ASHLAND, Ohio -- The Wayne State University football team (1-1 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) led 12-0 after the first quarter, but fifth-ranked Ashland University (2-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) tallied the next 20 points and when the Warriors went for a tying two-point conversion pass midway through the third period, Eagle defender Dale Irby returned it 105 yards to extend the hosts advantage to 22-18.  AU then added the next 14 points before WSU scored early in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring in the 36-25 setback for the Warriors.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the WSU defense garnered a turnover on Ashland's opening possession, the Warrior offense drove 77 yards in five plays with senior Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) hauling in a 37-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback Donovan Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.).

After an exchange of punts, Wayne State junior safety Ronny Brant II (Uniontown, Ohio / Green) recovered another AU fumble, this time in the Warrior offensive red zone.  On the fifth play of the 19-yard scoring drive, junior running back Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) scored on a one-yard plunge.  After a mishandled snap on the first PAT, WSU went for two but Zezula's pass was incomplete giving the Warriors a 12-0 advantage.

The Eagles tallied the only points of the second stanza on a pair of field goals by Aidan Simenc.  The first field goal (22 yards) concluded a 14-play, 65-yard drive, while the 25-yard boot ended a nine-play, 86-yard drive.

The Warriors fumbled the second half kickoff return and the Eagles went 29 yards in five plays with Keishawn Sims scoring on a one-yard run.  Simenc's PAT gave AU its first lead of the game at 13-12.

Following a WSU punt, Ashland went 67 yards in five plays to extend the Eagle margin to 20-12.  The big plays on the drive were a 53-yard reception by Matthew Wilcox and Adam Shaheen's 14-yard touchdown reception from Travis Tarnowski.

Wayne State answered back with 73-yard drive culminating in a six-yard TD scamper by Stinson for his second touchdown run of the contest.  As mentioned in the opening paragraph, Zezula's two-point conversion pass was intercepted in the end zone by Irby and returned for a defensive PAT making the score 22-18 in favor Ashland.

Sims scored his second rushing touchdown of the quarter on the ensuing possession giving the hosts a 29-18 lead.

After a WSU turnover on downs, the Eagles used eight plays to cover 86 yards and completed the scoring drive on a six-yard pass from Tarnowski to Wilcox.

Wayne State responded with a five-play, 75-yard drive with Manny Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) catching a nine-yard touchdown throw by Zezula.

WSU's last two possessions ended in a punt and an interception.

TEAM STATS

Ashland led 554 to 403 in total offense, which included a 249-200 advantage in rushing yards.  WSU passed for 203 yards with the Eagles passing for 305 yards.

There were six turnovers in the contest as each team lost two fumbles and threw an interception.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Brown rushed for a game-high 148 yards on 17 attempts (8.7 yards per carry) to lead the Warrior ground game which rushed for exactly 200 yards.  Sims (102 yards) and Andrew Vaughn (100 yards) paced the Eagle rushing attack.

Zezula completed 12-of-23 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, while Tarnowski was 20-of-32 for 305 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Hicks led the Warriors with 85 receiving yards, while AU's Wilcox totaled a game-best 108 receiving yards.

WSU senior middle linebacker Anthony DeDamos (Rockford, Mich.) recorded a game-high 14 tackles (7 solo, 7 assisted) which included a 1/2 sack along with his third career interception.

WORTH NOTING

All 17 of Brown's rushing attempts were for positive yardage.

Sophomore defensive end Derrick Coleman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Country Day) had a career-best five tackles (1-4).

DeDamos, with his game-best 14 tackles, surpassed the 200 tackle plateau for his career at 118 solo and 87 assisted for 205 total stops.

Hicks became the 12th player in WSU history with over 1,200 receiving yards.  His career totals stand at 72 receptions for 1,204 yards and nine touchdowns.  His nine touchdown receptions places him in a 10th-place tie with Tom Badalementi (1983-85) and Dean Morrison (1974-77).

Senior linebacker Idris Hobdy (Flint, Mich. / Powers) had his second carry fumble recovery.  His first came on Sept. 20, 2014, against Malone.

Senior cornerback Brandon Lee (Detroit, Mich. / Southeastern) notched his fourth career forced fumble.

After having his nine-game reception streak end in the season opener, Mendoza had three catches for 41 yards including his fifth career touchdown reception.

Sophomore Deiontae Nicholas (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) had 144 kickoff return yards on five attempts, including a career-long 35-yard return.

Sophomore tight end Preston Pelham (Tecumseh, Mich.) had his first career reception, an 11-yard catch on and second-and-seven play in the second quarter.

Stinson garnered his second career two-rushing touchdown performance matching his effort on Sept. 19, 2015, vs. Malone.

Zezula moved into 11th place on the WSU all-time passing touchdowns chart with his two TD tosses at Ashland.  With 19 passing touchdowns, he trails Richard Popp (1983-86) by one for 10th place.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play its 2016 home opener this coming Saturday, Sept. 17 at Tom Adams Field.  There will be a 6 p.m. kickoff for the contest against Lake Erie in a rematch of the highest scoring game in WSU history last season in which the Warriors won 56-54.