Wayne State's game against Davenport will kick off at 12 PM.

Football 10/13/2022 9:00:00 AM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Football Set for Clash With Davenport

The Warriors are 3-1 all-time versus Davenport.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State continues play on the road for a second consecutive contest, as the Warriors head west to Davenport for a Saturday match-up. Wayne State is in search of its first GLIAC win of the season.

The Panthers come in winners of five straight contests, while Wayne State has dropped four consecutive games. However, the Warriors are 3-1 all-time against the Panthers, including a 3-0 record in Caledonia, Mich.

SCOUTING DAVENPORT
After struggling for most of last season, Davenport has flipped the script in 2022. The Panthers are 5-0 and have proved to be one of the most explosive offenses in the GLIAC.

Led by signal caller Jason Whittaker, the Panthers are averaging just over 36 points per game. Whittaker is one of the top quarterbacks in the league thus far, averaging 217.8 passing yards per game. He has thrown 14 touchdown passes, while no other quarterback in the league has more than eight. He has also rushed for two scores.

Whittaker has help at receiver, with the Panthers boasting a prolific set of pass catchers. Sy Barnett, Preston Smith and Roy Livingstone have each had terrific starts to the season. Barnett leads the way, totaling 466 yards on 34 catches with four touchdowns.

Smith has contributed 25 catches for 383 yards and three scores, while Livingstone has been living in the end zone. Six of his 17 catches have gone for six points. He has totaled 228 receiving yards on the season.

In the running game, Kyshawn Richards and Caleef Jenkins have proved to be a solid 1-2 punch. Richards has 37 carries for 328 yards (8.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns, while Jenkins has gained 280 yards on 55 attempts with four scores.

Defensively, Payton Mitchell leads the way with 44 tackles, but it's the defensive line that has really stood out for Davenport this season.

Malik Barrow and Austin Alward have been a menacing combo up front, combining for 48 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks.

In the defensive backfield, Nick Cain, Darrin Cotton and Shaq Floyd have been strong. Cain and Cotton each have two interceptions this season, while Floyd has three pass break-ups and a pick of his own. Floyd's interception was returned for a touchdown against Northern Michigan in week two.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Wayne State has a 3-1 edge in the first four games of the series. The Warriors have spent most of their time in Caledonia, as they have compiled a 3-0 mark in road games against the Panthers. The Green and Gold defeated Davenport 16-3 at the Farmers Athletic Complex last season.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Wayne State's strength of schedule for games played is tied-for-34th at .586 (17-12). The future SOS is first nationally at .905 (19-2). The season SOS is first at .720 (36-14). The GLIAC has the top four teams in NCAA Division 2 in terms of season SOS. Trailing the Warriors are Davenport (.667), Ferris State (.646), and Michigan Tech (.636).

OPTIONS IN THE BACKFIELD
Coach Winters has to be happy when he looks into the running back room and sees a pair of consistent performers. Myren Harris and Kendall Williams both rank in the top six in the GLIAC in terms of rushing yards per game. On the season, the duo has combined for 904 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, while adding 29 catches for 330 yards in the passing game.

The duo was a nightmare for the Huskies last Saturday in Houghton, Mich., as Harris and Williams helped the Warriors rack up 414 yards on the ground. Harris led the way with 296 yards and a pair of scores. It was the sixth best rushing performance in Wayne State history.

Williams was strong as well, carrying the ball 11 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 29 yards and returned four kickoffs for 72 yards.

WARRIORS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
Statistically, several Warriors are among the best in the nation this season. Kendall Williams leads the GLIAC and is seventh nationally in all-purpose yards per game (173.7). He also ranks second in the conference and 13th nationally in kickoff return yards (410).

Griffin Milovanski leads the GLIAC and is tied-for-11th nationally in made field goals (8). Matt Buschman, Chris Gillam, Emarion Perkins and Julius Wilkerson are tied-for-fourth in the GLIAC in fumble recoveries (1), which is tied-for-52nd nationally.

Josh Kulka ranks 55th nationally in yards per completion (13.01), and Hadi Jawad is eighth in NCAA D2 in punting with an average of 43.2 yards per attempt.

Furthermore in terms of career rankings, Wilkerson is 21st among all active NCAA D2 players averaging 7.44 tackles per game, while his 201 tackles in 27 career games ranks tied-for-50th. Myren Harris is seventh in rushing yards per game at 102.4, and 17th in all-purpose yards per game for a career at 119.27.

SOPHOMORE SENSATIONS
Sophomore running back Myren Harris recorded the third-most rushing yards in a game in Division 2 this year by rushing for 296 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan Tech. He averaged over eight yards per carry (8.2) and with a nine-yard reception along with a 16-yard kickoff return, Harris totaled 321 all-purpose yards.

Sophomore kicker Griffin Milovanski totaled 10 points at Michigan Tech on two field goals and four extra points. He also averaged 44.0 yards per punt on two attempts (his first punts of the season) with one inside the 10 (8 yard line to be exact). For the season, Milovanski is 8-of-10 on field goals, and 14-of-14 on extra points to rank second in the GLIAC among kickers with 38 points.

