Nov. 5, 2008

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GRAND VALLEY GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State tied the school record for wins in a season (eight) by recording a 42-21 triumph at Northwood last Saturday.

Joique Bell rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Kevin Smith tossed a career-high three scoring passes including two to Aaron Higginbottom.

The Warrior special teams set up two touchdowns as Josh Renel had a 62-yard punt return before WSU's first drive, while Stan Thornton went 74 yards with the second half kickoff.

Wayne State had the ball over 33 minutes in the contest including 11:11 in the final stanza. The Warrior defense had eight tackles for loss and two interceptions, increasing its GLIAC lead to 16. Thornton moved into a tie for the GLIAC lead with his fifth interception of the campaign. Cornelius Dillard's fourth pick of the season came early in the fourth quarter in the end zone ending a NU drive.

Wayne State has won four straight for the first time since the 1977 campaign (Sept. 10-Oct. 1).

The seventh conference victory is also a school record.

WSU is currently tied-for-second in the league, with its best finish in the last 25 years being tied-for-second in 1983 (4-2). The 1984 squad was third, while the 2006 team was tied-for-fourth.

Wayne State hosts Grand Valley this Saturday in the regular-season finale.

The Warriors need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive as the top six in Super Regional Three will compete in post-season play.

The old adage about "offense wins games and defense wins championships" will take center stage this Saturday as the top two defenses (based on points allowed) in the GLIAC square off at Adams Field.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Grand Valley leads the all-time series 26-5 including 21 straight victories. WSU is 3-12 at home vs. the Lakers. Wayne State's last win at home came in 1983.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected ninth in the 2008 GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll, while Grand Valley was first. WSU is seventh in this week's NCAA Super Regional Three rankings with GVSU ranked first.

ON THIS DATE (NOVEMBER 8)

Wayne State is 5-8 on this date. WSU has lost three straight on Nov. 8 since a 31-21 win over Saginaw Valley in 1980. The Warriors are 4-3 at home on Nov. 8.

ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 21-31 mark in his fifth year with the Warriors. WSU is 20-17 in its last 37 games. The Warriors are 12-13 at home under Winters.

Grand Valley's Chuck Martin is in his fifth year as a head coach and has a 59-4 mark.

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY

The Lakers have won 39 consecutive GLIAC contests.

James Berezik has rushed for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brad Iciek has completed 64.3 percent (110-171) of his passes for 1,878 yards and 28 touchdowns. Berezik is tied for the team lead with 26 receptions.

STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Bell became the all-time GLIAC scoring leader with his second of three touchdown runs in the Northwood contest.

Renel's 62-yard punt return was the second longest non-scoring punt return in school history (James "Tex" Whisonant had a 73-yard return vs. Akron in 1937). His 255 punt return yards in a season ranks fifth all-time at WSU.

Higginbottom's two touchdown receptions equals his career total.

Matt Shango and Tristan Black had 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, for a Warrior defense that held Northwood to 3-of-12 on third down.

WSU has more kickoff return yards (707-687) than its opponents in half the opportunities (23-42).

Over the last six games, WSU is 19-for-22 in the red zone, while the Wayne State defense has held the opponent scoreless on eight of its last 19 trips in the red zone.

WSU concludes the regular-season with a 3-2 road mark, the second time in three years the Warriors went 3-2 on the road.

WSU is 5-0 at home for the first time since 1974.

The last time WSU won five straight at home was actually eight straight from September 24, 1983, through October 13, 1984.

NCAA TEAM RANKINGS

Kickoff Returns -- 1st
Scoring Defense -- 6th
Turnover Margin -- 7th
Sacks Allowed -- 16th
Sacks -- 26th
Tackles For Loss -- 45th
Pass Efficiency Defense -- 47th
Rushing Offense -- 52nd
Punt Returns -- 55th
Net Punting -- 62nd
Pass Defense -- 68th
Total Defense -- 70th
Rushing Defense -- 80th

NATIONAL POLLS

Wayne State is 28th in this week's Massey Ratings (www.masseyratings.com). Other GLIAC teams listed include Grand Valley (#7), Ashland (#26), Michigan Tech (#30), Saginaw Valley (#37) and Ferris State (#46).

Super Regional Three (Weekly Poll Nov. 3)

1. Grand Valley State, 9-0
2. Minnesota Duluth, 10-0
3. Chadron State, 9-1
4. Ashland, 7-3
5. Minn. State Mankato, 8-2
6. Wayne State (Neb.), 8-2
7. Wayne State (Mich.), 8-2
8. Michigan Tech, 7-3
9. St. Cloud State, 7-3
10. Saginaw Valley, 6-3