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Wayne State University Athletics

Griffin Nowak 2025 vs. GVSU
(C) Douglas Johnson
Griffin Nowak made a career-long 47-yard field goal attempt at GVSU.
3
Wayne St. (MI) WSU 0-5 , 0-1
69
Winner Grand Valley State GVS 5-0 , 1-0
Wayne St. (MI) WSU
0-5 , 0-1
3
Final
69
Grand Valley State GVS
5-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSU Wayne St. (MI) 0 0 0 3 3
GVS Grand Valley State 21 17 10 21 69

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

Football Drops GLIAC Opener At No. 6-Grand Valley State

Nowak converts career-long 47-yard field goal attempt.

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University football team (0-5 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) began conference play on Saturday afternoon at Grand Valley State University (5-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) with the host Lakers claiming a 69-3 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
WSU went three-and-out on the game's first possession and a short punt gave the Lakers the ball at their own 46 even after a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on GVSU.  On the second play of the Grand Valley State drive Andrew Schuster completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Reed just 3:12 into the contest.

The next Warrior possession ended with a punt and the Lakers were given an additional 10 yards due to a holding penalty on WSU.  GVSU scored on three plays (plus a Wayne State pass interference penalty) as Reed hauled in a 31-yard scoring strike from Schuster with 5:44 remaining in the opening stanza.

Grand Valley State kicker Matthew Bacik recovered his own onside kick and the Lakers extended their advantage to 21-0 after a four-play, 53-yard drive which culminated in a 39-yard pass to Reed by Zak Olejniczak.

Wayne State's next drive carried over into the second period but ended in a punt.

Second Quarter
GVSU drove 89 yards in nine plays with Reed catching his fourth touchdown pass of the game on a 10-yard completion by Schuster.

WSU went for it on fourth down but freshman quarterback Brody Thompson (Lake Orion, Mich.) fumbled on a rollout and the Lakers recovered at the WSU 23-yard line. 

On the fifth play of the ensuing drive, Bryce Hurley scored on a one-yard plunge to make it 35-0.

The final scoring play of the first half was a 33-yard field goal by Bacik.

GVSU had a 288 to minus-9 advantage in total offense during the first 30 minutes.

Third Quarter
Grand Valley State added to its margin with a 10-point third period.  Reed had a 27-yard touchdown reception from Schuster just 35 seconds into the second half.

Just over nine minutes later, Bacik connected on a 28-yard field goal attempt.

GVSU had a 78-57 edge in total offense during the third stanza.

Fourth Quarter
The Lakers scored 93 seconds into the final period on a three-yard keeper Olejniczak after he had a 61-yard carry on the previous play.

Midway through the stanza, WSU junior kicker Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) connected on a career-long 47-yard field goal attempt.  The big play on the drive was a 60-yard rush by graduate student D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Lawrence Tech]) which gave the Warriors a first-and-10 at the GVSU 20.  Three consecutive third down penalties (holding, false start and delay of game) cost Wayne State 20 yards.

Grand Valley State closed out the scoring with an 86-yard rush by Kenneth Jones on the first play after the kickoff, then Kenyon Owens took a shovel pass from Olejniczak and went 62 yards with just over three minutes.

TEAM STATS
Grand Valley State had a 585-166 advantage in total offense despite WSU having the ball for 38:47 compared to GVSU's 21:13.  Wayne State went 1-of-14 on third down, with the Lakers converting 3-of-6 opportunities.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Bentley rushed for a team-best 93 yards on 25 attempts.  WSU was 5-of-9 passing for minus one yard. 

LEADING THE LAKERS
Jones had a game-best 94 rushing yards on two carries.  Schuster completed 16-of-24 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns, while Olejniczak was 3-of-3 for 100 yards and two scores.  Reed caught eight passes for 177 yards and a school-record tying five touchdowns.

UP NEXT
Wayne State returns to Tom Adams Field next Saturday (Oct. 10) for its annual Homecoming contest vs. Roosevelt.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM.

 
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