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 Joique Bell had 255 all-purpose yards. |
Sept. 1, 2007
The Wayne State University football team (0-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) began the 2007 campaign with a 21-14 setback at home to Michigan Tech (1-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.
Following a defensive first quarter which saw the teams combine for just 133 yards of total offense (81 for WSU, 52 for MTU), the visiting Huskies scored twice the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage.
MTU tailback Phil Milbrath scored on a three-yard run up the middle on a first-and-goal just 78 seconds into the second quarter capping an eight play, 80-yard drive.
After a WSU punt, the Huskies went 62 yards in nine plays with fullback Billy Koenig scoring on a one-yard run with 7:04 left before intermission.
Wayne State's best scoring drive of the opening 20 minutes came late in the first quarter as the Warriors drove 55 yards down to the Tech seven, but quarterback Trent Pohl's (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) pass on second-and-goal was tipped near the goal line and intercepted in the end zone by Chris Nowak.
After MTU took its 14-0 advantage, WSU responded with a six play, 60-yard scoring drive. Following two kickoffs out of bounds, Wayne State began at its own 40. On a third-and-eight, Pohl found Chris Alsina (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont/Mt. San Jacinto J.C.) over the middle for 10 yards and a first down. Following another 10-yard completion to Alsina and an incompletion, junior Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres/Michigan Tech) went 38 yards for his first touchdown as a Warrior and his 18th career rushing touchdown.
On its final drive of the first half, WSU drove from its 33 to the Tech 24 thanks to a 28-yard run by sophomore Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) and a 15-yard pass interference penalty on MTU. David Chudzinski's (Belleville, Mich.) 41-yard field goal attempt sailed left.
Total offense at intermission was nearly even with MTU leading 201-200.
The Huskies had the lone scoring drive of the third quarter with a 12-play, 69-yard drive after WSU was unable to convert on a fourth-and-seven. Milbrath had a nine-yard scoring run for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
Midway through the fourth period, WSU took possession at its own five yard line and went 95 yards in 15 plays to cut the deficit to seven at 21-14. WSU converted two fourth down plays on the drive - Pohl to Alsina for seven yards, and a Pohl rush for 15 yards. Bell capped the drive with a two-yard rush up the middle for his 23rd career rushing touchdown, tying him with Craig Duppong (2002-03) for third place on the WSU all-time list.
Chudzinski's perfectly played onside kick was caught by Bell at the MTU 46 with 2:06 remaining in the fourth stanza. After three incompletions, Pohl was sacked on fourth down. Michigan Tech gained one first down and ran out the clock.
Bell led all rushers with 162 yards on 22 carries for his 11th career 100-yard game in 12 contests. Graham added 97 yards on 13 carries as the Warrior backfield tandem just missed being the first duo to go over 100 yards in the same game since August 30, 2003, when Duppong and Randy Hutchison accomplished the feat vs. Gannon.
Milbrath led MTU with 118 yards on 28 carries. Huskie quarterback Steve Short completed 12 of 22 for 156 yards, with Kirk Williams hauling in six passes for 82.
Bell had 255 all-purpose yards, the fourth-highest game of his career, which increased his 12-game collegiate total to 2,717. He trails John Hazely (1946-49) by 21 yards for seventh place all-time at WSU.
Wayne State begins a two-game road trip next Saturday (Sept. 8) at St. Joseph's in Rensselaer, Indiana. Kickoff is at noon local time.
