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Wayne State University Athletics

Griffin Milovanski 2024 vs. Indianapolis
Michael Dubicki
Griffin Milovanski broke two school records including most career field goals in the win over Roosevelt.
14
Roosevelt RUL 1-8 , 1-5
38
Winner Wayne St. (MI) WSU 1-9 , 1-5
Roosevelt RUL
1-8 , 1-5
14
Final
38
Wayne St. (MI) WSU
1-9 , 1-5
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
RUL Roosevelt 7 0 0 7 14
WSU Wayne St. (MI) 7 7 14 10 38

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

Football Defeats Roosevelt 38-14

Milovanski breaks two school records in the contest.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (1-9 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) snapped its 11-game losing skein with a 38-14 triumph over GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt University (1-8 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at Tom Adams Field.  Entering Saturday's contest, the Warriors had played the toughest schedule in the nation with past opponents in 2024 compiling a .750 winning percentage (54-18) in games not against WSU.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
After the Warriors went three-and-out on their opening possession, the visiting Lakers went 54 yards in seven plays in 4:33 to take a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard pass from Carson Budke to Jack Young, Jr. on a third-and-goal.

The Wayne State offense responded with a nine-play, 79-yard touchdown drive culminating in a seven-yard scamper by junior D'Marco Singleton (Marysville, Mich.) on a third-and-three play.  The big play on the drive was a 37-yard jaunt by freshman XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern) on the play following an offsides call on fourth-and-one.

RU went three-and-out on its final series of the opening period.

Second Quarter
The Warriors took the lead for good with a 58-yard touchdown drive in eight plays.  Singleton gained 24 yards on a third-and-one, while senior Jeremiah Sterling, Jr. (Benton Harbor, Mich. / St. Joseph) finished the drive with a three-yard plunge on second-and-goal less than three minutes into the second stanza.

Following a Laker punt, WSU drove into the red zone but sophomore quarterback Champion Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork, Utah [El Camino C.C.]) was intercepted by RU's Jacob Bellizzi at the RU 12-yard line.

Roosevelt garnered one first down, but a sack, an incompletion, and a holding penalty led to a Laker punt.

Wayne State had an 11-play drive, but senior Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) missed on a 51-yard field goal attempt.

The Warriors had a 203-69 edge in total offense through 30 minutes.

Third Quarter
Both teams punted on their first possession after halftime, but RU's Bobby Ervin fumbled at his own nine-yard line with junior Draven Wilson (Macomb, Mich. / Chippewa Valley) recovering at the eight.  Tyus rushed for seven yards on first down, and Sterling, Jr. finished the series with a one-yard touchdown run.

On the second play following the kickoff, senior linebacker Carl Ware (Detroit, Mich. / Redford Union [Madonna]) stepped in front of pass by Roosevelt's back-up quarterback Zach Zella at the RU 41.  After a six-yard loss on the first play, Edwards found senior wide receiver Myles McKatherine behind the Laker secondary for a 47-yard touchdown pass to increase the WSU advantage to 28-7.

Roosevelt crossed midfield but a three-yard completion on fourth-and-five ended the drive at the WSU 39.  Wayne State drove 41 yards in 10 plays but Milovanski was wide right from 38 yards.  It was his first miss from inside 50 yards on the season.

Fourth Quarter
RU pulled within 28-14 after a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with Zella tossing a three-yard pass to Cyrus Zuell on fourth-and-goal.

The Warriors answered with a 48-yard touchdown drive after RU failed on an onside kick attempt.  Sterling, Jr. went for 41 yards on a third-and-five play then finished the drive with a one-yard plunge.  Milovanski's PAT broke the school record for consecutive PATs in a career at 66 (previous mark was 65 by Stefan Terleckyj, 2011-13).

Two plays after the kickoff, junior Elijah Fowlkes (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) intercepted Zella and returned it 19 yards to RU 16-yard line.

After WSU back-up quarterback Rob Brazziel (Chicago, Ill. / Taft [College of DuPage]) was intercepted in the end zone, true freshman Phil Cato (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. / University of Detroit Jesuit) returned the favor on Zella's first down pass.

That Warrior drive concluded with a 48-yard field goal by Milovanski, which broke another Terleckyj record for field goals made in a career with his 40th.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State totaled 350 yards of offense, while limiting RU to 189 yards.  WSU led in rushing yards 228-33, with the Lakers having a 156-122 advantage in passing yards.  The Warriors were 7-of-16 on third down, compared to RU's 3-of-11.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Sterling, Jr. rushed for a game-high 79 yards and three touchdowns, with Singleton contributing 61 yards and one score.  Edwards was 8-of-17 for 122 and one touchdown.  McKatherine had two receptions for 73 yards.  Clifton Buchanan, Jr. (Belleville, Mich. [Davenport]) led the WSU defense with nine tackles (7-2), including a sack plus a pass break-up.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Zuell rushed for a team-best 45 yards on 13 carries.  Budke passed for 65 yards on 6-of-10, while Zella completed 11-of-21 for 91 yards.  Each quarterback had a touchdown pass.  Keonta Nixon hauled in seven passes (on 16 targets) for 74 yards.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will conclude the 2024 campaign with a 1 pm kickoff on Saturday, November 16th against Northern Michigan University on Senior Day.
 
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