BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Wayne State University football (2-3 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) suffered a 59-17 setback at 15th-ranked Ferris State University (3-1 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at Top Taggart Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a three-and-out by the WSU offense on the game's opening possession, the Bulldogs blocked a Warrior punt with FSU's Danny Collins recovering in the end zone for a 7-0 lead for the hosts.
Following another Wayne State punt, Ferris State drove 63 yards in nine plays with quarterback Travis Russell scoring on a two-yard keeper to make it 14-0.
A fourth down pass by the Warriors on the ensuing series was intercepted at the WSU 36. FSU's Wyatt Ford connected on a 23-yard field goal attempt for a 17-0 Bulldog advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Wayne State covered 64 yards in 10 plays with place-kicker
Paul Graham (Commerce Twp., Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) making a 26-yard field goal attempt early in the second period. It was Graham's first field goal attempt (and make) since Nov. 14, 2015, at Hillsdale.
The Warriors lost fumble inside their own 10-yard line led to a one-yard touchdown plunge by Jahaan Brown.
WSU had a punt partially blocked on its next drive, which led to a Robert Thomas three-yard touchdown scamper and a 31-3 lead for Ferris State.
Despite fumbling a kickoff return, Wayne State retained possession at its own seven yard line. On third-and-six, junior quarterback
D.J. Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) found classmate
Corey Ester (Lake Orion, Mich.) behind the Bulldog secondary for an 89-yard touchdown pass. It was the fifth-longest completion in the 100 years of WSU football.
FSU answered with a seven-play, 72-yard drive concluding with a one-yard quarterback draw by Russell, which gave the Bulldogs a 38-10 lead at intermission.
Ferris State scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Samson Tai (Newark, Calif. / Newark Memorial) then intercepted a Bulldog pass on WSU's next defensive series.
On the fourth play after the pick,
Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) went around the left end for a 56-yard touchdown run. Stinson went over 100 yards for the fourth time in his career.
FSU added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
TEAM STATS
Ferris State had a 488-324 edge in total offense, including a 260-177 advantage in rushing yards.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Stinson rushed for a game-high 135 yards on 12 carries. Zezula was 10-of-20 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Ester had his first 100-yard receiving game with three receptions for 104 yards.
Kyle Toth (Hudsonville, Mich.) recorded a game-high 16 tackles (9-7), including a half-tackle for loss.
LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Russell completed 12-of-18 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Russell also gained a team-high 56 yards on the ground, including two touchdown carries. Malik Taylor had a game-best four catches along with a team-high 86 receiving yards.
UP NEXT
Wayne State returns home after back-to-back road losses to begin a two-game homestand starting this Saturday at 6 p.m. against nationally ranked Grand Valley State.
