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Wayne State University Athletics

Carl Ware 2023 vs. Michigan Tech
(C) Douglas Johnson
Carl Ware had two sacks and a forced fumble in the loss at Tiffin.
17
Wayne State WSU 0-1
31
Winner Tiffin DRAGONS 1-0
Wayne State WSU
0-1
17
Final
31
Tiffin DRAGONS
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSU Wayne State 3 0 0 14 17
DRAGONS Tiffin 7 7 10 7 31

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

Football Falls 31-17 At #29-Tiffin

Defense forces four turnovers.

TIFFIN, Ohio -- For the fifth consecutive season and third straight year on the road, the Wayne State University football squad (0-1 overall) began its season against a top-30 nationally-ranked opponent.  After facing Slippery Rock the previous four playing seasons (2019 and 2021 at home, and 2022 and 2023 on the road), the Warriors traveled to face the 29th-ranked Tiffin University Dragons (1-0 overall) on Thursday evening at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

WSU took a 3-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest, before Tiffin rattled off 24 consecutive points.  Wayne State did out-score the hosts 14-7 over the final eight minutes to fall 31-17.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Warriors won the opening toss and deferred.  On TU's third play, senior linebacker Carl Ware (Detroit, Mich. / Redford Union [Madonna]) forced a fumble on a sack, which was recovered from junior defensive end Aaron Mass (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin), who was making his first collegiate start.

Despite having a first-and-goal from the Dragon eight-yard line, the Wayne State offense lost 14 yards in three plays and had to settle for a 40-yard field goal from graduate student Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.).  A year ago, Milovanski set WSU records for field goals made (16) and 40-yard field goals made (8) in a season on his way to earning First Team All-GLIAC recognition.

Tiffin ran the ball on three straight plays, then followed with three consecutive completions by quarterback Alex Johnson, the final completion being a 36-yard touchdown pass to running back Ronald Blackman, who went 30 yards after the short completion.

Following a WSU punt, TU drove to the Warrior two-yard line, but Johnson's pass into the end zone was intercepted by junior Jonathan Tillman (Mount Clemens, Mich. / Brother Rice [El Camino C.C.]), who returned it three yards.

Second Quarter
On Wayne State's second play of the ensuing drive, the Dragon defense forced a fumble and recovered at the WSU 10 yard-line.  On third-and-goal, Johnson teamed up with Blackman for another scoring toss which gave Tiffin a 14-3 advantage less than 17 minutes into the contest.

A Warrior punt, preceded a fourth down stop on fourth-and-one by the Wayne State defense.  Each team punted on its next possession, before WSU drove into Tiffin territory for a second-and-12 from the TU 47.  Junior wide receiver Justyz Tuggle (Redford, Mich. / Detroit Central [Bethune-Cookman]) hauled in an apparent 47-yard touchdown pass only to have the play nullified do to an ineligible man downfield.

Tiffin had a 162-46 edge in total offense through the first 30 minutes even though the number of offensive plays was nearly identical (WSU-28, TU-29).

Third Quarter
Both teams punted on their first possession after intermission.  On the Warriors first play of the second drive, a fumble was recovered by the Dragons, who began their next drive at the WSU 23-yard line.

Tiffin extended its lead on the very next play with a 23-yard scoring pass from Johnson to Joey Zalewski to make it 21-3.

Following an interception, TU went 23 yards in six plays with Ben Rudolph connecting on a 29-yard field goal attempt.

Each team punted on its next possession, before the second of three interceptions thrown by the Warriors gave the Dragons good field position at their own 41.

Fourth Quarter
TU drove into the red zone again, but the Wayne State defense forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Elijah Fowlkes (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) in the end zone for a touchback.

Both teams had turnovers on their next possessions (WSU threw an interception, and Tiffin fumbled).

Wayne State took advantage of a short field and drove 26 yards in two plays with junior D'Marco Singleton (Marysville, Mich.) catching a forward pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Cox (Akron, Ohio / East) and taking it into the end zone for a 15-yard scoring play.

It took Tiffin just one play to answer as Jalen Thomas caught a short pass and out-ran the Warrior defense for a 70-yard touchdown play.

WSU went 83 yards in 12 plays to complete the scoring.  Cox tossed a seven-yard scoring strike to junior Myles McKatherine (Chicago, Ill. / St. Rita of Cascia [College of DuPage]) with 1:55 remaining.

The onside kick was unsuccessful and the Dragons ran out the clock.

TEAM STATS
Tiffin held a 374 to 176 advantage in total offense, including a 145-38 edge in rushing yards.  The game featured nine turnovers (five by WSU and four by Tiffin).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Singleton rushed for a team-best 24 yards.  Cox was 15-of-25 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.  Sophomore Champion Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork in Utah [El Camino C.C.]) was 1-of-2 with an interception.  Singleton led the Warriors in receptions (5) and receiving yards (37).  Graduate student Kaleb Coleman (Detroit, Mich. / Birmingham Groves [Morgan State]) notched a game-high nine tackles (1-8), while Ware was credited with two sacks and a forced fumble.

LEADING THE DRAGONS
Blackman rushed for a game-high 108 yards.  Alex Johnson completed 20-of-27 passes for 229 yards and four scores with one interception.  JAlen Thomas had seven receptions for a game-best 126 yards and one touchdown with Blackman adding seven catched for 38 yards and two scores.  Isaiah Foster, Kenneth Byrd and Khris Walton each had six tackles to lead the TU defense.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will have its home opener at 1 pm on Saturday, September 14th vs. the Findlay Oilers.

 
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