host Nicole Stoll. The Winters on Wednesday's radio show airs every Wednesday from 7-8 PM on 1400 AM / 92.7 FM and is simulcast on WDTKAM.com.  A new feature this year is that the broadcast will occur live at Tony V's Tavern in downtown Detroit. Fans are encouraged to attend and participate in the exciting event leading up to each game this season. There was not a show on Sept. 16 due to the Presidential debate.