GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University football team hits the road once more to face Saginaw Valley State University after falling at home to Davenport last week.

SCOUTING SAGINAW VALLEY
SVSU captured its third-consecutive win a week ago, upsetting No. 7-ranked Grand Valley State 20-19 on the road.  The Cardinals own a 4-3 ledger and are 3-0 in league play.

Ryan Brady is in his sixth season at the helm for SVSU and has tallied a 37-25 mark during his time with the program.  Brady has helped produce four-straight winning seasons and coaches the quarterbacks in addition to being the squad's head coach.

Mason McKenzie is the Cardinals' signal caller, passing for 1,295 yards and 10 touchdowns, while completing 59 percent of his attempts (100-of-169).  The 1,295 passing yards ranks third in the conference, while his 185 yards per game is the fifth most.  McKenzie is a true dual-threat quarterback, adding a team-high 618 yards on the ground, which is the second most in the GLIAC.

Terrence Brown, Jr. is the team's leading pass catcher, hauling in 31 balls for 481 yards and five scores.  The junior has rushed 15 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns.  His 93 all-purpose yards per game leads SVSU.

Michael Jamerson III is the lead back for the Cardinals, with 87 attempts for 375 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns on the ground.  Jamerson has contributed 10 catches for 79 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Returning punts for Saginaw Valley State is Braden Hill, who has returned seven for 90 yards, with a long of 34 yards.  Jaquan Howard takes care of kick returns, with 13 attempts for 320 yards.

Christian Boivin leads the squad in tackles, with 63 (31-32), including three for loss (1.5 sacks).  The senior has four pass break-ups along with one interception.  Adom LeDuc has a team-high 3.5 sacks.

Punting is Teagan Lenderink.  The junior averages 38.2 yards per punt, pinning two inside of the 20-yard line.  Tylor McCoon has attempted eight punts, with five inside of the 20-yard line.  Lenderink has connected on five-of-eight field goals, with a long of 53 yards, has made 29-of-30 extra point-attempts, and was named GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week this past Monday.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Warriors and Cardinals have faced each other 46 times, with SVSU leading 35-10-1 in the all-time series.  WSU's last win over Saginaw Valley State came during the 2019 season, when Wayne State earned a 24-20 home victory.

A BAGFUL OF M&Ms
Linebackers Martell Williams, Logan McGraw, and Max Edwards have combined for 170 tackles through the first seven games of the season.  Williams leads the way with 71 (30-41), while McGraw is second on the squad with 55 (25-30), and Edwards ranks third with 44 (18-26).  In addition, the trio has combined for 21 of WSU's 46 tackles for loss.
Williams' 71 tackles leads the GLIAC, while McGraw's nine TFL rank second.  

A PAIR OF PICK SIXES
In the first quarter of the 48-24 setback to Michigan Tech, Kelly Matthews intercepted an Alex Bueno pass, returning it 53 yards for a touchdown.  It was the first pick six since September 17, 2022, when Elijah Fowlkes ran 51 yards for a score against Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Matthews' interception is the 12th-longest in the last 36 years of Wayne State football. 

Just two weeks later, in the second stanza of the 49-14 loss to Davenport, Luke Johnson picked off a pass from D'Wan Mathis, returning it 67 yards to put WSU on the board.  The 67 yards is the longest return by a Wayne State true freshman in at least the last 36 years and is the second-longest by a freshman since Jeremy Jones had an 86-yard return during his redshirt freshman campaign on October 18, 2008, at Ferris State.  

Johnson's pick is the eighth-longest in the last 36 years of WSU football and is the longest since Anthony DeDamos' 85-yard return against Hillsdale on November 15, 2014.  

Jones holds the WSU record with a 100-yard return in a 14-9 win over No. 6-ranked Hillsdale on October 23, 2010.

The Warriors have 142 interception return yards this season, which is the most since 2019.  This is the 13th time in school history that WSU has returned two or more interceptions for a score in a season.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
As a squad, WSU ranks seventh in the nation in kickoff-return defense, allowing just 14.47 yards per return.  The Green and Gold defense has produced a pair of touchdowns, which is the 16th-most in the country, while the seven forced fumbles rank 23rd.  Additionally, Wayne State is generating 6.57 tackles for loss per game, which is good enough for 45th in Division 2.

Individually, Logan McGraw's 0.43 forced fumbles per contest ranks fifth in the country, while Spencer Lyons' two fumble recoveries is eighth, and leads the GLIAC.  Martell Williams' 10.1 tackles per game is the 12th-most in the nation, while McGraw's 1.29 TFL per game is 40th.

HICKMOTT HAULING IN PASSES
Redshirt freshman Drew Hickmott is tied-for-seventh in the GLIAC with three touchdown receptions.  He has the highest average per catch of anyone on the WSU squad with at least five receptions.

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.

The redshirt freshman caught a team-best four passes in the loss to Davenport for a squad-high 62 yards.

TUGGLE PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
In the 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.

The Redford, Mich., native snagged a 21-yard pass against Michigan Tech, while throwing a 40-yard touchdown to Nick Ostas in the opening period.

In the loss at Ferris State, Tuggle added a 25-yard reception in the second quarter.  He has led the squad in receiving yards in three contests.

WARRIOR DEBUTS
Through seven games, eighty-nine (89) different student-athletes have seen action for Wayne State.

Twenty (20) have made their WSU debut after playing at a previous school, while 31 different players have made their collegiate debut.

Making their collegiate debuts this year are:  Jordan Bell, Lance Blakely, Haiden Bollini, Liam Distelzweig, Daylon Doe, Dove Eitzen, Dharon Flowers, Franklin Gallagher, Zach Green, Zaiden Hall, Drew Hickmott, Donovan Isaac, Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., Creg Johnson, Luke Johnson, Spencer Lyons, Nahji Mabry, Jonathan Major, Marvin McCallum, Trae'vion Meadows, Blake Nelson, Griffin Nowak, Mikey O'Brien, Drew Rankin, Jaheem Richmond, Keathan Smith, Wendell Smith, Ryan Spate, Joe Tate, Bishop Thomas, Tyler Torey, Gavin Troy and Evan Wittmann.

Donning the Green and Gold for this first time this year were:  Sterling Anderson, Justhin Austin, D'Vaun Bentley, Angel Carrillo, Carson Creehan, Omar El Khatib, Sherod Green, Peyton Hatten, Devon Isaac, Trent Leicht, Kelly Matthews, Logan McGraw, Jasir Rahaman, Mar'Tavion Robinson, Josh Sekiyoba, Ashawn Sims, Braden Siri, Mikey Thomas, Darel Washington and Martell Williams.

FRESH FACES
Despite having 126 players on the roster, WSU only has 53 returners, including 18 letterwinners.  In total there are 73 newcomers (49 freshmen, four mid-year transfers, and 20 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 are facing yet another tall task during the 2025 campaign.  WSU's past 2025 opponents have a cumulative record of 28-11 (.718) which is the toughest in D2.  The Warriors' future foes hold a 10-16 ledger (.385), while the composite record of 38-27 (.585) is fifth 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 126 student-athletes on the 2025 WSU football roster, 92 came from high school, 11 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 13 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, 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 remaining shows will be taped on 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.