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Football 10/7/2021 4:07:00 PM Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Football Hosts Michigan Tech for 84th Annual Homecoming

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State hosts Michigan Tech for the annual Homecoming contest on Saturday night. The Warriors are looking to avoid an 0-6 start for the first time since the 1999 season when WSU went 0-11.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
Michigan Tech has started the 2021 season 2-2 overall and won its GLIAC opener at home over Davenport, 31-7. The Huskies will be playing on the road for the first time this season. Head coach Steve Olson is in his fifth season at the helm.

Junior Will Ark has thrown for 631 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception in four games. Sophomore William Marano leads the team with 171 rushing yards and a touchdown, while senior Jared Smith has totaled 118 yards on the ground. Junior Jordan Janssen has a team-best 22 receptions for 236 yards and two scores, while senior Hunter Richards is second with 148 receiving yards on 11 catches and two TDs.

Senior Marvin Wright is the Huskies' top tackler with 33 stops, while freshman Josh Cribben and freshman Austin Schlict both have 5.5 tackles for loss. Freshman Drew Wyble is 2-for-3 on field goal attempts and is averaging 33.1 yards per punt.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Wayne State leads 19-11 in the all-time series against Michigan Tech, including a 10-4 mark at home. The Warriors have won two of the last three meetings. Head coach Paul Winters is 5-8 (3-3 at home) versus the Huskies in his time at Wayne State.

LAST TIME OUT
Wayne State suffered a heartbreaking 26-19 setback at Northern Michigan last Saturday in the league opener for both squads at the Superior Dome. The Warriors led 19-0 midway through the third quarter before the Wildcats scored 26 unanswered points in just under 18 minutes.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Warriors drove into the red zone after a 28-yard completion to Kameron Ford 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.

HOMECOMING HISTORY
Wayne State began playing Homecoming contests in 1935 and has compiled a 44-38-1 mark in the first 83 Homecoming games. Last year (2020) was the third time the annual Homecoming match-up was not played. The first two were in 1943 (game canceled by Otterbein) and 1944 (World War II).

The Michigan Tech Huskies have been the Homecoming opponent just once before in 2011, with the Warriors claiming a 27-10 victory. WSU won 10 consecutive Homecoming games from 2005 through 2014, before falling to Grand Valley State in 2015. Wayne State won in 2016 (41-30 over Hillsdale) and 2018 (55-21 over Northwood).

Hillsdale has been the most frequent guest for Homecoming games playing WSU nine times from the first Homecoming contest in 1935 until the aforementioned 2016 match-up. The last game at Tartar Field was the 1967 Homecoming game vs. Central Michigan, while the first game in the current stadium was a 61-29 triumph over Washington (Mo.) in the 1968 Homecoming contest.

OFF THE FIELD ACCOLADES
Linebacker Julius Wilkerson was selected to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team last month. He became the fourth Warrior, joining Alan Guy, Trent Brodbeck and Luke Bevilacqua, to be selected to the 11-man non-NCAA Division 1 squad in the history of the program.

For the second straight year, offensive lineman Lane Potter has been named a national semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. He was the only GLIAC player recognized.

ALMOST A SCHOOL RECORD
Warrior freshman Eli Haddad recorded the second-longest non-scoring punt return in school history with a 68-yard return last Saturday at Northern Michigan. 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 to the day prior to Haddad's return.

SCOOP & SCORE
Kori Moore's fumble return for a touchdown vs. Saginaw Valley State was the first by a Warrior since Nores Fradi took a Northwood miscue 12 yards in a 31-17 Wayne State victory on October 5, 2013. Ironically, WSU had two fumble returns for a touchdown in 2013 as Ed Viverette had a 42-yard fumble return against Ashland in the first collegiate night game in Adams Field history on Sept. 14, 2013.

NEXT MAN UP
Over the last 10-plus quarters, Chase Churchill has completed 28 passes for 434 yards with four touchdowns to one interception. After replacing the injured Josh Kulka late in the second quarter at Missouri S&T, Churchill made his first collegiate start vs. Saginaw Valley State on Sept. 25th

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPACT
Redshirt freshman Myles Harris had one kickoff return at Missouri S&T in his first collegiate game. On Sept. 25th vs. Saginaw Valley State, Harris averaged over 30 yards per kickoff return, including a WSU season-long 43-yard return which set up WSU's final touchdown. Ironically, the scoring play was a 32-yard reception by his twin brother, Myren.

