Nov. 1, 2005

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SATURDAY'S STORYLINES

The Wayne State University football team (3-6 overall and GLIAC) looks to close out the 2005 campaign with a triumph this Saturday at Hillsdale College (4-6 overall, 3-6 GLIAC).

A victory against the Chargers would give Wayne State its best record since 2000, clinch at least a seventh-place tie for the Warriors and give WSU four wins in its final five games of the year.

Despite playing one of the nation's toughest schedules (three top-15 teams in the first five weeks), the Warriors have battled all season winning three of their last four games.

This past Saturday, WSU won its third consecutive home game,14-7 over Gannon, to finish with a winning record at home for the first time since 1993.

ON THE SIDELINES

Paul Winters is in his second season as Wayne State's head coach.

Hillsdale's Keith Otterbein is in his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Wayne State trails 34-11-1 in the all-time series and has a 6-14 record at Hillsdale.

The Chargers have won three straight in the series and 11 of their last 12 home games against the Green and Gold.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was tabbed for 13th in the GLIAC pre-season coaches poll, while the Chargers were selected to finish eighth.

ON THIS DATE

The Warriors are 6-3 overall on Nov. 5 following a 31-13 victory in 1994 versus Michigan Tech. Joe Gough rushed for 190 yards and three TD's in the game.

The other Nov. 5 games include:

•25-18 win at Findlay in 1988;

•38-7 triumph vs. Saginaw Valley in 1977;

•26-0 victory over Case Tech in 1966;

•26-6 win at Allegheny in 1960;

•35-13 setback to Omaha in 1955;

•37-7 loss to Toledo in 1949;

•20-3 loss to Central Michigan in 1938; and

•26-0 victory over Olivet in 1921.

SCOUTING HILLSDALE

The Chargers have won two straight (24-7 at Tiffin, 40-21 at Mercyhurst) ending a four-game losing skein.

Phil Martin has rushed for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Mark Nicolet (79-150, 773 yards, 3 TD) and Aaron Scholl (45-88, 468 yards, 4 TD) have shared quarterback duties. Keith Recker has a team-high 28 catches with Chris Clay having a team-best three touchdown receptions.

Linebacker Steve Balone has 101 tackles including 15 for loss. Chad Gurica has three interceptions and 63 tackles.

WARRIOR CAPTAINS

Grant Fodor, Michael Hall, Ryan Oshnock, Leo Wells.

GANNON GAME NOTES

The seven points allowed by WSU were the fewest since a 30-7 win over St. Francis on Sept. 20, 1997 (90 games).

The victory gave WSU a winning home record (3-2) for the first time since 1993 under Brian VanGorder, the current Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker coach. WSU entered 2005 with a 5-19 home mark in the 2000s.

Junior safety Ryan Oshnock recorded his first collegiate interception.

Junior Jake Weingartz recorded his first collegiate TD catch on a 40-yard pass play from Nolan Martin on a third-and-30.

Chris Middlebrooks rushed a WSU season-high 36 times for a WSU season-best 177 yards, his fifth 100-yard game of the season.

Senior defensive end Leo Wells had a sack plus another tackle for loss extending his streak to 10 consecutive games with a tackle for loss. His 51 career tackles for loss is two shy of the school record set by Daishawn Franklin (1995-98).

The 14 first downs allowed by WSU is the fewest since Nov. 8, 2003, at Mercyhurst (13).

WSU had its fewest turnovers (1) of the season.