Michael Dubicki

Nick Ostas had a 40-yard reception for his first career touchdown.

Football 10/4/2025 6:16:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Suffers 48-24 Homecoming Setback To Michigan Tech

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (0-5 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) dropped its GLIAC opener, 48-24, to visiting Michigan Tech University (4-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) during WSU's annual Homecoming contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The teams combined for 35 points in the opening 15 minutes, which included the Warrior scoring a flea ficker and a pick six.

The Huskies took the opening kick and went 65 yards in seven plays with Alex Bueno tossing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nic Nora after MTU had converted its second consecutive third down play.

Despite the Wayne State losing a fumble on its first offensive play of the game, the WSU defense forced a turnover on downs as redshirt freshman defensive lineman Aydin Johnson (Parchment, Mich.) broke up a fourth down pass.

The Warrior offense responded with a 71 yard touchdown drive in just four plays that took under two minutes. On first-and-10 from the Michigan Tech 40, a backwards lateral from quarterback Champion Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork, Utah [El Camino C.C.]) preceded a touchdown pass from wide receiver Justyz Tuggle (Redford, Mich. / Detroit Central [Bethune-Cookman]) to a wide open Nick Ostas (Blissfield, Mich.) for his first collegiate score. It was Ostas' fifth career catch in 27 career contests.

On the third play of the ensuing drive, senior defensive back Kelly Matthews (Detroit, Mich. / River Rouge [Concordia, Mich.] intercepted a first down pass and went 53 yards for WSU's first pick six since Elijah Fowlkes scampered 51 yards against Wisconsin-La Crosse on Sept. 17, 2022.

Michigan Tech knotted the score at 14-14 with Patrick Kastner caught a one-yard TD pass from Bueno to conclude a 10-play, 65-yard drive in 4:35. A big play on the drive was a 37-yard reception by Ethan Hull on a third-and-seven.

It took the Warriors just 75 seconds to regain the lead as Tuggle hauled in a 21-yard pass from Edwards, plus a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Huskies moved the ball to the MTU 29=yard line. Redshirt freshman Donovan Isaac (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Waterford Mott) had a 28-yard reception to the one-yard line and Edwards finished the drive with a one-yard plunge for his first rushing touchdown of the season.

The teams combined for 267 yards of total offense in the first 15 minutes with MTU holding a 163-104 edge.

Second Quarter
Following a Huskies punt, MTU linebacker Chase Koch had a 10-yard interception return to tie the game at 21-21.

WSU regained the lead at 24-21 as sophomore kicker Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) connected on a career-long 44-yard field goal.

Michigan Tech took the lead for good at 28-24 on a 45-yard touchdown reception by Bryce Kurncz with 5:16 remaining before intermission.

After a Wayne State punt, the Huskies extended their advantage on a 21-yard touchdown reception by Drew Collins with 1:54 left before halftime.

MTU took over at its own 45-yard line after a Warrior punt and 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Michigan Tech kicker Avery Kucharski made a 21-yard field goal on the next to last play of the first half pushing the Huskies lead to 38-24.

MTU had a 337-140 advantage in total offense through 30 minutes.

Third Quarter
The first drive after intermission for each team ended in a punt. WSU's second drive was a turnover on downs on a dropped snap during a punt attempt giving Michigan Tech the ball at the Wayne State 21-yard line.

On the fifth play of the ensuing drive, Kucharski connected on a 23-yard field goal.

Following a successful onside kick by the Huskies, Kucharski missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.

Fourth Quarter
The only points in the final frame were a 23-yard touchdown pass from Bueno to Nora.

TEAM STATS
Michigan Tech garnered 506 yards of total offense compared to WSU's 199, as the Huskies ran 75 plays to the Warriors 48. MTU had a 189-23 edge in rushing yards, and 317-176 through the air. Michigan Tech went 6-of-14 on third down, while Wayne State was 0-for-9.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern) rushed for a team-high 20 yards, while Edwards passed for 136 yards on 16-of-25 with two interceptions. Tuggle, who tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass, caught all seven targets for a team-best 61 receiving yards. Senior linebacker Martell Williams (Hillside, Ill. / Proviso West [Rocester CTC / Norfolk State) totaled a game-best 15 tackles (7-8), including 1.5 for loss and a forced fumble.

LEADING THE HUSKIES
Kolby Hindenach rushed for a game-high 84 yards. Bueno completed 17-of-27 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Nora scored two touchdowns on four receptions for 95 yards. Terrence Martin recorded a team-best seven tackles (3-4).

UP NEXT
Wayne State will travel to top-ranked Ferris State on Saturday, Oct. 11 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Bulldogs at Top Taggart Field.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Champion Edwards: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

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

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

#49 Aydin Johnson: DE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#85 Nick Ostas: TE; 6' 4"; Senior

#7 Justyz Tuggle: WR; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#25 XaVior Tyus: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#4 Martell Williams: MLB; 5' 11"; Senior

#20 Kelly Matthews: CB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#17 Champion Edwards
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

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

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

#49 Aydin Johnson
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: DE

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

#85 Nick Ostas
: 6' 4"; Senior
: TE

#7 Justyz Tuggle
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#25 XaVior Tyus
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#4 Martell Williams
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MLB

#20 Kelly Matthews
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: CB