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 Junior Daryl Graham rushed for 145 yards against Northwood. |
Oct. 27, 2007
Detroit, Mich. - The Wayne State University football team (3-6 overall, 2-6 GLIAC) was within one point of Northwood University (4-4 overall and GLIAC) five minutes into the second half but the visiting Timberwolves rattled off 14 consecutive points and defeated the host Warriors 45-25 Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.
NU outgained WSU 284-182 in the opening 30 minutes but led just 17-14 on a late field goal by Dan Evans. The Warriors defense recorded four turnovers (three fumble recoveries and an interception by Brandon Cooper) in the first half. Wayne State's first score was set up when O'Neil Thomas fumbled a punt and Bruno Shkreli (Livonia, Mich./Clarenceville) recovered at the Northwood 25. Four plays later on his third carry of the drive sophomore Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) rushed in from five yards out.
The Timberwolves tied the score following a blocked field goal on a 47-yard attempt by WSU's David Chudzinski. Torris Childs rushed up the middle for 40 yards following Matt Worton's 27 yard return of the blocked field goal.
Northwood went 74 yards in five plays on its next drive for a 14-7 advantage. After an exchange of punts, WSU's Trent Pohl was intercepted in the end zone, but NU returned the favor on a fumble by Spencer Klukowski that was recovered by Adam Nuckols (Waterford, Mich./Mott) at the WSU 25.
Junior running back Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) gained 67 yards on his first two rushing attempts, and then on a third-and-12 from the Northwood 37, Pohl mishandled a low snap, eluded a slew of oncoming defenders, found Bell in the flat and after Joique broke a couple of tackles raced into the end zone to knot the game at 14.
On Northwood's first drive of the third quarter, Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) blocked the punt but the ball was recovered in the end zone by Northwood which helped the guests retain the lead at 17-16. Two plays after a WSU punt, Casey Steffen tossed a 73-yard bomb to Antoine Ivy giving the Timberwolves a 24-16 lead.
Following another WSU punt, NU went 69 yards in nine plays with Klukowski completing a 30-yard scoring toss to Quillan Mathis. Wayne State's only points in the stanza besides the safety was a 35-yard field goal by Chudzinski.
Klukowski and Mathis teamed up for a 12-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter but WSU responded with a nine-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by Bell that pulled the Warriors within 38-25.
Steffen scored on a four-yard run on the ensuing drive to complete the scoring.
Northwood led in rushing yards (330-181), passing yards (254-147), total offense (584-328), time of possession (30:21-29:39) and first downs (24-18). Childs rushed for a game-high 199 yards, while Graham led the Warriors with 145 yards on 16 carries.
NU's Klukowski completed 12 of 17 for 181 yards, while Pohl was 10 of 27 for 140 yards.
Senior tight end John Rehberg (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) tied a career-high with three catches. Cooper's interception was his fifth of the season.
Matt Shango (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice) had a team-high nine tackles for WSU including two for loss, while also forcing two fumbles.
Wayne State concludes the road portion of its 2007 schedule with a 1 pm kickoff at Ashland on Nov. 3. WSU's season finale is slated for Nov. 10 at Adams Field with a noon kickoff against the Ferris State Bulldogs.
