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 Kevin Smith tossed two touchdown passes in his first collegiate start. |
Sept. 20, 2008
Findlay, Ohio - The Wayne State University football team (3-1 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) moved into a second-place tie in the league standings with a 28-7 road win at Findlay (2-2 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) on Saturday.
The win helped the Warriors equal last season's win total, and also makes the 2008 squad just the third WSU team since 1984 to start the year 3-1 (1991 and 2006).
The Oilers went three-and-out on their first possession and the Warriors followed with a 12-play, 78-yard scoring drive (both plays and yards were season-bests). The first seven plays saw four Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) runs along with a keeper by freshman quarterback Kevin Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) who was making his first collegiate start. The two passing plays were completions by Smith to Ed Sanders (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) and Cory Zauner (Fort Gratiot, Mich./Port Huron Northern). The grab by Zauner was his first collegiate reception and went for 14 yards on a third-and-two. On a first-and-goal following a pass interference penalty on Findlay, Bell went in for his second touchdown of the season. With the score, Bell became just the fourth player in GLIAC history with 300 league points.
Not to be outdone, the Warrior defense recorded another three-and-out on the ensuing possession. Three Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) carries garnered a first down, and following two incompletions Smith teamed up with Aaron Higginbottom (Flint, Mich./Beecher) for a 15-yard play and another first down. On a third-and-eight from the UF 41, Smith hit Sanders along the left sideline and he outraced everyone to the end zone for WSU's longest play from scrimmage of the season. With his second PAT of the game, senior place-kicker David Chudzinski (Belleville, Mich.) moved into fifth place on the WSU all-time scoring list with 167 points surpassing John Hazely's (1946-49) total of 166.
On Findlay's next possession, Adam Nuckols recovered an Oiler fumble at the UF 38 yard line.
On a third-and-eight from the Findlay 19, Smith connected with Bell for a 10-yard completion and a first and goal. Bell also became WSU's career leader in all-purpose yards surpassing Hall of Famer Joe Gough's (1991-94) total of 4,536 yards. Three plays later, Bell went skying over the Findlay defensive line for his second touchdown of the game.
After another Oiler punt, Wayne State drove to the Findlay 21 but Chudzinski's 38-yard field goal attempt was above the goal post and apparently wide left.
The hosts punted on its next drive, and both teams tossed an interception on their next drives. Findlay had to punt on its final drive before intermission and Warrior Josh Renel (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) was drilled at midfield resulting in a 15-yard kick catching interference. On the very next play, Smith found Higginbottom behind the Oiler secondary for a 35-yard touchdown pass and a 28-0 Wayne State lead.
The second half started promising for WSU as Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) went 58 yards with the second half kickoff. But after two negative yardage plays and an incompletion, the Warriors punted. Shane Morris' (Belleville, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) boot was caught in the end zone and returned by Findlay to the four yard line.
After a Findlay punt, Bell fumbled on the first play giving the Oilers the ball at the WSU 22-yard line. Three plays later, UF had its only score of the contest on a one-yard run by quarterback Anthony Lanzara.
The Wayne State defense again proved that this is not the same group as 2007 which finished 125th nationally in scoring defense.
Following a Warrior turnover, Findlay drove 51 yards to the WSU 10 but a 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow).
The next three drives ended with punts before Dunn recorded his second interception of the season, and his sixth career pick (second against Findlay).
After a Wayne State punt, the Oilers drove 77 yards and had a first-and-goal from the WSU 3. Melvin Jackson gained two yards on first down, before back-to-back 0 yard carries. On fourth down from the 1, Jackson was caught in the backfield by Tristan Black (Toronto, Ont./Vanier Prep) and Matt Shango (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice).
Morris had a good punt from out of his end zone, and even though the Oilers started at the Warrior 38, the hosts gained just 12 yards in six plays before turning the ball over on downs.
Bell finished with a game-high 69 yards, while Graham added 60 yards. Smith completed 12 of 27 passes for 188 yards and two scores. Sanders recorded his second career 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 102 yards.
The WSU defense was led by seniors Cornelius Dillard (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) and Dunn, who each recorded 10 tackles. Both Dillard and Dunn added a pass break-up and an interception, while Jeremy Jones (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rockford) had four pass break-ups.
Wayne State converted 11 of 20 third down opportunities, while limiting Findlay to four third down conversions in 15 chances.
The Warriors return to Adams Field next Saturday (Sept. 27) for a noon kickoff against GLIAC newcomer Tiffin. The Michael Quatro Band will perform both a pre-game and halftime concert, weather permitting.
Notes:
The 40 points allowed by WSU in the first four games of the season are the fewest since the 1983 team allowed 32 total points in its first four contests.
Wayne State has not scored a point in the second half this season, but has allowed only 10 points in the final 30 minutes.
The win helped the Warriors equal last season's win total, and also makes the 2008 squad just the third WSU team since 1984 to start the year 3-1 (1991 and 2006).
Findlay quarterback Anthony Lanzara had not thrown an interception all year, but the Warriors recorded two picks (both by seniors -- Cornelius Dillard and Dante Dunn).
Wayne State has won the last two meetings at Findlay and the road team has been victorious in four of the last six meetings.
In the last two games at UF's Donnell Stadium, Wayne State has outscored Findlay 52-10.
After scoring just once while in the red zone in the first three games, WSU went 2-for-3 in Saturday's win at Findlay.
Dante Dunn moved into a tie-for-fourth in career passes defended with Ebbie Herbert (1990-92) and Tom Beer (1990-93) with 24.
Both Ed Sanders and Aaron Higginbottom recorded their second career touchdown catches.
