DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (4-1 overall, 4-1 GLIAC) raced out to a 41-10 lead and defeated visiting Hillsdale College (3-2 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) 41-30 in the 80th Homecoming game at WSU.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Warriors garnered 14 points on its first two drives and added another scored just before intermission for a 21-10 advantage at halftime.

Wayne State recorded three touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half to increase its margin to 31 points (41-10) early in the fourth stanza.

After the Warrior defense forced a punt on the game's opening possession, the WSU offense drove 87 yards in eight plays with junior Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) scoring on a four-yard rush on a third-and-three.  Big plays on the drive were a  35-yard scamper by Brown on the first play, followed by a 29-yard reception by Deiontae Nicholas (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) on the very next snap.

The Chargers went three-and-out on their next series and Wayne State used just three plays to cover 66 yards in 1:29.  Sophomore quarterback Donovan Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) connected with senior wide receiver Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) on a short pass that Hicks took for 60 yards.  Two runs by junior Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) covering a total of six yards put the hosts in front 14-0 just over nine minutes into the contest.

Following a punt by each team, Hillsdale drove into WSU territory but a fake punt on fourth-and-two was stopped for no gain.  The Chargers did get on the scoreboard on their next possession with a 38-yard field goal by Steven Mette.  Then Hillsdale pulled within four at 14-10 on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Chance Stewart to Trey Brock.

WSU fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, but the Warriors stopped a fourth down pass.  The Wayne State offense then responded with a two-play, 66-yard drive with Zezula and Nicholas combining for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 2:13 left in the second quarter.

WSU had a 274 to 188 edge in total offense in the first 30 minutes, including an 86-40 edge in rushing yards.

The Warriors began the second half with a nine-play, 68-yard drive that used 3:56 on the clock.  WSU garnered four first downs on the drive including two on third down with a five-yard completion to senior tight end Trent Brodbeck (Toledo, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit) and a 47-yard scoring toss from Zezula to Nicholas.

After the Wayne State defense forced a three-and-out, the Warrior offense went 61 yards in seven plays with Stinson scoring on a 12-yard jaunt following a 12-yard reception by senior tight end Aaron Weston (Comstock Park, Mich. / Rockford).

The WSU defensive unit notched its sixth three-and-out of the game on Hillsdale's next possession, and the Wayne State offense responded with a 12-play, 79-yard drive culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Brown with 12:56 left in the game.  The Chargers totaled 14 yards of offense in the third quarter.

HC scored the three touchdowns over the final 10 minutes to make the final score much closer.  When WSU took a 41-10 lead, the total offense read 497 yards for the Warriors compared to 202 yards for the Chargers.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State led in rushing yards 250-83 and in total offense 514-390.

The Warriors were 6-of-13 on third down and 1-of-2 on fourth down, while the Chargers were 6-of-17 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down.

WSU did not allow a sack or a tackle for loss, while the Wayne State defense recorded four sacks.

WSU INDIVIDUAL STATS

Brown rushed for a game-high 157 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts (6.8 yards per carry), while Stinson added 82 yards on 16 carries.

Zezula finished 10-of-20 for 264 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.  Nicholas had three catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns, with Hicks adding three receptions for 75 yards.

Nicholas totaled 231 all-purpose yards (3 rushing, 141 receiving and 87 on kickoff returns).

HC LEADERS

Joe Reverman rushed 13 times for 87 yards and one score, while Stewart was 31-of-53 for 307 yards and three touchdowns.  Brock caught all three of Stewart's TD tosses and finished with 10 catches for a game-best 146 yards.

WORTH NOTING

Brown moved into 10th place on the WSU all-time rushing chart surpassing Thabiti Williamson (1999-02).  Brown has rushed for 2,220 yards in 20 games (111 yards per game) after gaining 102 yards in four games as a redshirt freshman in 2014.  He also moved within one rushing touchdown of Josh Renel's (2008-11) fifth place mark of 28 rushing touchdowns.  Brown has scored 162 points which ranks 12th, just behind Elbert Richmond's (1950-52) 11th-place mark of 163 points.

Stinson has already eclipsed his 2015 rushing touchdown total of six with eight in five games this year.  His 106 all-purpose yards marked the fourth time in his Warrior career he had at least 100 all-purpose yards in a contest.

Zezula advanced into 10th place on the all-time passing yards chart moving past Carl Roscoe (2012-15) and Anthony Frederick (1992-95).  Zezula has passed for 2,789 yards in 16 games.  His 24 passing touchdowns rank seventh in school history, just one behind T. Richard Brown (1950-52) for sixth place.  Zezula set a season-high with 264 passing yards, which is his most since tossing for 284 yards on Nov. 7, 2015, vs. Lake Erie.  He has thrown for at least 200 yards in four of the five games this year.

Hicks moved past Chris George (1991, 94-96) into 11th place on the all-time receptions list with 84.  He needs two catches to equal Dean Morrison (1974-77) for 10th place.

Junior wide receiver Manny Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) had a season-long 27-yard reception.

Nicholas set a career-high with 231 all-purpose yards.  His previous best was set in week two this season at Ashland with 144 all-purpose yards.

Weston's reception was his first since an 11-yard touchdown grab against Walsh on October 25, 2014.

Senior safety Lairren Johnson (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) totaled a career-high and game-best nine tackles (8-1).

UP NEXT

After completing its three-game home stand at 3-0, Wayne State will play a noon contest next Saturday (Oct. 8) at Findlay.  The Oilers suffered a 20-17 home field setback to Ferris State earlier tonight to fall to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC.