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 Dante Dunn had a kickoff return for a touchdown at SVSU. |
Sept. 6, 2008
University Center, Mich. - The Wayne State University football team (1-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) began conference play with a 23-17 setback at 27th-ranked Saginaw Valley (1-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors lost two fumbles in the red zone, plus missed two field goals but still had a chance for the road victory in the waning minutes.
Following a 35-yard field goal by Cardinal kicker Jeremy Burr which made it 23-17 with 2:02 remaining, WSU fifth-year senior quarterback Mickey Berce (Dearborn, Mich.) engineered three first downs in the Warriors first seven plays moving the ball from the Wayne State 28 to the Saginaw Valley 18. After an incompletion, Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) had a one-yard reception including hustling out of bounds to save a timeout. On third down, Berce's pass inside the five yard line to Troy Burrell (Port Huron, Mich.) was broken up by Carlton Downs. On fourth down, Berce was sacked by Josh Fulton and Sam Stephens ending the late rally.
The game started promising for WSU as the Warriors went 60 yards in 10 plays. On a first and goal from the SVSU 6, Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) was stopped just short of the end zone and in trying to reach the ball out over the goal line fumbled. The Wayne State defense held the Cardinals to a three-and-out and despite a 52-yard punt, the Warriors began their second drive in SVSU territory.
Two first downs on WSU's first three plays moved the ball inside the 10. After Berce was stopped on third down just short of the goal line, Bell rushed up the middle for his 48th career rushing touchdown.
Saginaw Valley orchestrated a nine play, 53-yard drive with Brandon Emeott scoring on a one-yard run on fourth down to knot the game at seven.
On the ensuing kickoff, Warrior senior Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) went 87 yards for his second kickoff return for six points this year and fourth in his last 17 games.
The Cardinals responded with an 89 yard drive on eight plays with Ronald Spears scoring on a five-yard run on the fourth play of the second quarter.
With score tied at 14, Wayne State went 31 yards in seven plays with senior kicker David Chudzinski (Belleville, Mich.) connecting on a career-best 50-yard field goal. It was only the sixth field goal of 50 yards or more in school history and the first since Robert Klick made a 51-yard attempt on Oct. 20, 1990, at Northern Michigan.
Warrior sophomore Stan Thornton recorded his fifth career interception on the SVSU drive, but WSU went three-and-out. On the next Cardinal possession, senior corner Cornelius Dillard (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) notched his second pick in the Green and Gold. Wayne State was unable to capitalize as Chudzinski's 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Saginaw Valley took its first lead of the game on the ensuing possession with a 10 play, 69 yard drive with Spears scoring on a two-yard run. The Cardinals had three plays of at least 10 yards on the drive including a 10-yard reception on a third-and-six by Galen Stone on the play preceding the touchdown.
The Cardinal kickoff went off a Warrior front line player (Jordan Miller) resulting in a first-and-10 at the SVSU 44. After a first down completion by Berce to Travis Campbell (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville North) put the ball on the SV 29, Wayne State had a false start penalty and a sack along with an incompletion on the final play of the half.
On the first possession of the second half, Saginaw Valley went 62 yards but the Wayne State defense stopped the Cardinals on fourth down. WSU then drove 57 yards on eight plays but a fumble by Berce was recovered at the Cardinal 11.
The next four drives (two for each team) resulted in punts, before Jason Thomas (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) recovered a Cardinal fumble at the WSU 39.
The Warriors drove 39 yards to the SVSU 22, but Chudzinski's 40 yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.
Saginaw Valley led in first downs (23-18), rushing yards (166-134), passing yards (276-134) and time of possession (32:47-27:13), but Wayne State won the turnover battle (3-2) plus averaged 43.3 yards on three kickoff returns. Red zone offense favored SVSU (4-4) over WSU (1-4).
Bell led all rushers with 80 yards on 18 carries, while Spears had 67 yards on 19 attempts for the hosts. Berce completed 18 of 30 for 134 yards with no interceptions, with Dan Stiefel connecting on 22 of 30 pass attempts for 276 yards.
Stone (SVSU) led all receivers with nine catches for 113 yards. Bell led WSU in both receptions (5) and receiving yards (47) as Berce completed passes to eight different receivers.
Wayne State has lost its last five road games in Michigan since a 36-14 win at Michigan Tech on Sept. 2, 2006. Meanwhile, WSU is 4-2 in road games in that span outside of Michigan.
The Warriors return to Adams Field next Saturday for a noon kickoff against Indianapolis.
