Northwest Wayne News

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (0-2 overall) dropped its second consecutive game against a top-30 ranked squad, falling 42-30 to the University of Findlay (2-0 overall) Saturday afternoon at Tom Adams Field.

WSU outscored UF 27-7 over the final 30 minutes after trailing 35-3 at intermission.

First Quarter:

The Warriors won the toss and drove 57 yards in six plays with graduate student kicker Griffin Milovanski connecting on a 36-yard field goal, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead. The big play on the drive was a 45-yard rush by sophomore quarterback Champion Edwards on the second play from scrimmage.

The Oilers answered with a 71-yard touchdown drive in just four plays as signal caller Matt Rueve had three completions, including a 27-yard scoring toss to Delon Hurt, putting the visitors in front 7-3.

UF took over following a short punt by Wayne State and went 45 yards in eight plays to increase its margin to 14-3. Jayden Farmer had a two-yard touchdown scamper on third-and-goal following an 18-yard pass play from Rueve to Donovan O'Leary that set up first-and-goal.

Second Quarter:

Findlay took over at its own seven-yard line late in the opening stanza and put together a 13-play, 93-yard scoring drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. Makaya Matthews scored on a three-yard jaunt putting UF ahead 21-3.

Following another WSU punt, the Oilers added to their advantage with a 57-yard scoring drive in seven plays. Rueve and Mitch Neilsen hooked up for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Warrior quarterback Cane Mack, playing in his first collegiate game, was picked off on the first play after the kickoff as the ball was tipped by Findlay's Gavin DeGroat and intercepted by Christion Stokes. It took UF five plays to go 15 yards with Matthews scoring on a one-yard plunge to complete the first-half scoring.

The Oilers had a 265-89 edge in total offense through 30 minutes.

Third Quarter:

Findlay took the second half kickoff and went 72 yards in twelve plays to make it 42-3 as Cam Childers hauled in a fourteen-yard touchdown pass from Rueve.

After an exchange of punts, the Warriors went sixty yards in five plays following a twenty-four yard punt return by redshirt freshman Dontez Hicks. Redshirt sophomore tight end Nick Ostas caught a twelve yard pass on third-and-seven to keep the drive alive, and Edwards finished it with a forty-nine yard keeper.

A pooch kickoff by Milovanski checked-up like a golf shot with Hicks falling on it at Findlay’s twenty-two yard line. On the third play of ensuing drive, redshirt junior wide receiver Manny Harris made an adjustment at goal line to catch Edwards' first TD pass as Warrior. Fourteen points by WSU within seventy-three seconds made score forty-two-seventeen.

Fourth Quarter:

Following Findlay's punt, WSU offense drove eighty-two yards in five plays for another second-half touchdown. Redshirt junior wide receiver Myles McKatherine began drive with twenty-four yard carry; then Edwards gained nineteen on keeper. Redshirt freshman XaVior Tyus moved chains with twenty-four yard pick up; McKatherine hauled eighteen yard scoring strike from Edwards on second down.

Wayne State defense allowed one first down but then forced Oiler punt; WSU turned ball over downs but defense forced three-and-out again. A low snap forced Findlay kicker Owen Clevenger into intentional grounding penalty statistically recorded sack for Dahmir Farnum.

Wayne State took advantage driving thirty-five yards seven plays; redshirt senior Jeremiah Sterling Jr scored five yard rush around right end completing game’s scoring.

Team Stats:

Findlay had three hundred seventy-seven-to-three hundred fifty-six advantage total offense along thirty-three-thirty-eight-to-twenty-six-twenty-two edge time possession; Warriors led rushing yards two hundred fifty-six-to-ninety-six both teams four-for-four red zone: Oilers notching four touchdowns while WSU recording three touchdowns & field goal.

Leading Warriors:

Edwards rushed game-high one hundred forty-six yards & one touchdown thirteen carries while completing five-of-sixteen passes eighty-seven yards two scores; Tyus contributed sixty-six ground eleven attempts; McKatherine had team-best two receptions while redshirt junior tight end John Rayba posted team-high thirty-one receiving yards; Redshirt junior middle linebacker Justin Hart making first collegiate start posted game-high eleven tackles (four solo/seven assisted) & pass break-up.

Leading Oilers:

Matthews rushed nineteen times team-best seventy-eight yards two scores; Rueve completed twenty-six-of-thirty-five passes two hundred eighty-one yards three touchdowns; Redd Douglas had team-high six receptions while Nielsen led UF sixty-seven receiving yards; Adonai Bumba posted team-best eight tackles (seven solo/one assisted), including two for loss plus pass break-up.

Up Next:

After facing G-MAC pre-season favorite week two Wayne State will host GLVC pre-season favorite University Indianapolis six pm Saturday September twenty-first Greyhounds ranked No sixteen nationally this week heading into evening’s home contest vs Truman State who will be WSU’s week four opponent.