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Wayne State University Athletics

Elijah Fowlkes 2025 at Findlay
Meredith Wipper
Elijah Fowlkes had six tackles, an interception and a pass break-up at Findlay.
3
Wayne State WS-MI 0-2
7
Winner Findlay OILERS 2-0
Wayne State WS-MI
0-2
3
Final
7
Findlay OILERS
2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WS-MI Wayne State 0 0 0 3 3
OILERS Findlay 0 7 0 0 7

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

Football Edged 7-3 In Defensive Struggle At Findlay

FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Wayne State University defense help an opponent under 10 points for the first time since a 16-3 triumph at Davenport University on October 16, 2021, a span of 37 games, but the offense managed just three points in a 7-3 setback at the University of Findlay (2-0 overall) in the lowest scoring WSU football game since a 7-0 loss at Ashland on September 8, 2012.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Oilers took the opening kickoff and garnered a pair of first downs, including converting a fourth-and-one near midfield, the Warrior defense had back-to-back tackles for loss leading to a UF punt.

After Wayne State went three-and-out, Findlay ran the next 11 offensive plays to conclude the opening stanza.

Second Quarter
The second period began with an offensive pass interference on the Oilers followed by a 19-yard completion, which preceded a missed 24-yard field goal attempt by UF's Zachary Barzd.

The WSU offense notched first downs on a 14-yard run by sophomore XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Northern), and a 16-yard completion on third-and-13 from junior signal caller Champion Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork H.S. in Utah [El Camino C.C.]) to senior Justyz Tuggle (Redford, Mich. / Detroit Central [Bethune-Cookman]).  A solid punt by redshirt freshman Dove Eitzen (Blissfield, Mich. [Albany]) saw the return man tackled at the Findlay 10.

The Oilers went 90 yards in six plays recording first downs on five consecutive plays after a one-yard gain on the opening play of the drive for the game's only touchdown.  A 37-yard pass play from Chase Harrison to Bryan Hunt, was followed by a 13-yard scamper by Jayden Farmer.  Hunt contributed a 17-yard reception, and Harrison added an 11-yard keeper.  Christian Davis finished off the drive with a 16-yard jaunt around the left end.  

Eitzen had a 42-yard punt, which followed a three-and-out by the Wayne State offense.

The Warrior defense produced a tackle for loss, plus a seven-yard sack to force a Findlay punt.

Redshirt freshman Drew Hickmott (Metamora, Mich. / Ortonville Brandon [Michigan]) had a 12-yard reception to start the next drive, but Eitzen came off and forced a fair catch on a 39-yard punt.

UF had one first down but had to punt, with the Warriors advancing almost to midfield as the first half clock expired.

Third Quarter
After a 22-yard kickoff return by redshirt sophomore Mar'Tavion Robinson (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly [Davenport]), the Wayne State offense had to punt on fourth-and-five.

The Oilers moved into WSU territory thanks to a third down defensive holding penalty on WSU and a 25-yard reception by Denny Furlong.  After a 13-yard sack by junior defensive end Will Fennema (Middleville, Mich. / Grand Rapids South Christian [Madonna]), senior safety Elijah Fowlkes (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) notched his fifth career interception by picking off Harrison on a third-and-21 play.  His 22-yard return increased his career total interception return yards to 95.

The Warriors earned one first down on an 11-yard catch by Tuggle, but a fourth down pass was incomplete.

The Findlay offense almost had two first downs, but a holding penalty negated the second first down which forced the Oilers to punt on fourth-and-nine.

Tyus had a seven-yard carry on the final play of the third period to get Wayne State out of the shadows of its own goal post.

Fourth Quarter
Edwards scrambled for four yards and on a third-and-three to another first down, prior to WSU garnering three first downs in a span of four plays - Edwards to Hickmott for 17 yards, Edwards to Tuggle for 22 yards, and Edwards to Hickmott for 27 yards setting up a first-and-goal from the UF two-yard line.  After an incompletion on first down, graduate student D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Lawrence Tech]) earned one tough yard, and Edwards was tackled for no gain.  A false start penalty on the Warriors resulted in sophomore Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) connecting on his first career field goal, a 23-yard attempt to pull WSU within 7-3 with 6:44 remaining.

The Warrior defense forced a three-and-out and the WSU offense responded by picking up three first downs on an 11-yard reception by redshirt senior Angel Carrillo (Atascosa, Texas / Southwest [Livingstone College]), a six-yard run by Bentley and a 15-yard catch by Hickmott.  On a first-and-10 from the Findlay 23 with just over 65 seconds remaining, Edwards' pass was intercepted by Adonai Bumba at the UF five-yard line.  Three kneel downs by the Oilers ran out the clock.

TEAM STATS
The rushing yards were nearly even with WSU holding a 57-52 edge after Findlay lost six yards on kneel downs.  Wayne State had a 183-172 advantage in passing yards to lead in total offense 240-224.  The Oilers led 32:12 to 27:48 in time of possession.  Neither squad was stellar on third down as WSU went 4-of-11, and Findlay was 3-of-13.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Edwards completed 19-of-29 passes for a career-high 183 yards with one interception.  Tyus rushed for a game-best 30 yards on seven attempts.  Both Hickmott and Tuggle had five receptions, with Hickmott totaling a team-high 78 receiving yards.  Senior middle linebacker Martell Williams (Hillside, Ill. / Proviso West (Rochester Community and Technical College / Norfolk State) had a team-best eight tackles (6-2).  Fennema had 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, while junior linebacker Logan McGraw (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt [Tennessee State / Hutchinson C.C.]) had 2.5 tackles for loss among his seven tackles (6-1).  Eitzen averaged 38.8 yards on five punts with two inside the 20.

LEADING THE OILERS
Harrison passed for 172 yards on 14-of-21 with one interception.  Davis rushed 10 times for 27 yards and a touchdown on a 16-yard carry.  Hunt totaled game-best marks of eight receptions and 92 receiving yards.  Sam Weihrauch totaled a game-high 10 tackles (8-2), including two for loss.  Owen Clevenger punted five times for 215 yards (43.0 average) with two inside the 20.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will make its first trip to the state of Wisconsin since Nov. 4, 1972, when the Tartars fell 28-7 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Wayne State also played at UWM twice before that (UWM won 33-9 on Oct. 17, 1964, while WSU was victorious 39-31 at UWM on Sept. 30, 1967, behind 555 yards of total offense from quarterback A.J. Vaughn).

 
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