WSU Athletics Creative

Mickey Keller had an 80-yard touchdown run vs. GVSU.

Football 11/1/2025 7:11:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Falls 59-13 To No. 25-Grand Valley State

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (0-9 overall, 0-5 GLIAC) fell 59-13 to No. 25-ranked Grand Valley State University (5-3 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) in the 2025 home finale on Saturday afternoon at Tom Adams Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Warriors took the opening kickoff and drove 59 yards in 11 plays with sophomore place-kicker Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) converting a 26-yard field goal attempt to conclude a six-minute drive. Sophomore quarterback Justin Cox (Akron, Ohio / East), making his third career start and first since Sept. 14, 2024, had a key 11-yard completion on third-and-six to senior wide out Justyz Tuggle (Redford, Mich. / Detroit Central [Bethune-Cookman]) to garner a first down on the first series of the game. Back-to-back penalties on the Lakers totaling 20 yards advanced WSU into the red zone. Running backs D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Lawrence Tech]) and Brayden McKenna (Lapeer, Mich.) had consecutive six-yard carries putting Wayne State at the six-yard line.

GVSU drove 64 yards in 10 plays, using over five minutes on the clock, and knotted the game at 3-3 on a 29-yard field goal by Matthew Bacik.

A Warrior punt ended the second drive late in the stanza.

Second Quarter
Following a Laker punt, WSU took a 6-3 advantage on Nowak's 23-yard field goal. That scoring drive lasted 15 plays, which tied for the longest drive (in terms of the number of plays) this year. Key plays were a roughing the passer penalty on third-and-seven, a nine-yard Cox to freshman receiver Drew Hickmott (Ortonville, Mich. / Ortonville Brandon [Michigan]) on third-and-seven, a Cos scramble for 17 yards on second-and-17, a 15-yard pass interference penalty and an eight yard unnecessary roughness penalty.

Grand Valley State took the lead at 10-6 with a six-play, 73-yard drive in 2:09 as Derrick Woods scored on a one-yard plunge with 1:26 remaining before intermission. GVSU had four consecutive plays of at least 10 yards, including a 31-yard pass from Andrew Schuster to Woods.

A Wayne State fumble on the second play after the kickoff gave the Lakers the ball at the Warrior eight-yard line. On the third play, Syone Usma-Harper had a one-yard touchdown run giving Grand Valley State 14 points in 77 seconds for a 17-6 lead at halftime.

GVSU led 190 to 93 in total offense through 30 minutes.

Third Quarter
The Lakers were forced to punt on the initial drive of the third period, but WSU fumbled as they were nearing midfield.

It took Grand Valley State just 52 seconds to extend its margin to 24-6 as Paschal Jolman scored on a 23-yard scamper up the middle.

The Warriors were forced to punt but a low snap was mishandled and GVSU's Anthony Scott recovered in the end zone to make it 31-6.

The Lakers recovered an onside kick at their own 49-yard line. A six-play, 51-yard drive concluded with a one-yard run by Kenneth Jones. Grand VAlley State tallied 21 points in a span of 4:24.

Wayne State's Avery Burch (Detroit, Mich. / River Rouge [Va. University-Lynchburg) had a 41-yard punt downed at the GVSU 17-yard line.

On the first play, freshman cornerback Wendell Smith (Detroit, Mich. / Southfield A&T) notched his second interception of the campaign returning it 20 yards to the GVSU 12.

On third-and-10, Cox was intercepted by Jason Hardy who returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.

Fourth Quarter
Burch blasted a 57-yard punt to pin Grand Valley State at its own five-yard line.

Both teams punted on their next possessions.

The Lakers drove 74 yards in seven plays to push their lead to 52-6 on a five-yard jaunt by Zak Olejniczak.

After WSU freshman signal caller Dylan Kress (Aurora, Ont. / St. Andrew's College Prep) was picked off after his first two collegiate completions, Kellen Russell-Dixon capped off a nine-play 52-yard drive with a two-yard TD run.

On the second play after the kickoff, redshirt freshman Mickey Keller (Ashburn, Va. / Independence), who's previous long rush was six yards, registered an 80-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds remaining to complete the scoring.

TEAM STATS
Grand Valley State held a 440-221 edge in total offense despite running one less play (62-63) from scrimmage. The Lakers had a 165-118 advantage in rushing yards, along with a 275-103 margin in passing yards.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Keller rushed for a game-high 80 yards, while XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern) gained 40 yards on 12 carries. Cox passed for 88 yards on 11-of-25 with one interception, while Kress went 2-of-4 for 15 yards in his collegiate debut. Tuggle led WSU in catches (5) and receiving yards (62). A quintet of defensive players collected five tackles apiece - Amarion Brownlee (4-1), Kelly Matthews (4-1), Logan McGraw (3-2), Martell Williams (3-2) and Justhin Austin (2-3), with Williams also notching a pass break-up.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Russell-Dixon rushed for a team-best 61 yards on nine attempts. Andrew Schuster completed 17-of-26 passes for 256 yards with one interception. Kellen Reed had a team-high five catches (for 70 yards), while Lynn Wyche-El posted a game-best 81 receiving yards. Torian Wyatt had a game-high eight tackles (3-5), including two assisted tackles for loss (half-sack), along with a forced fumble.

SENIORS RECOGNIZED
The following Seniors were honored during pre-game ceremonies: Clifton Buchanan, Jr., Angel Carrillo, Elijah Fowlkes, Ethan Gates, Chris Gillam, Colby Horn, Devon Isaac, Jayden Lewin, Brayden McKenna, Nick Ostas, Quincy Salter, Josh Sekiyoba, Justyz Tuggle, Martell Williams, and manager CJ Turner.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will conclude the 2025 campaign with back-to-back road contests at Roosevelt (Nov. 8 in Arlington Heights, Ill.) and at Northern Michigan (Nov. 15 in Marquette).

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Players Mentioned

#26 Amarion Brownlee: S; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#8 Clifton Buchanan, Jr.: S; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#28 Avery Burch: PK; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Justin Cox: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

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

#76 Ethan Gates: OL; 6' 6"; Redshirt Junior

#21 Chris Gillam: S; 6' 2"; Senior

#55 Colby Horn: DE; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#42 Devon Isaac: DE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#22 Mickey Keller: RB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#26 Amarion Brownlee
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: S

#8 Clifton Buchanan, Jr.
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: S

#28 Avery Burch
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: PK

#10 Justin Cox
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: QB

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

#76 Ethan Gates
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Junior
: OL

#21 Chris Gillam
: 6' 2"; Senior
: S

#55 Colby Horn
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: DE

#42 Devon Isaac
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#22 Mickey Keller
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB