Oct. 11, 2008

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DETROIT - The Wayne State University football team (5-2 overall, 4-2 GLIAC) won its fourth consecutive home game of the 2008 campaign with a 24-10 Homecoming triumph over visiting Northern Michigan University (1-5 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at Adams Field before the seventh largest crowd in WSU Stadium history (4,502).

The Warriors scored on their first three possessions of the game for a 17-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. Then the WSU defense took center stage allowing one field goal drive (67 yards) and a short touchdown drive (27 yards) following a WSU fumble.

The four home victories in a season is the most since the 1984 squad went 4-1 at home (won first three and the fifth home game).

Wayne State grabbed a 7-0 lead just 80 seconds into the contest vs. the Wildcats. On a third-and-six from the WSU 33, freshman quarterback Kevin Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) found junior running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) open down the middle with Bell racing into the end zone for his career-longest reception of 67 yards (previous long was 37 yards). It was Bell's fifth career TD reception and WSU's longest play from scrimmage in 2008.

After a three-and-out by the NMU offense, WSU took over at its 20 following a touchback on a 55-yard punt by Wildcat Garrett Peck. Wayne State used a ball control offense to eat up 6:27 of the clock and score on a four-yard touchdown pass from Smith to freshman Don Brown (Detroit, Mich./Southfield). It was Brown's first career TD catch and marked the third time in four starts that Smith had two passing touchdowns in a game.

WSU converted two third down plays on the scoring drive, a five-yard pass to Bell and a 13-yard pass to freshman Troy Burrell (Port Huron, Mich.).

On the ensuing kickoff, NMU's Brandon Smith was hit hard by WSU's Jordan Kidd (Milford, Mich.) with the fumble recovery going to Warrior Steve Wisniewski (Madison Hts., Mich./Lamphere).

Three plays gained six yards with senior David Chudzinski (Belleville, Mich.) converting a 23-yard field goal attempt. Chudzinski's 28th career field goal ties him with Jerry McGowan (1983-86) for second-place on the WSU all-time list.

Midway through the second stanza, the Wildcats went 67 yards in 12 plays with Jon Laue making a 24-yard field goal attempt to complete the first half scoring as the Warriors led 17-3 at intermission.

WSU held a 220-113 advantage in total offense for the opening 30 minutes.

On WSU's third drive of the third quarter, a fumbled snap by Smith was recovered by NMU at the WSU 27. On the fifth play, Wildcat quarterback Carter Kopach completed a nine-yard scoring pass to Fred Wells with 1:31 left in the third period making it 17-10 Wayne State.

In the fourth quarter, Bell carried 12 times for 81 yards including a five-yard touchdown scamper with 5:06 remaining to finish the scoring. The 43-yard scoring drive came following an NMU fumble. Smith fumbled for the second time in the game after a hit by freshman linebacker Zachary Easterly (Southfield, Mich./Cass Tech) which was recovered by senior cornerback Cornelius Dillard (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres/GRCC). Dillard had a 40-yard interception return earlier in the contest.

WSU out-rushed NMU 211-157, had more passing yards 136-68 and finished with 347 yards of total offense to 225 for NMU.

Bell led all rushers with 33 carries for 174 yards, while Wildcat Mark Bossuah had 124 yards on 21 attempts.

Smith completed 10-of-17 for 136 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Kopach was 10-of-22 for NMU for 68 yards. Burrell led all receivers with five catches to extend his reception streak to seven games. Bell had a game-high 84 receiving yards to finish with 258 all-purpose yards.

On WSU's last drive of the second quarter, Bell had a 10-yard gain on a second-and-seven to surpass the 4,000-yard career rushing plateau. On the very next play, Bell was credited with a five-yard run which pushed his all-time all-purpose yards total over 5,000. He also moved ahead of three players (Jason Charron, Joe Gough and Mark Friday) on the Wayne State career total offense list and sits in third place following the NMU contest.

The Warriors hit the road next week for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Ferris State.

Notes:

Bell's 258 all-purpose yards was the 12th highest single-game total in school history. He has six of the top 13 marks all-time.

Bell needs 72 rushing yards to tie Joe Gough's (1991-94) Wayne State record of 4,204.

Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) needs 83 kickoff return yards to equal Jon Roberts (1995-98) career mark of 1,734 yards.

Dunn also moved into sole possession of fourth place on the passes defended (interceptions plus break-ups) with his pass break-up in the fourth quarter.

Bell surpassed Ferris State's Mo Harris (1996-99) for third place on the GLIAC all-time rushing list, and also moved ahead of Harris on the GLIAC all-time all-purpose yards list for fourth place.