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Wayne State University Athletics

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Football Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Hits The Road For GLIAC Contest At Saginaw Valley State

Warriors to play three of their final four games away from Tom Adams Field.

GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State will play its first road contest in over a month this Saturday at Saginaw Valley State.  Kickoff from University Center, Mich., and Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium will be at 2 p.m.

WSU begins a stretch of three road games in four weeks to conclude the 2023 schedule.  Trips to Northern Michigan and Ferris State are also on the slate in the final month.  Wayne State will have one more home contest vs. Grand Valley State on November 4.

This weekend's game at SVSU will be the Warriors' 300th GLIAC regular season contest (126-172-1), which started in 1975 (except 1990-98 when the GLIAC merged into the MIFC).

WSU will be looking for its first road triumph since a 16-3 victory at Davenport on October 16, 2021.

SCOUTING SAGINAW VALLEY STATE
The Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 32-10 non-conference win at St. Xavier (Ill.) last weekend.  SVSU enters the contest with a 3-4 overall record and an 0-2 ledger in the GLIAC with losses to Grand Valley State and Ferris State.

A hallmark of the Saginaw Valley State team is its defense.  The Cardinals have several playmakers that can do damage to opposing offenses.  Redshirt freshman Adom LeDuc is third in the GLIAC with 5.0 sacks, including three in the victory over St. Xavier.  Linebackers Micah Cretsinger (59) and Alfred Dailey, Jr. (57) each have garnered over 50 tackles to rank top-five in the conference.

Cretsinger, a junior, also leads the team with two interceptions, including a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown against GVSU.  Sophomore Brandon Rawls has 8.0 tackles for loss on the season.  SVSU has registered five blocked kicks in seven games.

Saginaw Valley State has primarily used a trio of signal callers to lead its offense.  Sophomore Mike O'Horo is the only one of the three to have played in every contest and he leads the team in passing yards (573) and touchdowns (3).  Senior Jairus Williams and junior Willie Taylor have also thrown for one score apiece.

Terrance Brown, the feature back for SVSU, ranks fourth in the conference with 61.6 rushing yards per game.  He has found the end zone three times, while O'Horo has used his legs to collect four touchdowns on the ground.

Five different Cardinal receivers have grabbed touchdowns and 14 have hauled in a pass from the Saginaw Valley State quarterbacks.  Senior wideout Derrick Hinton Jr. paces the squad with 20 receptions.

Ryan Brady is in his fourth season as the head coach of the SVSU football team.  He has an overall record of 23-17 (.575) with the Cardinals and a 10-13 mark in the GLIAC (.435).

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Cardinals own a 33-10-1 lead in the all-time series between the two schools.  Five of WSU's 10 victories in the series were in the first six games played between 1976 and 1981, with the other meeting ending in a 7-7 tie on November 10, 1979.

The Warriors have not won at SVSU since a 41-27 triumph on October 30, 2010, but the team has played just three road contests there since then (2012, 2018, and 2021).

Prior to the 2010 win for Wayne State, the team had lost 26 of 27 games to the Cardinals between 1982 and 2009 (includes a SVSU forfeited win in 2005).  The lone victory in that 27-year stretch was a 21-9 triumph for the Tartars on September 14, 1991.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Wayne State ranks 18th nationally in net punting (38.1 punting average), 23rd in fewest penalties per game (5.14), 25th in fewest penalties (36), 44th in fewest turnovers lost (nine in seven games), and 48th in fewest sacks allowed (10 in seven games). 

Individually, Griffin Milovanski ranks 16th in the nation and first in the GLIAC in field goals per game (1.29).  He also is 43rd (third in the conference) in field goal percentage (9-of-13 for a .692 success rate).  Jeremy Taras is tied-for-42nd in punting (39.2 punting average), while Matt Buschman is tied-for-59th in solo tackles (32 for 4.6 per game).

THE CHALLENGING FUTURE
According to the NCAA, Wayne State has the most difficult schedule in Division 2 based on past opposition (27-6 with a .818 winning percentage).  UNC Pembroke ranks second (.744).  Future opposition has a combined 12-14 mark (.462), which puts the Warriors tied-for-111th in that category.  Through the end of week seven and into week eight, WSU has the toughest overall schedule in Division 2 (39-20 with a .661 winning percentage). That puts Wayne State well ahead of Chowan (.623), Kutztown (.618), Western Oregon (.617), and Frostburg State (.607) 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 two 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.-4 Grand Valley State and No. 9-Ferris State on the docket this fall.

