The Warriors are are 1-1 this season.

Football 9/15/2022 1:00:00 PM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Football Prepares for Tough Test Against Wisconsin-La Crosse

The Warriors and Eagles have never met in football.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State continues its stretch of four consecutive home games, as it plays host to Wisconsin-La Crosse this Saturday at Tom Adams Field.

The Warriors opened the season with a setback at No. 23-Slippery Rock, but WSU bounced back with a 30-22 victory in the home opener versus Shaw on Sept. 10. That was the first ever meeting between the two teams.

The Green and Gold will look for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019. The Warriors won four straight games to end the season with wins over Northwood, Davenport, Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE
The Eagles bring a 2-0 record to Detroit, having outscored their opponents 72-10. UWL collected wins against Dakota State (NAIA) and the University of Dubuque (NCAA Division 3). The Division III power went 9-3 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Defense has been the calling card for the Eagles early this season, as they have held opponents to 193 yards per game. Leading the way in the tackling department is Ryan Daines, who has totaled 11 (6 solo, 5 assisted) on the season. Josh Dorschner has 10 tackles (2 solo, 8 assisted) plus a team-best two quarterback hurries.

Meanwhile Jaden Stovall and Charlie Kramer have notched interceptions, with Stovall also adding a sack.

On offense, UWL is balanced, as the Eagles average 225 yards on the ground and 186 through the air. The Eagles deploy a two quarterback system, with Cade Garcia and Keyser Helterbrand rotating in behind center.

Joey Stutzman has rushed for 263 yards on 38 attempts (6.9 yards per carry) for the Eagles this season. Jack Studer leads UWL in both receiving yards (97) and touchdown catches (3).

Ryan Beirne is 9-for-9 on PATs and has made a 28-yard field goal.

ALL-TIME SERIES
This will be the first football meeting between the two schools. Wayne State and Wisconsin La-Crosse have never met in any of the four major sports sponsored by Wayne State (football, basketball, baseball, softball).

TOM ADAMS HOME COOKING
Tom Adams Field is not an easy place to play for visiting programs. The Warriors have defended their home turf well in the past 13 seasons (2008-19, 21-22) compiling a 47-29 record. WSU had a winning record at Adams Field for nine straight seasons, until a 2-4 record in 2017. In the Coach Winters' era, the Warriors are 54-42 (.563) in home games.

WSU went 36-21 at Tom Adams Field during the 2010s and has a 222-227-19 all-time record at home in the first 103 years of the program as Detroit Junior College (1918-23), College of the City of Detroit (CCD / 1923-34), Wayne University (1934-56) and WSU (1956-present).

EARLY SEASON SUCCESS
Since the start of the 2008 season, WSU has a 34-24 record for games played in August and September. The Warriors are 30-28 in October during that same time period, 15-15 in November, and 2-1 in December.

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.

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.

BUSCHMAN LEADS DEFENSE TO VICTORY
Eastern Michigan graduate transfer Matt Buschman totaled five tackles (1 solo, 4 assisted) in his WSU debut at Slippery Rock, along with a quarterback hurry. In last Saturday's triumph over Shaw, Buschman recorded a team-best nine tackles (4 solo, 5 assisted), which included a sack, forced fumble and an eight-yard fumble return all on the same play.

WILLIAMS CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
Redshirt junior Kendall Williams tallied 153 kickoff return yards at Slippery Rock, which ranks tied-for-eighth in school history. The school record of 191 kickoff return yards in a game was set by Val Showers in 2014 vs. Carson-Newman, and equalled a year later by Jordan Billingslea against Lake Erie.

In his next game against Shaw, Williams led the Warriors in rushing, recording 154 yards and two touchdowns. He had a game-long run of 65 yards. Williams also caught four passes for 26 yards against the Bears and finished with 197 all-purpose yards.

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.

MILOVANSKI STAYS PERFECT
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).

YOUNG PLAYERS MAKE AN IMPACT
Newcomers for Wayne State have played a pivotal role early in the season. After recording five tackles (2 solo, 3 assisted) in the season-opening game at Slippery Rock, freshman Elijah Fowlkes started at cornerback versus Shaw, where he registered four tackles (2 solo, 2 assisted), including a half-sack along with two pass break-ups.

Kicking wise, Hadi Jawad has been terrific, as the young punter has averaged 41.9 yards on eight punts with three being downed inside the 20-yard line.

Six players made their collegiate debut against Shaw giving WSU 31 players who have made their collegiate debut in 2022. Safety Chidiebere Anaele made his first career tackle, while safety Chris Gillam notched two solo stops for the Warriors. Also donning the Green and Gold for the first time were tight end Tommy Guajardo, linebacker Justin Hart, fullback Nick Hayward, and safety Draven Wilson.

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)

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.

The first two home games will be aired live on Comcast CN900 in the state of Michigan. Check your local listings for replay times. Joe Abramson returns for his 15th year on the Comcast broadcast and sixth as play-by-play announcer. Rod Beard enters his 11th year as a member of the WSU broadcast crew, while WWJ Afternoon Co-Anchor Tony Ortiz is starting his sixth year as a member of the broadcast crew.

In addition, every home contest will be streamed via WSU All-Access at WSUAthletics.com. A 24-hour pass to watch home events is available for $5.95, a monthly pass will cost $9.95, and the yearly pass is being sold for $69.95.

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Players Mentioned

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

#48 Justin Hart: OLB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#34 Nick Hayward: FB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

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

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

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

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

#11 Elijah Taylor: QB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#4 Kendall Williams: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

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

#48 Justin Hart
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: OLB

#34 Nick Hayward
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: FB

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

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

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

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

#11 Elijah Taylor
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

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

#4 Kendall Williams
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: RB