DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (2-4 overall, 1-3 GLIAC) scored 27 second-half points against the eighth-ranked Grand Valley State University (5-1 overall, 5-0 GLIAC) but it was not enough in falling 45-27 to the Lakers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
On WSU's second drive of the game, the Warriors garnered three first downs and crossed into GVSU territory but the snap went over Wayne State punter
Taylor McCarty resulting in a 47-yard loss. Two Marty Carter rushes totaled nine yards with Carter scoring on a five-yard run.
The Lakers scored 24 second quarter points. The first scoring drive was aided by a 51-yard punt return by Brandon Bean. The second was a 97-yard TD run by Carter, after the Warriors downed a punt at the GVSU three yard line. After a WSU fumble, Avery Echols connected on a 20-yard field goal attempt. The Lakers two-minute drive culminated in a six-yard touchdown pass from Bart Williams to Austin Paritee.
Grand Valley State extended its lead to 38-0 on the opening drive after intermission. Brandon Wadley had a 48-yard kickoff return with Williams completing a 29-yard scoring toss to Nick Keizer.
Wayne State had a 15-play, 78-yard drive with quarterback
D.J. Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season on a two-yard keeper. The Warriors converted two third downs (a 20-yard pass to
Corey Ester and an 11-yard run by
Romello Brown), along with a fourth-and-nine completion to Ester for 15 yards.
On GVSU's second play of the ensuing drive, Carter went up the middle for a 68-yard touchdown run.
On the second play of the fourth quarter,
Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) scored on a one-yard carry to make it 45-14.
Echols was wide left on a 31-yard field goal on Grand Valley's next possession. WSU drove 80 yards in 11 plays with Zezula completing a nine-yard slant pass to
Manny Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) on third-and-goal. It was Wayne State's third third-down conversion of the drive with
Preston Pelham (Tecumseh, Mich.) having a six-yard completion on third-and-six, Ester hauling in a 15-yard pass on third-and-five and the touchdown pass.
Paul Graham's (Commerce Twp., Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) onside kick attempt was recovered by teammate
Tyler Blaszczak (Brownstown, Mich. / Riverview Gabriel Richard). Zezulza accounted for all 50 yards with a 15-yard draw, a 22-yard completion to Ester and a 13-yard touchdown pass to
Darece Roberson, Jr. (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores).
TEAM STATS
Grand Valley State held a 427-401 edge in total offense, including a 285-197 advantage in rushing yards. Wayne State had a 43:02-16:58 margin in time of possession, resulting in 88 offensive plays to 41 for GVSU.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Brown rushed for a team-high 84 yards, while Stinson contributed 79 yards and Zezula finished with 69 yards on the ground. Zezula was 17-of-27 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Mendoza had team-high totals of seven receptions and 92 receiving yards.
LEADING THE LAKERS
Carter gained a game-best 218 yards on the ground in 11 carries, while scoring three touchdowns. Williams was 10-of-13 for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Brandon Bean led GVSU with three receptions, while Keizer had a team-high 38 receiving yards.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Northwood at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 in the annual Homecoming contest.
