The Warriors are 6-4 over their last 10 meetings with the Wildcats.

Football 9/29/2022 9:05:00 AM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Football Opens GLIAC Play Against Northern Michigan

The Warriors are 43-39-1 in Homecoming games.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State concludes its four-game homestand this Saturday evening with the GLIAC season opener versus Northern Michigan.

It is also Homecoming week for the Warriors, and the Green and Gold currently boast a 44-39-1 (.530) record in Homecoming games. Additionally, in GLIAC openers over the last five seasons, Wayne State has collected a 3-2 record.

SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Northern Michigan enters Saturday's contest with a 2-2 record, having notched wins over Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Sept. 10) and Post (Sept. 24).

The Wildcats have played close games this season with the first three contests decided by a total of 20 points. NMU is averaging 25 points per game compared to their opponents 21.5. The Warriors played a tight game at NMU last season, but the Green and Gold eventually fell, 26-19.

The Northern Michigan offense is balanced, touting one of the league's best quarterbacks and fielding a capable rushing attack. Drake Davis is the Wildcats' signal caller, and he is the main player to watch for NMU.

On the season, Davis has thrown for 610 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 36 carries and 166 yards on the ground. He is completing over 66 percent of his passes.

Leading the way on the ground is Tyshon King, who averages an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. He has rushed for 388 yards and two touchdowns in NMU's first four games.

Davis has two favorite receivers in Wyatt Davis and Keyon'ta Skinner. Davis has hauled in 10 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns, while Skinner has caught 14 balls for 228 yards and a pair of scores.

Defensively, Justin Peake and John McMullen lead the way for NMU. Peake is among the league leaders in tackles, currently sitting at 36 for the season.

McMullen has been a headache for opposing offenses, as he has been living in the backfield. Over the team's first four games, he has collected 23 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northern Michigan leads the all-time series 19-15, but the Warriors have had the upperhand lately. Over the last 10 meetings, the Green and Gold have won six of those match-ups.

Additionally, WSU is 9-7 at home versus the Wildcats compared to a 6-10 mark on the road. Wayne State's last home win versus the Wildcats was a 26-24 triumph on Nov. 4, 2017.

KULKA'S KEEPER
Quarterback Josh Kulka carried the rock five times last week versus Grand Valley State, 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.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
WSU has the toughest strength of schedule the rest of the year at .762 (16-5). Wayne State's current SOS of .909 (10-1) is tied-for-4th. The cumulative SOS of .813 (26-6) is the highest in Division II.

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).

On fourth-and-13 against GVSU, Milovanski 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).

BUSCHMAN'S BREAKOUT
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 the Sept. 10 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.

He continued that strong play versus Wisconsin-La Crosse tallying seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and an interception.

Against rival GVSU, Buschman tied for the team lead with seven tackles (5 solo, 2 assisted). He also added a pair of quarterback hurries, which pushes him to three on the season.

On the season, Buschman is leading the team in tackles (29) and sacks (2.0), is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (3.0), and is second on the team in interceptions (1).

KULKA'S CAREER DAY
Against GVSU last Saturday, 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.

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 40 nationally in kickoff return average (24.1), while his 338 kickoff return yards ranks ninth nationally.

In just 14 collegiate games, Williams has totaled 1,283 all-purpose yards (530 rushing, 415 receiving, 338 kickoff returns).

FRESH FACES
Of the 68 student-athletes to play for Wayne State during the first four 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 last Saturday in the Grand Valley State contest were true freshman wide receiver Sam Watts and redshirt freshman linebacker Noah Foster.

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.

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 last Saturday.

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.

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.

The All-Access Broadcast crew consists of Joe Abramson, Rod Beard and Tony Ortiz. Abramson is in his 15th year calling WSU games and seventh as play-by-play announcer. Beard is in his 11th year, while WWJ Afternoon Co-Anchor Tony Ortiz is in his sixth year as a member of the broadcast crew.

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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

#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

#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

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

#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

#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