WIDE RECEIVER DUO
Tre Davis and Jesse Prewitt III have combined for 34 receptions in five games this year for 643 yards and five touchdowns. Davis (18.4) and Prewitt (19.9) are both averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. Davis is currently second in the GLIAC in yards per catch (18.4), tied-for-second in receiving touchdowns (3), third in receiving yards (404), and tied-for-third in receptions (22).

CAUSING HAVOC
Linebacker Brandon Tuck-Hayden forced three fumbles versus Saginaw Valley State, equaling the school record set by Greg Hasse in a second round playoff game at Nebraska-Kearney on November 26, 2011. Tuck-Hayden recorded two forced fumbles in both 2018 and 2019, and is tied-for-third in program history (with Hasse) with seven forced fumbles in a career. Hall of Famer Ed Viverette is first with nine, while Nores Fradi had eight forced fumbles.

MORE TUCK
Tuck-Hayden had at least one tackle for loss in each of the first four games this season and currently leads the squad with 4.5 tackles for loss (3 solo, 3 assisted). His 21.5 tackles for loss in a career, is the second-highest active total behind Jalen Lewis' 23.5.

IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
The Warriors eclipsed the school record of 671 yards of total offense (set Sept. 30, 1967, at Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a 39-31 WSU win) by totaling 673 yards at Missouri S&T. The 673 yards was the second-highest output in Division 2 this season.
The 96 combined points by the Missouri S&T Miners and Wayne State was only the second-highest scoring extra session game in program history. WSU lost 58-50 in triple overtime at Mercyhurst on Sept. 15, 2007. Joique Bell ran for 227 yards and four touchdowns vs. the Lakers.

The 94 offensive plays at Missouri S&T were the fourth-most in program history and the most since the school-record mark of 103 at Ashland on Nov. 3, 2007, as Wayne State fell 63-42 at the 23rd-ranked Eagles. The 94 plays are the most by an NCAA Division 2 team this fall.

The 735 all-purpose yards recorded by WSU was the fifth most in school history and the most since the school-record total of 787 vs. Lake Erie College on Nov. 7, 2015, in a 56-54 Warrior victory at Tom Adams Field.

A 67 YEAR-OLD RECORD GOES DOWN
Tre Davis finished the Missouri S&T game with a school-record 244 receiving yards on nine receptions, along with two touchdowns. The previous mark of 239, which stood for nearly 67 years, was set by Dick Lisabeth on Oct. 22, 1954, in a 39-0 Tartar victory over North Dakota State. The 244 receiving yards in a single game in the most by a Division 2 wide receiver in 2021. Ironically, the second-highest mark is by Miner Breon Michel who totaled 234 vs. the Warriors last Saturday.

OVERTIME WOES
The overtime contest in Rolla, Mo., was the first for Wayne State since the 42-41 double-overtime triumph over Ashland on Oct. 19, 2019. WSU is 5-10 all-time in overtime contests, including a 3-5 road mark. The Warriors are 2-8 in games that a winner was decided in the first overtime.

WARRIORS & BROTHERS
The football roster has five sets of brothers on the squad, including Lane and Ty Potter, Myren and Myles Harris, Noah and Max Nicklin, Jacob and Aaron Mass, and David and Caleb Green. The Harris' and Green's are twins. In addition, senior right tackle Joe Ziedas is the younger brother of former lineman Alex Ziedas. Furthermore, wide receiver Darrin King II is the son of former Tartar Darrin King, who recorded 295 tackles (142-153), while playing in all 41 games during his Tartar career (1988-1992).

NEW FACES
Of the 64 players who have donned the Green and Gold this season, 30 are former letterwinners, and Kameron Ford has been in the program, but has not lettered.

Three student-athletes made their Wayne State debuts this year - Shavez Hawkins, Jr. (played in eight games for Minnesota Crookston in 2017 and suited up for the Papago Pumas Junior College in 2019); Karmi Mackey spent the last four years at Eastern Michigan; and Darien Tipps-Clemons appeared in 10 games for Eastern Kentucky in 2018.

