DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (1-3 overall) fell 48-9 in a home non-league contest to third-ranked Grand Valley State University (4-0 overall) Saturday evening at Tom Adams Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Warriors went three-and-out before the Lakers went 69 yards in 11 plays with quarterback Cade Peterson tossing a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jahdae Walker on third-and-seven.  It was GVSU's fifth first down on the drive.

Junior Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to the Grand Valley State 34.  The 66-yard return by Williams equals the 10th-longest non-scoring kickoff return in program history.  On fourth-and-13, sophomore place-kicker Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) connected on a 37-yard field goal attempt.  Milovanski has made 12 career field goals, which ties him for eighth place in school history with Brad Newitt (1998-99), Stephen Wayne (2001-04) and Greg Gundersen (2003-04).

On the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Laker running back Tariq Reid scampered 59 yards down the left side for a touchdown giving the guests a 13-3 lead (the PAT following the first touchdown hit the right upright and was no good).

The teams exchanged punts on the final drives of the opening stanza.

Second Quarter
After a WSU punt to start the second period, GVSU drove 88 yards in eight plays with Peterson hooking up with Jaylon Tillman on a 50-yard touchdown pass on third-and-10.  It was Grand Valley State's second third-down conversion on the drive.

Wayne State failed to convert on fourth-and-one from the GVSU 35, but the Warrior defense forced a three-and-out.

WSU drove inside the GVSU 30 yard line, before quarterback Josh Kulka (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley) caught his own batted pass then fumbled giving the Lakers the ball at the Grand Valley 44 for the final 41 seconds before intermission.

Third Quarter
Grand Valley State drove 75 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive of the second half to increase its lead to 27-3.  Reid had a two-yard touchdown run with 10:42 left in the period.

The Wayne State offense responded with a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Sophomore running back Myren Harris (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley) gained four yards on a fourth-and-one, then later in the drive Kulka rushed 33 yards for a touchdown on third-and-five.  It was the first rushing TD by a WSU quarterback in 13 games, since Jake AmRhein had a two-yard touchdown jaunt vs. Truman on Sept. 11, 2021.  The two-point conversion pass was no good.

GVSU went 75 yards in 13 plays with Reid notching his third rushing touchdown of the contest.

Fourth Quarter
Following a WSU punt, Jack Provencher had a 13-yard touchdown run with 5:18 remaining.  

In the final minute, GVSU's Jimmy Downs had a 37-yard interception return to complete the scoring.

TEAM STATS
Grand Valley State had a 489-360 edge in total offense, including a 232-54 advantage on the ground.  GVSU was 9-of-16 on third and fourth downs combined.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Kulka completed 25-of-43 passes for 306 yards.  He also had a team-best 30 rushing yards.  Williams finished with a game-high 226 all-purpose yards (159 on kickoff returns, 65 receiving, and two rushing).  Freshman Dion Brown, Jr. (Davison, Mich.) had a game-best six receptions for 62 yards.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Reid rushed for 140  yards and three touchdowns, while Peterson was 9-of-17 for 172 yards and two scores.  Tillman had five receptions for a game-high 99 yards.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will complete its four-game home stand with a 6 p.m. Homecoming game kickoff vs. Northern Michigan.