FRESH FACES
Of the 69 student-athletes to play for Wayne State during the first six games of 2022, 33 had never played a down in college before this season. Thirty-one (31) are former WSU letterwinners (13 on offense, 17 on defense, plus one on special teams). Four others have participated for the Green and Gold, but had not lettered, plus Matt Buschman.

Making their collegiate debuts on Sept. 24 in the Grand Valley State contest were true freshman wide receiver Sam Watts and redshirt freshman linebacker Noah Foster.

WILLIAMS A WEAPON ON KICKOFF RETURN
Junior Kendall Williams had 159 kickoff return yards vs. Grand Valley State (9/24), which is tied-for-sixth most in program history. His 66-yard return following the game's first score is tied-for-10th longest non-scoring kickoff return in school history.

Williams currently ranks 57th nationally in kickoff return average (22.8), while his 410 kickoff return yards ranks 13th.

In just 16 collegiate games, Williams has totaled 1,617 all-purpose yards (690 rushing, 517 receiving, and 410 kickoff returns).

WILKERSON GETS RECOGNIZED
Redshirt senior linebacker Julius Wilkerson was nominated for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The annual award, presented by the National Football Foundation, honors those who excel in the classroom, community and on the field. Wilkerson is a First-Team All GLIAC player and was selected to the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

KULKA'S KEEPER
Quarterback Josh Kulka had five rushing attempts versus Grand Valley State (9/24), but his most impressive rush was a 33-yard touchdown scamper midway through the third quarter.

The score was the first rushing touchdown by a Warrior signal caller in over a year. The last rushing score by a quarterback for WSU came from Jake AmRhein on Sept. 11, 2021, against Truman State.

Additionally, the last 30-plus yard rush by a quarterback was in September of 2019, as Dakota Kupp took off for 39 yards at Truman State.

Touchdown wise, Kulka's rushing score was the longest by a Warrior quarterback since Doug Griffin's 54-yard touchdown rush at Northern Michigan on Oct. 26, 2013.

MORE MILOVANSKI
After making 7-of-8 field goal attempts in 2021, sophomore Griffin Milovanski has been a weapon for the Wayne State offense in 2022. He connected on a 36-yard field goal attempt at Slippery Rock and drilled three more against Shaw to earn GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Along with field goals of 27 and 28 yards against the Bears, Milovanski connected on a 48-yard field goal, which is tied for the ninth longest made field goal in Wayne State history.

His third field goal of the night against Shaw marked the first time since November 4, 2017, (Paul Graham vs. Northern Michigan) that a WSU kicker made at least three field goals in a game (Graham made four in a 26-24 triumph over the Wildcats).

Milovanski connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt vs. GVSU, and followed with a 37-yard make against Northern Michigan.

The pressure didn't get to Milovanski at Michigan Tech, as the young kicker nailed a pair of field goals to help the Warriors stay in the game against the Huskies. Both of his makes were from 24 yards out. His first field goal gave the Warriors a 10-7 advantage, while his second make of the day extended the Warriors' lead to 34-28 in the fourth quarter.

Milovanski has made 15 career field goals, which puts him in eighth place in school history.

GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Ferris State (35 points, five first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (32 points, two first-place votes)
3. Michigan Tech (24 points)
4. Saginaw Valley State (22 points)
5. Northern Michigan (14 points)
6. Wayne State (12 points)
7. Davenport (8 points)

WINTERS NAMES CAPTAINS
Head coach Paul Winters named the team's four captains prior to the team's scrimmage on August 20. Graduate student offensive lineman Cooper Kukal, redshirt-fifth year defensive lineman Sean Banaszak, redshirt senior linebacker Julius Wilkerson and redshirt junior cornerback Drake Reid were selected.

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 returns for his 14th season calling Warrior football.

WSU Hall of Fame tailback and kick returner Josh Renel will again be joining Baligian in the booth. In addition, former Warrior defensive end Brady Beedon will provide color commentary for selected broadcasts and will also handle the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight features for WDTK.

The radio pre-game show will start 15 minutes before a road contest and 30 minutes prior to a home game.

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Players Mentioned

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

#98 Sean Banaszak: DE; 6' 4"; Redshirt Fifth Year

#40 Noah Foster: OLB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#7 Myren Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#63 Cooper Kukal: C; 6' 4"; Graduate Student

#12 Josh Kulka: QB/H; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#38 Griffin Milovanski: PK/P; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#8 Emarion Perkins: OLB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#3 Drake Reid: CB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#52 Julius Wilkerson: MLB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#98 Sean Banaszak
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Fifth Year
: DE

#40 Noah Foster
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: OLB

#7 Myren Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#63 Cooper Kukal
: 6' 4"; Graduate Student
: C

#12 Josh Kulka
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: QB/H

#38 Griffin Milovanski
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#8 Emarion Perkins
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OLB

#3 Drake Reid
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: CB

#52 Julius Wilkerson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: MLB