In addition, 29 football players have made their collegiate debuts this year. The lone true freshman to take the field this season is Davison product Te'Avion Warren.

Making their collegiate debut in the Slippery Rock contest, in addition to Warren, were Blake Bustard, Damond Duncan, Chandler Edwards, Blake Gilliam, Eli Haddad, Myren Harris, Dayton Keller, Kofe Kimbrell, Darrin King II, Jesse Prewitt III, Kane Quinlan, Donte Reed, Drake Reid, Chrishoun Roberts, Cameron Rogers, Kaveon Ross, Arnold Saidov, Jeremy Taras, A.J. Terry, and Kendall Williams. Jelani Harbor, Josh Kulka and Cole Price made their collegiate debuts in the Truman game. David Green, Myles Harris, Martell Hill and Griffin Milovanski made their collegiate debuts at Missouri S&T.

Amari Hampton and Ty Potter were the 31st and 32nd student-athletes to make their WSU debuts against SVSU.

The lone players in their fourth season of competing are Jake AmRhein, Luke Bevilacqua, Jalen Lewis and Lane Potter. Eleven (11) players began their third season and another 14 started their second year of active competition.

WARRIOR PODCASTS
There will be two podcasts from the WSU Athletic Department this fall - "What I've Heard" with Director of Athletics Rob Fournier and "Inside the Playbook" with Paul Winters. Both can be found on the podcasts page at WSUAthletics.com.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
There are several ways fans can watch or listen to Wayne State Football this season. Every contest can be heard live on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM) or online at PatriotDetroit.com. Veteran Detroit broadcaster Sean Baligian is in his 13th season calling Warrior football. Former Warrior tailback and kick returner Josh Renel will again be joining Baligian in the booth. Renel provided color commentary for one game in 2012 and nearly every game for seven seasons (2013-19). In addition, former WSU defensive end Brady Beedon will fill-in for Renel on selected broadcasts and will also handle the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight features for WDTK. Former Warrior defensive back Ryan Oshnock served as the analyst for the Sept. 25th broadcast.

Every home game can be seen live on Comcast CN900 in the state of Michigan. Check your local listings for replay times. Joe Abramson returns for his 13th year on the Comcast broadcast and sixth as play-by-play announcer. Rod Beard enters his 10th year as a member of the WSU broadcast crew, while WWJ Afternoon Co-Anchor Tony Ortiz is starting his fifth year as a member of the broadcast crew. Kevin Brechmacher, who has served as the radio voice of Wayne State basketball the last six seasons, will fill-in on the crew for selected games. In addition, every home clash will be streamed for free via WSU All-Access at WSUAthletics.com.

FAN POLICY AT TOM ADAMS FIELD
Fans are required to provide proof of vaccination with their card, or a photo on their phone prior to entering Tom Adams Field. All fans will be required to go through a check-point before entering Tom Adams Field.

Fans that are not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask at all times, as well as children under the age of 12. A limited number of individually wrapped disposable masks will be available for fans at the game entrance.
WSU students will have to show their passed daily screener, and can enter Tom Adams Field through the student entrance. WSU encourages all fans to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status. Fans are encouraged to stay home if they are feeling sick.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Jake AmRhein: QB; 6' 4"; Graduate Student

#42 Luke Bevilacqua: PK/P; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

#74 Blake Bustard: T; 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman

#14 Chase Churchill: QB/H; 6' 4"; Senior

#93 Damond Duncan: DT; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Chandler Edwards: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#87 Kameron Ford: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#46 Blake Gilliam: OLB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#16 Caleb Green: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#24 David Green: CB; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#18 Jake AmRhein
: 6' 4"; Graduate Student
: QB

#42 Luke Bevilacqua
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: PK/P

#74 Blake Bustard
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Freshman
: T

#14 Chase Churchill
: 6' 4"; Senior
: QB/H

#93 Damond Duncan
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DT

#1 Chandler Edwards
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#87 Kameron Ford
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#46 Blake Gilliam
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: OLB

#16 Caleb Green
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#24 David Green
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: CB