Football 10/1/2025 10:00:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Hosts Michigan Tech for Annual Homecoming Game

GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State football team will remain at home to open GLIAC action, as the Green and Gold welcomes Michigan Tech to Tom Adams Field. The contest will serve as the annual Homecoming Game for the Warriors and will be the fourth time that WSU has entertained MTU for Homecoming.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
The Huskies enter Saturday's contest with a 3-1 mark that includes wins over Bemidji State (37-17), South Dakota Mines (45-9), and Hillsdale (34-21), with the lone blunder coming against Upper Iowa (14-21).

Dan Mettlach is in his third campaign as the head coach of MTU, helping the squad to a 15-10 mark and led the team to its first seven-win season since 2015 after going 7-4 a year ago. Mettlach has been on the Huskies' staff since 2017, serving as an offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, associate head coach, and now head coach. The Gwinn, Mich., product was an All-American quarterback for MTU, earning GLIAC Player of the Year honors in 2004, and was twice an All-GLIAC recipient.

Under center for Michigan Tech is Alex Bueno, who has passed for 811 yards. He has completed 61 percent of his attempts (59-of-114) and has thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception. The redshirt sophomore is dangerous with his feet as well, rushing for the second-most yards (221) and a team-best three scores. The Rochester Hills, Mich., native earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Honors after passing for 207 yards and two scores, while rushing for an additional 102 yards and one touchdown in a 37-17 victory over Bemidji State in the squad's first game. Bueno has five punts for 140 yards.

Michigan Tech has three players that have 150 or more receiving yards. Ethan Champney has caught 19 passes for 249 yards and one score. Nic Nora has 20 catches for 236 yards and a squad-best three receiving touchdowns. Bryce Kurncz has 12 receptions for 156 yards, crossing the goal line once.

Nora handles return duties for the Huskies as well, tallying 152 yards on eight kickoff returns, while retuning four punts for 44 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Chase Koch leads the way with 31 total tackles including three tackles for loss (one sack), while forcing one fumble.

Avery Kucharski takes care of field goals, extra points, and kickoffs for MTU. The sophomore has made 3-of-4 field-goal attempts, connecting from distances of 32, 35, and 44 yards, while missing one from 20 yards.

PLAYING ON HOMECOMING
Wayne State will host its 88th annual Homecoming game this Saturday vs. Michigan Tech. It will also be the GLIAC opener for both the Warriors and the Huskies, and the fourth time MTU has been the WSU Homecoming opponent (WSU won 27-10 in 2011, MTU won 30-27 in 2021, and WSU won 23-21 in 2023).

The Green and Gold owns a 45-41-1 ledger in Homecoming games dating back to the first contest on October 19, 1935. In the inaugural Homecoming game, Wayne State fell in a 9-6 decision to Hillsdale.

ALL-TIME SERIES
WSU leads the all-time series 20-14 and is 11-5 at home, while prevailing in two of the last three home contests. The squads first met on September 23, 1967, with the Warriors triumphing 48-7 at home.

TUGGLE PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
In last week's home loss to Quincy, Justyz Tuggle posted game-highs in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (79). The redshirt senior caught a 27-yard pass on the team's opening drive and added an 18-yard strike in the second quarter that put WSU at the Hawks' nine-yard line. In the fourth stanza, Tuggle hauled in his final pass of the game for 26 yards.

HICKMOTT HAULING IN PASSES
Redshirt freshman Drew Hickmott is the receiving-yard leader for the Warriors through four weeks, with 13 catches for 185 yards and three scores. In week one, Hickmott caught three passes for 37 yards and scored the only WSU touchdown in the 34-7 loss to Tiffin.

In the week two contest at Findlay, Hickmott had five receptions for a team-best 78 yards, including a 27-yard catch that put WSU at the UF two-yard line and led to a Wayne State field goal.

The Ortonville, Mich., product tallied two more receptions for 44 yards in the loss at Wisconsin-La Crosse, one of which was a 30-yard reception at UWL's two-yard line. WSU scored on the ensuing play to take a 7-0 advantage in the second period.

Hickmott had his first multi-score performance in the 31-14 home loss to Quincy, catching three passes for 26 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

STEADY LINEBACKER PLAY
WSU's three starting linebackers have combined for 87 total tackles and are three of the Green and Gold's top-four tacklers individually. Mike linebacker Martell Williams leads the team in tackles with 34 and has recovered one fumble. Logan McGraw is the squad's will linebacker and has 29 tackles, 6.5 of which are for a loss, and has forced two fumbles. Max Edwards serves as the team's star linebacker and has contributed 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (one sack).

FOWLKES MAKING PLAYS
Senior safety Elijah Fowlkes grabbed his first interception of the season, and fifth of his career, at Findlay after picking off UF's Chase Harrison in the third stanza. The two-year captain added one pass break-up along with six total tackles in the setback.

In the team's next game (at UWL), Fowlkes scorched past everyone on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, sacking the quarterback and knocking the ball loose. The fumble would be recovered by Wisconsin-La Crosse at the 19-yard line and resulted in a 12-yard loss.

The Cleveland, Ohio, native added eight total tackles at home against Quincy, three of which were solo. The senior earned WSU Defensive Player of the Week honors thanks to his efforts against the Hawks.

WARRIOR DEBUTS
Of the 58 players who saw action in the season opener vs. Tiffin, 28 had previously donned the Green and Gold in a regular-season contest. Another 12 players made their season debut in the contest at Findlay.

Seventeen (17) student-athletes made their collegiate debut against the Dragons - Jordan Bell, Haiden Bollini, Dove Eitzen, Zaiden Hall, Drew Hickmott, Donovan Isaac, Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., Luke Johnson, Spencer Lyons, Nahji Mabry, Trae'vion Meadows, Blake Nelson, Griffin Nowak, Keathan Smith, Wendell Smith, Ryan Spate and Gavin Troy. Five more made their collegiate debut at UF - Dharon Flowers, Mikey O'Brien, Drew Rankin, Jaheem Richmond, and Tyler Torey.

