MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University football team (0-5 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) suffered a heartbreaking 26-19 setback at Northern Michigan University (3-2 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) on Saturday in the league opener for both squads at the NMU Superior Dome.  The Warriors led 19-0 midway through the third quarter before the Wildcats scored 26 unanswered points in just under 18 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

Each team was forced to punt on its initial possession of the game, but Warrior freshman Eli Haddad (Rockford, Mich.) recorded the second-longest non-scoring punt return in school history with a 68-yard return to the Wildcat eight-yard line.  The school record for longest non-scoring punt return is 73 yards set by James "Tex" Whisonant vs. Akron on October 2, 1937, exactly 84 years ago today.

However, WSU fumbled on the next play.  The Wayne State defense forced a fumble five plays later which was recovered by middle linebacker Julius Wilkerson (Mequon, Wis. / Homestead).

On the sixth play of the ensuing drive, freshman Myren Harris (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley) scored his second career rushing touchdown from six yards out on a third-and-four play.  Harris had four carries for 20 yards on the 24-yard scoring drive.  Freshman Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) connected on the PAT giving WSU a 7-0 lead, its first 7-0 lead in a game this season (WSU scored first against Slippery Rock but missed the PAT to lead 6-0).

Second Quarter

After the third consecutive punt of the second period (two by NMU, and one by WSU), the Warriors drove 65 yards in 13 plays with Harris notching his second rushing touchdown of the contest.  Wayne State converted three third-down plays on the drive, including a 24-yard completion from signal caller Chase Churchill (Richmond, Mich.) to Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) on a third-and 15 during the first series of the drive.

Churchill gained three yards on quarterback draw on a third-and-two to keep the drive alive, and Harris plowed in from a yard out on third-and-goal.  The PAT kick was wide right making the score 13-0.

In a defensive first half, Wayne State had a 157-60 edge in total offense along with an 18:52 to 11:08 advantage in time of possession.

Harris finished the opening 30 minutes with 18 carries for 70 yards, while Churchill was 5-of-9 for 52 yards with the Warriors converting 7-of-10 third-down opportunities.

Third Quarter

After the Warrior defense forced a three-and-out on the opening series of the second half, the WSU offense drove 61 yards in eight plays with tight end Nick Poterack (Byron Center, Mich.) hauling in a six-yard scoring toss from Churchill for his first touchdown of the season, and third career TD reception.

The host Wildcats answered with a 65-yard scoring drive as quarterback Drake Davis scored on a one-yard sneak, then completed a two-point conversion pass to Wyatt Davis cutting the Wayne State advantage to 19-8.

The Warriors gained one first down on its next possession, but had to punt.  The Northern Michigan drive carried over into the fourth period as the Wildcats converted a third-and-three on the final play of the stanza.

Fourth Quarter

NMU drove to the Warrior 24 but a second down sack and a third-down incompletion led to a punt.  WSU punted on the ensuing possession.

The Wildcats engineered a 15-play drive, covering 59 yards concluding with a 32-yard field goal by Daniel Riser pulling Northern Michigan within one score at 19-11 with 3:24 left in the contest.

Wayne State was unable to fall on a pooch kickoff and NMU took advantage going 12 yards in four plays converting a fourth-and-four from the six.  Davis then completed the two-point conversion pass to Yale Van Dyne with 1:59 left knotting the score at 19-19.

WSU lost one yard after two incompletions and was forced to punt with 1:30 remaining.  On Northern Michigan's first play from scrimmage after the punt, DJ Stewart rambled 50 yards down the right side line for the game-winning touchdown with 1:10 left.

The Warriors drove into the red zone after a 28-yard completion to senior Kameron Ford (Novi, Mich. / Walled Lake Western) with under 20 seconds remaining.  A spike on first down stopped the clock, and was followed by a one-yard sack and an incompletion in the end zone on the game's final play.

TEAM STATS
Northern Michigan held a slim 314-307 margin in total offense, which included 254 yards by the Wildcats in the second half.  WSU led in rushing yards (188-149) and time of possession (30:11-29:49), but NMU won the passing yards battle 165-119.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Myren Harris rushed for a career-high 126 yards on 26 attempts with two touchdowns.  Churchill completed 11-of-22 passes for 119 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.  Harris had a team-high three catches, while Ford led with 38 receiving yards.

LEADING THE WILDCATS
Stewart led NMU with 90 rushing yards on 10 attempts.  Davis passed for 165 yards and one touchdown on 21-of-36 with no interceptions.  Van Dyne led the Wildcat receiving corps with a game-high five catch for a game-best 50 yards.

UP NEXT 
Wayne State returns to Detroit next Saturday (Oct. 9th) to face Michigan Tech in the annual Homecoming contest.  Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.