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Wayne State University Athletics

Griffin Milovanski 2023 vs. Michigan Tech
Zack Belsky/WSU Athletics
Griffin Milovanski connected on all three field goal attempts in the win over MTU.
21
Michigan Tech HUSKIES 3-2 , 0-2
23
Winner Wayne State WS 2-4 , 1-0
Michigan Tech HUSKIES
3-2 , 0-2
21
Final
23
Wayne State WS
2-4 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HUSKIES Michigan Tech 0 7 7 7 21
WS Wayne State 3 7 7 6 23

Game Recap: Football | | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Holds On For 23-21 Homecoming Triumph

Williams rushes for a game-high 117 yards and one touchdown.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football squad (2-4 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) won its GLIAC opener, under first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley, defeating visiting Michigan Tech University (3-2 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) 23-21 during the annual WSU Homecoming contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
WSU took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards in 13 plays culminating in a 22-yard field goal by junior Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) for a 3-0 advantage with 8:10 remaining in the opening stanza.  The big play on the drive was a 43-yard carry by senior running back Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) on a second-and-12 from the WSU 31.  He also had a nine-yard rushing attempt on second-and-seven to set up a first-and-goal.

The Huskies ensuing drive resulted in a missed 46-yard field goal attempt by Drew Wyble after the guests garnered three first downs.

After a three-and-out by the Warriors, MTU drove inside the Wayne State 30 again, and this time Wyble was unsuccessful from 45 yards.

WSU's final drive of the first period ended with a punt.

Both teams had 66 yards of total offense for the first 15 minutes of the game.

Second Quarter
Michigan Tech took a 7-3 lead with 12:06 remaining before intermission on a five-yard touchdown scamper by William Marano competing an eight-play, 46-yard scoring drive.

The Warriors answered with an 11-play, 74-yard drive in 5:25 which culminated in a one-yard plunge by Williams and a Milovanski PAT for a 10-7 lead with 6:34 left in the opening half.

The Huskies went 63 yards in 14 plays but Wyble missed from 29 yards out on the next to last play before halftime.

MTU had a 179-124 edge in total offense after 30 minutes.

Third Quarter
In a back-and-forth contest, Michigan Tech regained the lead (14-10) with a six-play, 56-yard drive to start the second half.  Alex Fries connected with Darius Willis for a 45-yard touchdown completion on a third-and-13.  Willis was flagged for unsportsmanlike after the play making the Huskies kickoff from the 20-yard line.

Wayne State took advantage of the penalty, along with a 23-yard kickoff return by junior Te'Avion Warren (Flint, Mich. / Davison) to start the ensuing drive at its own 37.  Senior Darrin King II (Inkster, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) had a 10-yard reception from graduate student quarterback Eli McLean (Clarkston, Mich. / Notre Dame Prep) and two plays later McLean hooked up with sophomore Dion Brown, Jr. (Flint, Mich. / Davison) on a 36-yard pass play.  McLean had a one-yard keeperto put the Warriors in front 17-14 just past the mid-point of the third period.

The next three drives (two by MTU, and one by WSU) ended with a punt.  Those three drives combined for 26 yards of offense.

Fourth Quarter
Wayne State began a drive at its own 20 following a touchback and used 5:25 off the clock to extend its lead to 20-14 on a 47-yard field goal by Milovanski.  William netted a first down on the opening series with a three-yard carry on fourth-and-one.  A 15-yard penalty on the Michigan Tech coaching staff for coming on to the field during a play aided in the drive as did a 10-yard completion to sophomore Manny Harris (Kankakee, Ill. / Bishop McNamara).

After another Huskie punt, Milovanski concluded a 43-yard drive with his third field goal of the contest.  It marked the second week in a row that Milovanski connected on a trio of three pointers.  He moved into sixth place in school history with 23 career field goals made.

Just 12 seconds later, Michigan Tech pulled to within two points (23-21) on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Fries to Ethan Champney.

Following a WSU punt, MTU drove inside the Warrior 40-yard line, but a holding penalty on second down and a one-yard loss on third down prompted a fourth-and-11 and Fries' pass was broken-up by senior Dalen Peeks (Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary).

TEAM STATS
Michigan Tech led in rushing yards (191 to 123) and total offense (406 to 269) as well as third-down conversions (6-of-13 to WSU's 3-of-11), but special teams was a major difference with Milovanski making all three field goal attempts compared to Wyble's 0-for-3.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Williams became the first WSU running back with a 100-yard rushing effort since his 136-yard performance last year at Davenport.  He had a career-high 22 carries for 117 yards and one touchdown.  McLean was efficient by completing 12-of-20 passes for 146 yards with zero interceptions and zero sacks.  Both King and Harris had three catches, while Brown, Jr. notched a team-best 46 yards receiving.  Defensively redshirt freshman defensive end Colby Horn (Menomonee Falls, Wis. / Sussex Hamilton totaled 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry, while safety Shavez Hawkins, Jr. (San Tan Valley, Ariz. / Williams Field) posted two pass break-ups.

LEADING THE HUSKIES
Marano rushed 18 times for 116 yards and a score.  Fries was 16-of-27 for 215 yards and two touchdowns.  Marano hauled in a game-high five passes, while Champney was credited with a game-best 98 receiving yards.

UP NEXT
Wayne State concludes its four-game home stand on October 14th with a 6 p.m. kickoff against the only unbeaten team left in the GLIAC, the Davenport Panthers (5-0 overall, 2-0 GLIAC).
 
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