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Wayne State University Athletics

A.J. Nichols 2022 vs. SVSU
A.J. Nichols had his first collegiate touchdown reception in the SVSU game.
21
Winner Saginaw Valley CARDINAL 6-2 , 1-2
14
Wayne State WS 1-7 , 0-4
Winner
Saginaw Valley CARDINAL
6-2 , 1-2
21
Final
14
Wayne State WS
1-7 , 0-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CARDINAL Saginaw Valley 0 7 0 14 21
WS Wayne State 0 14 0 0 14

Game Recap: Football | | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

WSU Football Falls on Last Minute TD

Warriors led 14-7 until two fourth quarter touchdowns by No. 24-SVSU.

DETROIT -- For the third consecutive week, the Wayne State University football team (1-7 overall, 0-4 GLIAC) allowed a game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter.  No. 24-Saginaw Valley State University (6-2 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) trailed 14-7 entering the final period but a touchdown run at the mid-point of the stanza preceded a nine-yard touchdown run by Derrick Hinton, Jr. with 55 seconds left giving the visiting Cardinals a 21-14 win at Tom Adams Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Each team went three-and-out on their initial possessions.  WSU garnered four first downs on its next drive, which ended with a fourth down incompletion at the SVSU 31.  The big play on the drive was a 13-yard reception by freshman wide receiver Dion Brown, Jr. (Davison, Mich.) from sophomore signal caller Josh Kulka (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley) on a third-and-eight.

After the Cardinals went three-and-out, Nick Whiteside intercepted a Kulka pass returning it to the WSU 30.  On second down of the ensuing drive, Saginaw Valley quarterback Andrew Brito mishandled the ball while leaving the pocket and graduate student Matt Buschman (Brighton, Mich.) returned the fumble 18 yards.  It was Buschman's GLIAC-leading fourth fumble recovery of the season.

The Warrior defense limited SVSU to seven yards of offense in the opening 15 minutes on just eight plays.

Second Quarter
The Wayne State drive concluded on the second play of the second period as Kulka found true freshman wide receiver A.J. Nichols (Wauwatosa, Mich. / Wauwatosa East) open over the middle with Nichols recording his first career touchdown reception on the 17-yard pass play.  Kulka had three straight completions on the drive -- 17 yards to junior Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) on third-and-eight, Nichols for 10 yards, and Brown for 11 yards.

Saginaw Valley State answered back with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 3:59.  Brito completed the 13-yard scoring toss to Dante Barthwell on third down.  Isaiah Malcome had a 28-yard rush on second-and-14 from near midfield.

The next four drives (two for each team) ended in punts with only one first down combined being recorded.

WSU took over at the SVSU 37 with 2:32 remaining before intermission and scored in four plays to take a 14-7 lead.  On fourth-and-one, Williams went around the left end for the 28-yard touchdown carry.

At halftime, the Warriors held a 187-91 edge in total offense.

Third Quarter
Hinton began the second half with a 93-yard kickoff return, however on the first play from scrimmage Malcome fumbled with senior defensive end Jacob Mass (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) recovering for the Warriors.

The Wayne State offense drove across midfield before freshman punter Hadi Jawad (Dearborn, Mich.) boot was downed at the SVSU one-yard line.

After Mass recorded a 12-yard tackle for loss on second down, Brito was sacked by junior Kane Quinlan (Troy, Mich. / Birmingham Brother Rice), who also recovered the fumble.

WSU earned one first down on the ensuing possession, but a 30-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Fourth Quarter
SVSU punted, but Kulka was intercepted on third down and returned to the WSU 31.

Saginaw Valley State scored the tying touchdown on a three-yard rush up the middle by back-up quarterback Jairus Grissom with 7:42 remaining in the final period.  SVSU's scoring drive covered 31 yards in seven plays and took 3:16.

The Warrior offense went three-and-out and SVSU went 65 yards in 11 plays on the next drive using 4:33 on the clock to score the winning touchdown.  Hinton scored on a nine-yard jaunt around the right end.

Wayne State crossed midfield thanks to a roughing the passer penalty, but the final pass play fell incomplete.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State had a 310-279 edge in total offense, along with a 32:08 to 27:52 advantage in time of possession.   SVSU rushed for 179 yards compared to 66 for the Warriors.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Williams rushed for a team-high 51 yards, but 28 came on the touchdown run.  Kulka completed a season-high 26 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown, but had two interceptions, and was sacked three times.  Williams (60 yards), Brown (51 yards) and Nichols (49 yards) each had five receptions.  

LEADING THE CARDINALS
Grissom rushed for a game-best 81 yards and a touchdown, while Malcome added 78 yards on the ground.  Brito completed 12-of-17 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown, but was sacked three times.  Grissom was 2-of-3 for 11 yards.  Hinton totaled a game-high 141 all-purpose yards (22 rushing, a team-best 26 receiving and 93 on a kickoff return).

WAYNE STATE NOTE
Five of WSU's seven losses have been by a combined 26 points.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will be idle next Saturday (October 29), before traveling to Grand Valley State for the final road game of the season on November 5.

 
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