DETROIT – The 22nd-ranked Wayne State University football team (7-1 overall, 7-1 GLIAC) blanked the visiting Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (4-3 overall, 4-3 GLIAC) over the final 33 minutes to turn an eight-point halftime advantage into a 42-14 triumph.  The sixth consecutive win for the Warriors marks the longest in program history since the 2010 and 2011 squads combined for 10 consecutive victories from October 23, 2010, through October 8, 2011.

HOW IT HAPPENED

WSU took the opening kickoff and used 7:40 on the clock to take a 6-0 lead.  Junior running back Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) scored on a four-yard run to conclude the 14-play, 86-yard drive.  He had nine carries for 61 yards on the scoring drive.  Sophomore quarterback Donovan Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) completed 3-of-4 passes for 19 yards on the drive, including an eight-yard completion to sophomore Logan Smith (Norton Shores, Mich. / Mona Shores) on a third-and-six.

After an exchange of punts, SVSU took its only lead of the game, 7-6, on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Conklin to Max Corcoran with 1:49 remaining in the opening stanza.

The Warriors grabbed the lead for good after sophomore Deiontae Nicholas (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) recovered a fumbled punt by the opposition for the second consecutive week.  WSU covered the final 12 yards in three plays with junior Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) scoring on a four-yard run up the middle with 10:04 left in the second period.

On the ensuing drive, senior safety Lairren Johnson (Warren, Mich. / Lincoln) notched his third career interception and returned it 27 yards to the SVSU 22.  After five carries by Brown, freshman kicker Luke Bevilacqua (Lake Orion, Mich.) connected on a 22-yard field goal attempt increasing the Wayne State advantage to 16-7 with 5:48 remaining in the first half.

The Cardinals answered with a 75-yard scoring drive that took just five plays.  Conklin and Corcoran teamed up for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:17 left before intermission.

The Warriors responded just before halftime as Stinson had a 31-yard kickoff return to ignite the drive.  On second-and-25, Zezula completed a screen pass to Stinson, who made it a 45-yard pass play.  Smith hauled in a 14-yard reception from Zezula on third-and-four giving WSU a first-and-goal.  Three plays later Zezula called his own number and rushed in from six yards out for his first career rushing touchdown.

Wayne State had a 229-113 edge in total offense during the first 30 minutes including a 22:47 to 7:13 margin in time of possession.

On Saginaw Valley's second possession of the third quarter, the Cardinals moved into field goal range but senior Valorian Cunningham (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Loy Norrix) blocked his second kick in the last three weeks.

The Warrior offense took advantage of the field position and used an 11-play drive to cover 45 yards with Brown scoring on a seven-yard jaunt with 4:04 left in the third quarter.  WSU led 28-14 after the drive of 6:51.

On the ensuing kickoff into the wind, Wayne State redshirt freshman Stephen Charron (Palm Harbor, Fla.) raced down the field to recover the free ball at the SVSU 27-yard line.  After Brown gained 11 yards on a third-and-two, Zezula found senior tight end Aaron Weston (Comstock Park, Mich. / Rockford) in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

The next three drives combined ended in punts, before the Warriors put together a six-play scoring drive that covered 44 yards.  Nicholas had four rushing attempts for 40 yards, before Brown pounded his way into the end zone on first-and-goal from the Cardinal four-yard line to complete the scoring with 8:01 left in the contest.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State held a 265-30 edge in rushing yards along with a 385 to 166 margin in total offense.  WSU dominated time of possession (43:08-16:52).

The Warriors converted 10-of-17 third down plays compared to 3-of-10 for Saginaw Valley State.

WSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Brown rushed for a game-high 154 yards on a season-high 29 carries in scoring three rushing touchdowns.  Nicholas chipped in with 59 yards on eight attempts.

Zezula completed 13-of-20 passes for 120 yards and a score with no interceptions.

Senior Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) had a team-best four receptions, while Stinson had a game-high 45 receiving yards.

Four members of the Warrior secondary tied for the team lead with three tackles each:  junior safety Ronny Brant II (Uniontown, Ohio / Green), junior cornerback James Howard (Detroit, Mich. / Chandler Park Academy), senior safety DeAndre Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids) and senior cornerback Brandon Lee (Detroit, Mich. / Southeastern).

SVSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Senior David Nay rushed for a team-best 15 yards on six carries, with Conklin passing for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-27.  Corcoran tallied a game-high five catches for a game-best 54 yards.

Dillon Dixon recorded a game-high 13 tackles (9-4).

WORTH NOTING

Brown moved into seventh place on the all-time WSU rushing chart with 2,543 yards passing Craig Duppong (2002-03), L.C. Bulger III (1983-87) and quarterback Ed Skowneski (1972-75).

Brown also tied Hall of Famer Joe Gough (1991-94) for fourth place on the all-time rushing touchdowns chart with 33.

Brown has rushed for at least 145 yards in 10 of the last 13 games, including the final five contests of the 2015 campaign.

Despite playing just 19 collegiate games, Zezula is tied-for-fifth in career passing touchdowns with 26 (with Dan Gray, 2000-02).

UP NEXT

Wayne State begins a two-game road trip next Saturday (Oct. 29) with a 1 p.m. kickoff at No. 25 Ferris State.