Football 10/11/2023 2:20:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Concludes Home Stand With Unbeaten Davenport

WSU will play three of its final four games on the road after this Saturday.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State will conclude its four-game home stand by hosting #16-Davenport on Saturday, October 14. The contest is the penultimate home game of the season for the Warriors and the second of two under the lights with kickoff at 6 p.m.

The Warriors snapped their three-game losing skid last weekend with a 23-21 triumph over Michigan Tech in WSU's GLIAC opener. Wayne State enters Saturday 2-2 at Tom Adams Field this fall.

The Panthers come to Detroit with a perfect 5-0 record on the line. DU is making its first visit to the Motor City since October 6, 2018, which was also Davenport's first-ever game played at Adams Field.

SCOUTING DAVENPORT
DU improved to 2-0 in league play and 5-0 overall last Saturday with a 28-12 victory over Northern Michigan. By allowing just 12 points to the Wildcats, Davenport lowered its season points allowed per game total to 15.0, the best mark in the GLIAC.

The Panthers have had major contributions from a pair of players who transferred to Caledonia from Wayne State in the offseason. Redshirt junior running back Myren Harris paces the conference with 119.6 yards per game on the ground – 38 more YPG than the second highest average. Harris has rushed for over 100 yards in four straight contests, with three touchdowns. He also threw for a 33-yard score vs. William Jewell on September 23.

Graduate student linebacker Julius Wilkerson leads the team and is fifth in the GLIAC with 46 total tackles. Other defensive standouts include redshirt junior defensive end Austin Alward with a team-best 6.5 tackles for loss for fifth in the GLIAC and junior defensive lineman Geemontae Peck with 3.5 sacks to pace his squad and rank fourth in the league. Eight different Panthers have garnered an interception this season.

While Harris may draw much of the attention on offense, Davenport carries an assortment of other weapons to draw from. Quarterback Jason Whittaker is in his second season as starter, and the graduate student is first in the conference in passing yards per game (202.0). He has contributed to his team averaging just over 33 points per game by throwing for over 1,000 yards in five starts. Junior wide receiver Preston Smith (4) and senior wideout Peyton Brown (3) are his primary targets as they have scored seven of DU's nine passing touchdowns.

Davenport has a dangerous special teams group, as the team already has three punt return touchdowns on the season from Micah Wilson, Demetrius Garrett, and Nick Pulley.

Sparky McEwen has led the Panthers since their jump to NCAA Division 2 in 2017, totaling a 30-31 record (.492). McEwen guided DU to its best ever season in the GLIAC in 2022 as Davenport went 8-3 and earned its first trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. He was named GLIAC Coach of the Year at season's end.

ALL-TIME SERIES
In just five-all time games between the two schools, the Warriors hold a 3-2 advantage. Wayne State's victories came in 2017, 2019, and 2021, all of which were in Caledonia.
Ninety (90) points were scored in the most recent meeting, a 47-43 win for Davenport on October 15, 2022. WSU rallied from 12 points down for a three-point lead in the final quarter, but DU scored a late touchdown in the final seconds for a four-point edge.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Wayne State ranks sixth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (four in six games), 10th in fewest turnovers lost (four in six games), 19th red zone offense (12-of-13 for a .917 success rate), 26th in fewest penalties per game (5.33), 28th in fewest penalties (32), and 32nd in net punting (37.5 punting average).

Individually, Griffin Milovanski ranks 23rd the nation and first in the GLIAC in field goal percentage (8-of-10 for an .800 success rate). Gamon Howard, Jr. is 38th in the country in solo tackles (4.8 per game).

THE CHALLENGING FUTURE
According to the NCAA, Wayne State has the most difficult schedule in Division 2 based on past opposition (18-5 with a .783 winning percentage). Fellow GLIAC member Saginaw Valley State trails behind in second. Future opposition has a combined 15-12 mark (.556), which puts the Warriors tied-for-49th in that category. Through the end of week six and into week seven, WSU has the toughest overall schedule in Division 2 (33-17 with a .660 winning percentage). The program is just ahead of Chowan (.635), Western Oregon (.627), Frostburg (.623), and Saginaw Valley State (.612) in that statistic.

Wayne State's 11 opponents this year had an overall mark of 86-41 (.677) in 2022. The Warriors played the toughest regular-season schedule in NCAA Division 2 in 2022 (.692 winning percentage with a 74-33 combined record).