Thirteen players made their WSU debut vs. TU - Justhin Austin, D'Vaun Bentley, Angel Carrillo, Omar El Khatib, Sherod Green, Trent Leicht, Logan McGraw, Mar'Tavion Robinson, Josh Sekiyoba, Ashawn Sims, Braden Siri, Darel Washington and Martell Williams. Two others - Peyton Hatten and Mikey Thomas - made their WSU debut at Findlay.

An additional three players made their season debuts at Wisconsin-La Crosse, including true freshman Liam Distelzweig, who made his collegiate debut. Redshirt freshman Jasir Rahaman and redshirt senior Jonathan Tillman also saw action at UWL.

Three more Warriors made their season debuts against Quincy. Kelly Matthews made his WSU debut, while Lance Blakely and Zach Green played their first collegiate snaps. Matthews made a solo kickoff coverage tackle on his first play for the Green and Gold.

FRESH FACES
Despite having 127 players on the roster, WSU only has 53 returners, including 18 letterwinners. In total there are 74 newcomers (49 freshmen, four mid-year transfers, and 21 summer transfers). In addition, the coaching staff features seven new hires including four full-time coaches and three graduate assistants along with the promotion of Mustafa Khaleefah to full-time Tight Ends Coach from Offensive Line Graduate Assistant Coach.

GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Ferris State (47 points, six first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (41 points, one first-place vote)
3. Saginaw Valley State (38 points, one first-place vote)
4. Davenport (31 points)
5. Michigan Tech (28 points)
6. Wayne State (16 points)
7. Roosevelt (12 points)
8. Northern Michigan (11 points)

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
After playing the toughest schedule in the country in 2023, WSU played the third-toughest schedule in NCAA Division 2 during the 2024 regular-season with its opponents combining for a .615 winning percentage (67-42).

The Green and Gold face yet another tall task during the 2025 campaign. WSU's past 2025 opponents have a cumulative record of 7-3 (.700) which ranks 14th in D2. The Warriors' future foes hold a 13-12 ledger (.520), while the composite record of 20-15 (.571) is tied for 21st nationally.

In addition, Wayne State will see action against five squads that appeared in the AFCA D2 Coaches Preseason Poll in No. 1-Ferris State, No. 3-Grand Valley State, No. 31-Saginaw Valley State, No. 38-Findlay, and No. 40-Davenport.

WARRIORS BY THE NUMBERS
Of the 127 student-athletes on the 2025 WSU football roster, 92 came from high school, 12 joined the squad after playing for a junior college, 17 transferred in after playing for another four-year college, and six more came from a two-year or four-year college, but did not play.

The 2025 Wayne State football team currently has representatives from 14 states and one Canadian Province with the majority of football student-athletes coming from Michigan (91). Ohio (10), California (7), Texas (4), Florida (2), Virginia (2) and Washington (2) all have multiple student-athletes, while Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Ontario all have one.

A FAMILY AFFAIR
WSU currently has three sets of brothers:
Champion and Max Edwards
Malachi and Matthew Evans (twins)
Devon and Donovan Isaac
Other Warriors with family ties include Evan Bainbridge (father Matthew was an offensive tackle) and Jordan Bell (father Joique is a WSU Athletics Hall of Fame running back).

In addition, true freshman offensive lineman Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., is the son of Trezelle Jenkins, who played at Michigan (1991-94) and nine games in the NFL with Kansas City. Defensive lineman Jesse Brown is the son of former Green Bay Hall of Famer Gilbert Brown.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
Wayne State enters a new era for the broadcast of its football games with the launch of the Warrior Sports Network. Veteran Detroit broadcaster Sean Baligian is in his 17th season calling Warrior football. Former Warrior defensive end Brady Beedon will serve as the color analyst for eight contests, while Kevin Brechmacher will handle color commentary for the other three contests. In addition, Tony Ortiz will serve as the Sideline Reporter for all five home games.

Every Wayne State GLIAC football game will be on Flo Sports, plus the home non-conference contests against Tiffin and Quincy as well as the road game at Findlay. The FloSports broadcast of home games will be via The PreP for the third consecutive year.

WEEKLY WITH WHEATLEY
Join head football coach Tyrone Wheatley and Brady Beedon each Wednesday prior to a home football Saturday for the Weekly with Wheatley podcast. Beedon is in his fifth season as WSU football analyst and also serves as the host for the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight interviews each week for the football broadcast.

There will be five shows in 2025, each with a different assistant coach and student-athlete. The shows will be taped on Sept. 2, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 in front of a live audience at Woodbridge Pub starting at 5:30 PM. Each episode will be added to the Wayne State Athletics website for those unable to attend.

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Players Mentioned

#83 Jordan Bell: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#33 Max Edwards: Star; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Elijah Fowlkes: S; 5' 10"; Senior

#72 Sherod Green: OL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#14 Donovan Isaac: WR; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#40 Griffin Nowak: PK/P; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#74 Mikey O'Brien: OL; 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

#24 Jasir Rahaman: CB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#3 Jonathan Tillman: CB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#45 Gavin Troy: Star; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#83 Jordan Bell
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#33 Max Edwards
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: Star

#2 Elijah Fowlkes
: 5' 10"; Senior
: S

#72 Sherod Green
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: OL

#14 Donovan Isaac
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#40 Griffin Nowak
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#74 Mikey O'Brien
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: OL

#24 Jasir Rahaman
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: CB

#3 Jonathan Tillman
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: CB

#45 Gavin Troy
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: Star