NEWCOMERS MAKING THEIR DEBUTS
Through seven games in 2023, a total of 22 Warriors have made their collegiate debut, with another eight making their WSU debuts.  The 24 were Jaiden Acker, Tomi Bisiriyu, Rashad Boyd, Jr., Devon Brown, Jaydon Bush, Joe Clark, Jr., Davon Dallas-Jackson, Nico Davis, Will Edwards, Dahmir Farnum, Ke'Waun Farnum, Maxx Fisher, Ethan Gates, Torrence Greene, Dontez Hicks, Colby Horn, Brayden McKenna, Eli McLean, Nick Ostas, Quincy Salter, Anthony Walk, Jr., and Derrick Wallace, Jr.  The true freshmen were Acker, , Boyd, Jr., Bush, Dallas-Jackson, Nico Davis, the Farnum brothers, Greene, Hicks, Walk, Jr., and Wallace, Jr.  The eight transfers to see action were Danny Chaudhry (Morgan State), 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).

ONE LONG DRIVE
The Warriors concluded a 19-play, 76-yard drive with a Griffin Milovanski 22 yard field goal in the second quarter against Concordia.  The drive was the longest by plays since an 18-play scoring drive resulted in a Darece Roberson, Jr. four-yard reception at Northern Michigan on October 5, 2019.

Lasting 11:31, it was the longest scoring drive since at least the start of the 2002 season.

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.

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 National Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.  Milovanski went on to match a career-long with a 48-yard field goal against Davenport on October 14.  The last time he connected from 48 yards was September 10, 2022, at home vs. Shaw.

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.  The kicker recently moved into sixth-place all-time among WSU kickers with 133 points (24 FG and 61 PATs).  

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 24 needs five 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 after seven games of the 2023 campaign.

Junior Jaden Davis has a team-high 2.5 sacks, along with 5.0 tackles for loss in seven 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 25 tackles and four quarterback hurries.  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.

Cornerback Elijah Fowlkes and cornerback/safety Dalen Peeks are responsible for the two Green and Gold interceptions this season.  Fowlkes picked off a Gavin Brooks pass deep in WSU territory against Concordia for the first INT of 2023 for the Warriors.  It was the third of Fowlkes' career and first since he had two against Wisconsin-La Crosse on September 17 last season.  Peeks notched his second career interception last Saturday vs. Davenport, which coincidentally made both of career picks against the Panthers.  His first INT was on October 16, 2021, at DU.  This year's interception was two days shy of two years of his first one.

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 145 yards and thrown for an additional 455 yards on 40-of-76 passing in seven 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 330 rushing yards.  Following his 117-yard and 75-yard performances vs. Michigan Tech and Davenport, Williams jumped six spots to 27th in career rushing yards by a Warrior (1,305).  He also ranks fifth in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (55.0).

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 203 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.  The junior leads the Warriors with 259 receiving yards this season, along with one of three WSU receiving TD's this year.

WEEKLY WITH WHEATLEY
Join Tyrone Wheatley and Brady Beedon at Woodbridge Pub on Wednesday, November 1 for the final edition of Weekly with Wheatley this season.  The podcast taping will be the week of the Grand Valley State contest and feature a guest assistant coach.

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

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 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 in-conference Wayne State University football games (home and away) will be streamed via FloSports.  WSU home games will be produced via The PreP in a partnership between the two entities and will simulcast the radio call of each home football contest.

 
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Players Mentioned

Tomi Bisiriyu

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu

T
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Devon Brown

#32 Devon Brown

CB
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
Matt Buschman

#10 Matt Buschman

OLB
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Joe Clark, Jr.

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.

DE
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Will Edwards

#62 Will Edwards

G/C
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Maxx Fisher

#27 Maxx Fisher

H/P/PK
5' 11"
Senior
Elijah Fowlkes

#2 Elijah Fowlkes

CB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Ethan Gates

#76 Ethan Gates

T
6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
Colby Horn

#55 Colby Horn

DE
6' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
Gamon Howard, Jr.

#6 Gamon Howard, Jr.

CB
6' 1"
Redshirt Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Tomi Bisiriyu

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
T
Devon Brown

#32 Devon Brown

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
CB
Matt Buschman

#10 Matt Buschman

6' 2"
Graduate Student
OLB
Joe Clark, Jr.

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Will Edwards

#62 Will Edwards

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
G/C
Maxx Fisher

#27 Maxx Fisher

5' 11"
Senior
H/P/PK
Elijah Fowlkes

#2 Elijah Fowlkes

5' 10"
Sophomore
CB
Ethan Gates

#76 Ethan Gates

6' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
T
Colby Horn

#55 Colby Horn

6' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Gamon Howard, Jr.

#6 Gamon Howard, Jr.

6' 1"
Redshirt Fifth Year
CB