Coach Wheatley and the Warriors have three more opportunities to make noise in 2023 against nationally ranked teams via the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll. The Green and Gold still have No. 1-Ferris State, No. 7-Grand Valley State, and No. 16-Davenport on the docket, while also having a contest with a team that was receiving votes in SVSU.

NEWCOMERS MAKING THEIR DEBUTS
Through six games in 2023, a total of 20 Warriors have made their collegiate debut, with another six making their WSU debuts. The 20 were Jaiden Acker, Tomi Bisiriyu, Devon Brown, Joe Clark, Jr., Davon Dallas-Jackson, Nico Davis, Will Edwards, Dahmir Farnum, Ke'Waun Farnum, Maxx Fisher, Ethan Gates, Torrence Greene, Ben Griskie, Colby Horn, Brayden McKenna, Eli McLean, Nick Ostas, Quincy Salter, Anthony Walk, Jr., and Derrick Wallace, Jr. The true freshmen were Acker, Dallas-Jackson, Nico Davis, the Farnum brothers, Greene, Walk, Jr., and Wallace, Jr. The seven transfers to see action were Jaden Davis (Ellsworth C.C.), Ben Griskie (Lake Erie College), Gamon Howard, Jr. (Lincoln, Calif.), Jace Parrish (Northwood), Jeremiah Sterling, Jr. (Olivet), Jayden Waddell (Davidson), and Carl Ware (Madonna).

MILOVANSKI'S MILESTONES
Kicker Griffin Milovanski has remained spotless this fall by connecting on all 12 of his extra point attempts in 2023. The successful tries have extended his streak to 38 consecutive made PATs, the fourth-longest streak in program history. The redshirt junior's run of made kicks dates back to the 2021 season finale at Ferris State on November 13.

By kicking a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter vs. Missouri S&T, Milovanski became the seventh place-kicker in school history (105th season) with 100 career points. In the 23-21 win over Michigan Tech on October 7, the redshirt junior battled the wind to convert on all three field goal attempts (22, 38, and 47 yards) to propel his team to victory. He was named GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week and D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

The kicker recently moved into sixth-place all-time among WSU kickers with 130 points (23 FG and 61 PATs) following a pair of 11-point efforts vs. the Huskies and Concordia-Ann Arbor on September 30.

Milovanski passed Bill Kelley's 60 made PATs from 1973-76 with his 61st in the third quarter vs. MTU to nab sole possession of fifth-place on the all-time leaderboard. He needs eight more made extra points to pass Matt Fishburn's 68 from 1994-97. He also passed Bob Klick (1988-90) for sixth all-time in made field goals and with 23 needs six more to pass Jerry McGowan's 28 between 1983 and 1986.

FINDING A GROOVE ON DEFENSE
The Wayne State defense has had a few key players stand out six games into the 2023 campaign.

Junior Jaden Davis has a team-high 2.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss in six games (five starts) for Coach Wheatley and the Warriors from his defensive end position. The transfer from Ellsworth C.C. also has notched a total of 24 tackles and four quarterback hurries, all in the last three contests. He forced a fumble vs. Truman State, the first of his Wayne State career.

Another defense end, redshirt freshman Colby Horn, had a big impact in the victory over Michigan Tech. Horn totaled a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss along with a quarterback hurry. His QBH came on first down and led to a missed field goal attempt. On the drives that Horn recorded a TFL, there were a missed field goal, a punt, and a turnover on downs as he was part of a TFL in three separate quarters.

In the game vs. Concordia, linebacker Matt Buschman knocked the ball away from running back Brandon Stewart early in the fourth quarter for a fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Gamon Howard, Jr. It was Howard, Jr.'s first fumble recovery with the Warriors and Buschman's fifth forced fumble, which ranks tied-for-sixth in Warrior football history.
Later in the stanza, cornerback Elijah Fowlkes had the first interception of the season for the Green and Gold. He picked off CUAA's Gavin Brooks deep in WSU territory to prevent a Cardinals score and protect a then-23-14 edge. It was the third INT of Fowlkes' career and first since he had two against Wisconsin-La Crosse on September 17 last season.

McLEAN'S DUAL THREAT ABILITY
Graduate student quarterback Eli McLean has shown an ability to use both his arms and legs to support the Wayne State offense. In just his second career start, McLean helped WSU to a win over MTU by passing for 146 yards on 12-of-20 with no interceptions or sacks. He also had a rushing touchdown, while leading the Warriors on five scoring drives (two touchdowns and three field goals).

