This is WSU's second road game of the season.

Football 10/6/2022 12:00:00 PM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Football Heads North for Battle with Michigan Tech

The Warriors are 19-12 all-time against the Huskies.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State heads north to Hougnton, Mich., for its second road game of the season, as WSU visits Michigan Tech.

Both the Warriors and Huskies will be looking for their first GLIAC wins of the season. The Green and Gold have lost three straight, while MTU has lost four consecutive contests since a season-opening 23-13 win over Wisconsin-Platteville.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
The Huskies haven't been the most explosive offense, scoring just over 20 points per game so far this season. That group is led by quarterback Will Ark, who has completed 57 passes for 668 yards and five touchdowns. The Huskies' signal caller has also thrown five interceptions.

Ark's favorite target is one of the premiere playmakers in the GLIAC, as Darius Willis ranks near the top of all the league's receiving categories. On the season, Willis has hauled in 24 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, all which lead the team. In addition, Willis leads the GLIAC in kickoff return average at 27.2 yards per return.

Aiding the attack through the air will be Brandon Michalak and Ethan Champney, who have combined for 23 catches, 383 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, MTU will look for Will Marano to find some running lanes. He is the team's lone rusher over 100 yards this season. In total, Marano has 240 yards and a pair of scores in 2022.

Defensively, the Huskies have perhaps the best tackler in the league in Marc Sippel. He leads the GLIAC with an impressive 55 tackles, including nine for loss. He has also forced a fumble and recovered two loose balls.

Josh Cribben will also make some noise for MTU, as he has posted 21 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season.

The Huskies' secondary has come away with five interceptions this season, led by Sam Ahern, who has two. Three different players have an interception for MTU this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Wayne State has a 19-12 lead over Michigan Tech in the all-time series, but the Huskies got the best of the Warriors last season, earning a 30-27 victory at Tom Adams Field.

However, in the all-time series, WSU is 9-7 in Houghton, with the last road win coming in October of 2017 (20-14). Michigan Tech has won six of the last eight meetings overall.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Wayne State's strength of schedule for games played is tied-for-16th at .684 (13-6). The future SOS is second nationally at .773 (17-5). The season SOS is first at .732 (30-11). The GLIAC has the top four teams in NCAA Division 2 in terms of season SOS. Trailing the Warriors are Davenport (.684), Michigan Tech (.667) and Ferris State (.650).

WARRIORS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
Statistically, several Warriors are among the best in the nation this season. Kendall Williams leads the GLIAC and is 11th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (164.00). He also ranks second in the conference and 22nd nationally in kickoff return yards (338).

Griffin Milovanski is tied for the GLIAC lead and tied-for-21st nationally in made field goals per game (1.20). Matt Buschman, Emarion Perkins and Julius Wilkerson are tied-for-third in the GLIAC in fumble recoveries (1), which is tied-for-38th nationally.

Josh Kulka ranks 38th nationally in yards per completion (13.43) and Hadi Jawad is 11th 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 7.58 tackles per game, while his 197 tackles in 26 games ranks 46th. Myren Harris is 28th nationally in all-purpose yards at 104.93 yards per game.

KULKA CONTINUES TO SHINE
Against Grand Valley State on Sept. 24, quarterback Josh Kulka surpassed 300 yards passing for the first time in his young career.

He tallied 306 yards through the air, getting the ball to seven different receivers. All seven had two or more receptions.

Kulka became the first WSU quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in a game since Mickey Mohner passed for 439 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-24 triumph over Lake Erie College on Oct. 8, 2011.

He continued to build on that strong performance by throwing for 241 yards and accounting for two scores against Northern Michigan last week. The Warriors' young signal caller continues to spread the ball around, as six different receivers had two or more receptions.

MILOVANSKI CONTINUES STRONG STRETCH
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 buried 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 last Saturday.

Milovanski has made 13 career field goals, which puts him in eighth place in school history.

FRESH FACES
Of the 68 student-athletes to play for Wayne State during the first five games of 2022, 33 had never played a down in college before this season. Thirty (30) are former WSU letterwinners (12 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, 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 in the top 50 nationally in kickoff return average (24.1), while his 338 kickoff return yards ranks 15th nationally.

In just 15 collegiate games, Williams has totaled 1,395 all-purpose yards (569 rushing, 488 receiving, 338 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 carried the rock five times 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.

POTERACK KEEPS MAKING PLAYS
Graduate student tight end Nick Poterack scored WSU's lone touchdown at Slippery Rock on a fourth down reception from Elijah Taylor.

Against Shaw, Poterack continued to be a big target for the WSU gunslingers. On a double-lateral pass, Poterack was left all alone, notching the first touchdown of the night for Wayne State. Poterack's 33-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of the night for the Green and Gold. The touchdown grab was the seventh of his career and moved him into a tie-for-18th in Wayne State history.

He continued his strong stretch in the Wisconsin-La Crosse contest with 39 receiving yards and tying for the team lead with two receptions. His biggest play was a 20-yard grab on third-and-15 that helped set up the first touchdown of the game for Wayne State.

Continuing his recent string of successful games, Poterack hauled in three passes for 50 yards, which helped quarterback Josh Kulka surpass 300 yards against GVSU on Sept. 24.

After collecting a pair of catches for 22 yards against Northern Michigan last Saturday, Poterack has 623 career receiving yards, which is tied for 41st in program 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

#85 Nick Poterack: TE; 6' 4"; Graduate Student

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

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

#85 Nick Poterack
: 6' 4"; Graduate Student
: TE

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