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Wayne State University Athletics

Drew Hickmott following first career TD Catch - 2025 vs. Tiffin
Michael Dubicki
Drew Hickmott following his first collegiate touchdown reception.
34
Winner Tiffin TIF 1-0 , 0-0
7
Wayne St. (MI) WSU 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
Tiffin TIF
1-0 , 0-0
34
Final
7
Wayne St. (MI) WSU
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TIF Tiffin 0 20 0 14 34
WSU Wayne St. (MI) 0 0 0 7 7

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

Football Falls To Visiting Tiffin, 34-7, In Season Opener

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football squad began year 108 (107th season due to COVID) with a 34-7 setback to visiting Tiffin University in the season opener for both squads.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
After a Warrior punt on their opening drive, the Dragons drove 63 yards for a first-and-goal from the WSU one-yard line.  A rushing attempt by TU's Tyrese Banks-Dorn ended with a fumble forced by junior linebacker Logan McGraw (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt [Hutchinson C.C.]) and recovered by senior linebacker Martell Williams (Hillside, Ill. / Proviso West [Norfolk State]).  Williams returned the fumble 18 yards to the WSU 22-yard line.

Wayne State garnered one first down on a 10-yard jaunt by graduate student D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Lawrence Tech]).    Following a punt by Warrior Dove Eitzen (Blissfield, Mich. [Albany]) that went out of bounds at the TU 15, the Dragons strung together a 16-play drive, covering 85 yards to grab a 7-0 advantage.  The scoring play was a seven-yard pass play from Alex Johnson to Ethan Holbrook with 10:17 remaining in the first half.  Tiffin converted two fourth-and-one plays on the drive.

Another punt by Eitzen preceded a six-play, 34-yard field goal drive by TU culminating in a 24-yard boot by Ben Rudoph.

Wayne State had to punt on its next possession, and Holbrook scampered 80 yards after nearly stepping out of bounds as he caught Eitzen's punt.  Rudolph's PAT made it 17-0 with 3:06 left before intermission.

On the second offensive play for Tiffin after another Eitzen punt, McGraw forced another fumble which was recovered by redshirt freshman cornerback Phil Cato (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit).

WSU was unable to convert a fourth-and-10 on the ensuing possession, and Tiffin drove 26 yards in three plays in 20 seconds with Rudolph connecting on a 30-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.

Tiffin out-gained the Warriors 221-28 in the opening 30 minutes, plus was -of-7 on third and fourth downs combined, compared to Wayne State's 0-for-7.

Second Half
Neither team scored in a defensive third quarter that resulted in just seven first downs (six by WSU, and one by Tiffin).

The Warriors took over at their 25-yard line with 8:22 left in the third period and proceeded to run 13 plays and gain 66 yards to end the stanza with a third-and-goal from the TU nine-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Wayne State junior signal caller Champion Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork, Utah {El Camino C.C.]) tossed a nine-yard scoring toss to redshirt freshman wide receiver Drew Hickmott (Metamora, Mich. / Ortonville Brandon [Michigan]).  It was Hickmott's second catch of the contest, and Edwards' seventh career passing touchdown as a Warrior.  Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) converted his first career PAT attempt to pull WSU within 20-7.

Tiffin extended its lead to 27-7 with a 65-yard drive in 10 play covering over four minutes of clock time.  Banks-Dorn scored on a three-yard plunge.

The Dragons completed the scoring with a six-play, 70-yard scoring drive with Holbrook hauling in his second touchdown catch of the game from Johnson.

TEAM STATS
Tiffin had a 385-135 edge in total offense, running 61 plays to Wayne State's 47.  TU led 132-82 in rushing yards, along with a 253-53 advantage in passing yards.  The Dragons were 6-of-12 on third down (and 2-of-2 on fourth down), while WSU was 2-of-11 on third down (and 0-of-1 on fourth down).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Bentley rushed for a team-high 49 yards on 13 attempts, while Edwards contributed 34 yards on seven carries.  Edwards completed 7-of-10 passes for 48 yards and one touchdown.  Hickmott had three receptions for 37 yards and a score.  McGraw was credited with a game-best 12 tackles (6-6) along with 3.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up.

LEADING THE DRAGONS
Ronald Blackman rushed for a game-high 82 yards on 17 carries.  Johnson completed 22-of-28 passes for 253 yards and two scores, with Holbrook catching eight passes for 79 yards and two scores, along with his 80-yard punt return for a touchdown.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will play its first road game of 2025 on Saturday, September 13th with a noon kickoff at Findlay.
 
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