McLean threw his first career touchdown pass in the win over Missouri S&T on September 9, finding junior tight end Kaveon Ross open down the middle for a 32-yard touchdown strike. He hit Ross again for a 15-yard TD vs. Concordia. McLean has rushed for 127 yards and thrown for an additional 434 yards on 35-of-61 passing in six games of action for the Warriors.

RUNNING BACKS MAKING NOISE
The Warrior running back duo of redshirt sophomore D'Marco Singleton and redshirt senior Kendall Williams have each found success in 2023.

Williams' 22-yard run on the second play from scrimmage against the Miners officially put him over 1,000 yards rushing for his career, a feat done by only 36 others in the 105-year history of WSU football. He has carried for two touchdowns this season and leads the team on the ground with 255 rushing yards. Following his 117-yard performance vs. Michigan Tech, Williams jumped four spots in career rushing yards to 29th in program history (1,230).

Singleton shined bright in the triumph vs. Missouri S&T, scoring on a 68-yard jaunt down the sideline for his first career touchdown just before intermission. The rush was the longest play of the day for either side and helped Singleton post a game-best 98 yards on the ground. He has rushed for 199 yards this season.

WARREN'S BIG DAY
Junior receiver Te'Avion Warren notched his first career touchdown and 100-yard receiving effort in the win over Missouri S&T. In the victory, graduate student Jayden Waddell found Warren behind the MST secondary for a 57-yard touchdown pass. It was Warren's first career score and the play stood as the game-winning points after a Miners' late TD of their own.

Warren's 100-plus yard receiving effort (105 total) not only led the team but was also the first such performance by a Warrior since Trevonte Davis (244 yards) and Jesse Prewitt (135) each eclipsed the century mark in the 51-45 overtime setback at Missouri S&T on September 18, 2021.

WEEKLY WITH WHEATLEY
Join Tyrone Wheatley and Brady Beedon each Wednesday at Woodridge Pub prior to a home football Saturday for the Weekly with Wheatley podcast. The remaining shows will be taped on Oct. 11 and Nov. 1. A different assistant coach will join Wheatley and Beedon each week.

The podcast will be added to the Wayne State athletics website every Friday morning for those unable to be at Woodbridge that week.

GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Ferris State (34 points, five first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (31 points, one first-place vote)
3. Davenport (27 points, one first-place vote)
4. Saginaw Valley State (21 points)
5. Michigan Tech (16 points)
6. Wayne State (10 points)
7. Northern Michigan (8 points)

WHEATLEY'S FIRST WSU CAPTAINS
Prior to the season opener at SRU, coach Wheatley named his first captains' group as WSU head coach. The two defensive captains are graduate student Drake Reid (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and redshirt senior Dalen Peeks (Akron, Ohio). Offensive captains are graduate students Noah Nicklin (Davisburg, Mich.) and Chrishoun Roberts (Garfield Heights, Ohio), while redshirt junior Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) represents the special teams unit.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
For the 22nd 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 is in his 15th season calling Warrior football. Former Warrior defensive end Brady Beedon is in for his third season and will serve as the color analyst for nine games and handle the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight features for WDTK. WSU Hall of Fame tailback and kick returner Josh Renel will join Baligian in the booth for a pair of home contests. Renel provided color commentary for one game in 2012 and nearly every game for nine seasons (2013-22). In addition, WWJ Afternoon Anchor Tony Ortiz will serve as the sideline commentator during the six home broadcasts. Ortiz previously served as the sideline reporter for the Comcast CN900 broadcasts of WSU football from 2016 through 2022.

The radio pre-game show will start 15 minutes before a road contest and 30 minutes prior to a home game.

New for the 2023 football season, all Wayne State University football games will be streamed via FloSports. The games will be produced via The PreP in a partnership between the two entities. The stream will simulcast the radio call of each home football contest.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Myren Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

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

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu: T; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#32 Devon Brown: CB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#10 Matt Buschman: OLB; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.: DE; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#62 Will Edwards: G/C; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#27 Maxx Fisher: H/P/PK; 5' 11"; Senior

#2 Elijah Fowlkes: CB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#76 Ethan Gates: T; 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#7 Myren Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

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

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: T

#32 Devon Brown
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: CB

#10 Matt Buschman
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: OLB

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: DE

#62 Will Edwards
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: G/C

#27 Maxx Fisher
: 5' 11"; Senior
: H/P/PK

#2 Elijah Fowlkes
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: CB

#76 Ethan Gates
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman
: T