DETROIT -- In a much more defensive battle than the last meeting between Wayne State (0-1 overall) and Slippery Rock (1-0 overall), which set the WSU school record for points in a season opener (99 as SRU won 62-37 in 2019), the Warriors drove inside The Rock's five-yard line in the waning seconds but were unable to score the winning touchdown as fifth-ranked Slippery Rock held on for a 24-21 triumph.
HOW IT HAPPENED - FIRST HALF
After limiting SRU to one first down on the game's opening possession, Wayne State went 55 yards in eight plays with redshirt senior
Avery Hall (Indianapolis, Ind. / Cardinal Ritter) scoring his first collegiate touchdown on a two-yard scamper. WSU led 6-0 as the PAT clinked off the right upright.
Slippery Rock took a 7-6 lead on the ensuing drive with a 75-yard scoring drive in six plays. Henry Litwin hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Koester.
WSU had a chance to regain the lead driving into the red zone, but a 25-yard field goal attempt was no good.
Two plays later, redshirt freshman linebacker
Blake Gilliam (Allen Park, Mich.) recovered a fumble at the SRU 17. But another Warrior field goal attempt was no good.
On The Rock's next possession, after driving 50 yards, a first down pass was intercepted by redshirt junior
Tieler Houston (Waterford, Mich. / Clarkston) at the Wayne State one-yard line.
Following a WSU punt, the Warrior defense stopped Slippery Rock on a fourth-down completion two yards shy of a first down.
On SRU's next possession, the visitors converted a 25-yard field goal to increase their lead to 10-6 .
On the final possession of the first half, Wayne State drove 58 yards in 11 plays to take a 14-10 lead. Graduate student quarterback
Jake AmRhein (South Elgin, Ill.) completed a seven-yard scoring toss to redshirt freshman
Myren Harris (Clinton Township, Mich. / Chippewa Valley) on a second-and-goal with Harris scoring his first collegiate touchdown with just five seconds remaining before intermission. Redshirt junior
Chase Churchill (Richmond, Mich.) completed the two-point conversion pass to redshirt sophomore tight end
Dayton Keller (Jackson, Mich. / Lumen Christi).
HOW IT HAPPENED - SECOND HALF
The first three possessions all ended in punts before Slippery Rock went 65 yards in nine plays in just 2:40 to take a 17-14 lead. Tim Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard rush with 5:45 remaining in the third stanza.
WSU responded with a 78-yard drive in 2:33 using just six plays to regain the advantage at 21-17. Hall notched his second touchdown of the contest with a 33-yard jaunt.
SRU answered with a 78-yard drive in five plays that took just 1:42. Koester scored on a 26-yard keeper giving the guests a 24-21 lead.
The Warriors were forced to punt on their next two possessions, but the Wayne State defense limited The Rock to just two first downs in the final period. A Slippery Rock punt with just under five minutes remaining was partially blocked by Gilliam. WSU converted two third-down plays and had a first-and-goal from the SRU six with less than a minute remaining. After Harris gained two yards and AmRhein three yards, the Warriors had third-and-goal from the SRU one-yard-line with 25 seconds left. Following a two-yard loss, AmRhein rolled out on fourth down but lost two yards on the keeper.
Gallery: (9-2-2021) Warrior Football vs. Slippery Rock
TEAM STATS
Wayne State had a 22-19 edge in first downs, with a significant 243-88 advantage in rushing yards. SRU passed for 316 yards compared to 57 for WSU. The Rock led in total offense 404 to 300. The Warriors had a 33:41 to 26:19 margin in time of possession.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Hall, who entered the contest with 55 career rushing yards, gained 85 yards on 19 attempts and scored twice. Harris added 84 yards on the ground, AmRhein completed 9-of-20 passes for 57 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Redshirt sophomore
Trevonte Davis (Flint, Mich. / Hamady) had team-high totals of four catches for 39 yards. Redshirt junior
Julius Wilkerson (Mequon, Wis. / Homestead) made a team-high eight tackles (5-3).
LEADING THE ROCK
Koester rushed for 52 yards and one score, while passing for 316 yards on 24-of-38 with one touchdown and one interception. Litwin hauled in nine passes for a game-high 161 yards and one score. Dalton Holt garnered a game-best 12 tackles (10-2).
UP NEXT
Wayne State will entertain the Truman State Bulldogs in a 1 p.m. start on Sept. 11th which will be Heroes Day at Adams Field.
