Wayne State fell to GVSU on Sept. 24 by a final score of 48-9.

Football 11/3/2022 9:52:00 AM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Football Gets Set for Rematch with Grand Valley State

The Warriors have two games remaining this season.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State will head to Allendale, Mich., for a rematch against Grand Valley State this Saturday afternoon. The Warriors and Lakers met on Sept. 24 at Tom Adams Field with GVSU winning 48-9.

WSU has lost six straight games, with the last four being one-score contests. GVSU has ascended to No. 1 in the country, thanks in large part to a 22-21 victory over then No.1-Ferris State on Oct. 15.

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY STATE
Not much has changed since the last time these two teams met, as Grand Valley State is dominant in just about every statistical category.

The Lakers are averaging nearly 41 points per game, while putting up an average of 483.6 yards per contest. The offense is conducted by veteran quarterback Cade Peterson, who has 1,740 yards through the air, 331 on the ground and 16 total touchdowns.

Peterson isn't lacking for weapons on the outside, as three of his receivers have amassed 300 receiving yards so far this season. Jahdae Walker is the leader of the group, with 22 catches for 424 yards and four touchdowns this year.

Jaylon Tillman and Cody Tierney have combined to add 49 catches for 775 yards and six touchdowns in the passing game.

On the ground, Tariq Reid has been the workhorse back for the Lakers. Reid is second in the league in rushing yards per game, and has rushed for 716 yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games.

Defensively, Abe Swanson has continued to be an All-GLIAC level player totaling 61 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Aiding Swanson are Christian McCarroll and Anthony Cardamone. Those two have combined for 42 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hurries.

In the secondary, GVSU has ball hawks all over the place, as eight players have come away with an interception this season. Nyzier Fourqurean has one of those picks and an impressive eight pass break- ups.

ALL-TIME SERIES
These two teams met earlier this season, with the Lakers grabbing a 48-9 victory over the Warriors at Tom Adams Field on Sept. 24.

Overall, GVSU leads the all-time series 37-6, with the last Wayne State win being a 31-17 victory over the No. 19-ranked Lakers in 2019.

The Green and Gold are 3-17 at Grand Valley State and Paul Winters is 1-15 in his 19-year career against the Lakers.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Wayne State's strength of schedule for games played is fifth at .645 (40-22). The future SOS is third nationally at .938 (15-1). The season SOS is first at .705 (55-23). The GLIAC has four teams in the top six of NCAA Division 2 in terms of season SOS. Trailing the Warriors are Michigan Tech (No. 2 / .643), Ferris State (No. 3 / .634) and Davenport (No. 6 / .594).

WILKERSON NAMED A FINALIST
Wayne State University redshirt senior linebacker Julius Wilkerson has been selected as one of 15 national finalists for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy

The William V. Campbell Trophy is presented annually to the top football scholar-athlete in the nation. Wilkerson is the first WSU football player in 104 years to be honored as a finalist. In addition, he is just the fourth GLIAC football student-athlete to be recognized joining Ferris State's Mike Klobucher (2006), FSU's Jason Vander Laan (2015) and Grand Valley State's Tyler Bradfield (2020).

Wilkerson, who will be completing his bachelor's degree in Psychology in December, hopes to earn a master's degree in Social Work. Fifteen finalists will each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments.

CLOSE BUT NOT ENOUGH
Despite the incredibly tough strength of schedule, Wayne State has remained competitive in many of its games this season. Of the seven losses this season, five have come by one score.

Furthermore, Wayne State has led in each of those five games. In the last three games, the opponent has scored with under a minute left to claim the lead and eventually go on to win the game.

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 four in the GLIAC in terms of rushing yards per game. On the season, the duo has combined for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 37 catches for 437 yards in the passing game.

The duo was a nightmare for the Huskies on Oct. 8 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.

The pair continued that strong play on Oct. 15 at Davenport, combining for 212 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while adding three receptions for 47 yards in the receiving game. As a team, WSU rushed for 272 yards vs. the Panthers.

Harris and Williams are third and fourth, respectively in rushing yards per game and with six touchdowns apiece, they are tied-for-sixth in the entire league in rushing scores.

PLAYING RANKED OPPONENTS
Wayne State is 12-38 against teams ranked inside the top 25 under Coach Winters (does not include forfeit by SVSU in 2005). The Warriors topped two ranked teams in 2019 - SVSU (#25) and GVSU (#19) - and also beat Ashland, who was ranked 27th when the teams met on Oct. 19, 2019. Prior to the 24-20 win over SVSU in 2019, WSU's last victory came on Sept. 13, 2014, against 13th-ranked Carson Newman at Tom Adams Field.

The Warriors have played one of the toughest schedules in the country thus far, and the road doesn't get easier. WSU has dropped games to #23-Slippery Rock (Sept. 3), #3-Grand Valley State (Sept. 24) and #24-Saginaw Valley State (Oct. 22) so far this year. Davenport was ranked 27th when they faced the Warriors last month.

The Green and Gold will meet a pair of top-10 opponents to conclude the season. WSU will travel to GVSU for a rematch against the Lakers, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the country. To conclude the regular season, Wayne State will square off with the defending national champion Bulldogs of Ferris State. FSU is ranked No. 7 in the current national coaches poll.

BUSCHMAN CREATING HAVOC FOR OPPOSING OFFENSES
Graduate student linebacker Matt Buschman leads the Warriors in sacks (3), quarterback hurries (4), fumble recoveries (4) and forced fumbles (2). He also leads the team in total tackles (51) and is second on the squad in tackles for loss (5.5).

Buschman leads the GLIAC and is tied-for-first nationally with four fumble recoveries. His four pass break-ups are the most of any non-defensive back on the roster.

WARRIORS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
Statistically, Wayne State is among the nation's leaders in several areas. With 10 fumble recoveries, the Warriors are second in the GLIAC and 14th nationally in that category.

WSU is fourth in the conference and 45th nationally in rushing yards per game, averaging 177.4 yards per contest. In punting, the Green and Gold is averaging 35.57 per punt, which ranks fourth in the conference and 47th nationally.

Individually, Matt Buschman has been a menace on the defensive side of the ball. His four fumble recoveries are tied for first nationally. Additionally, Kendall Williams has been making an impact all over the field, as he ranks first in the GLIAC and fourth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (166.50).

Griffin Milovanski is tied-for-second in the GLIAC and tied-for-47th nationally in made field goals (8), while Josh Kulka ranks 66th nationally in yards per completion (12.31).

Furthermore in terms of career rankings, Myren Harris is 11th in Division II and 31st across all divisions in rushing yards per game (96.1). Harris is also 25th in D2 in all-purpose yards per game (111.71), while Williams is 31st (105.94).

Julius Wilkerson and Griffin Milovanski have also been strong throughout their careers, ranking among the nation's top 30 in a few categories. Wilkerson is 28th in Division II with 7.24 tackles per game. Milovanski is tied-for-ninth in career field goal percentage (.789 / 15-of-19) and 30th in field goals made per game (0.88).

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.

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.

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