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Wayne State University Athletics

DeOntay Moffett vs. Walsh
DeOntay Moffett scoring one of his two touchdowns against Walsh.
0
Walsh WALSH 0-1
31
Winner Wayne State WS 1-0
Walsh WALSH
0-1
0
Final
31
Wayne State WS
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WALSH Walsh 0 0 0 0 0
WS Wayne State 3 7 0 21 31

Game Recap: Football | | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Blanks Walsh, 31-0, In Season Opener

WSU's first shutout since 2011.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University defense pitched its first shutout in nearly seven years and the Warrior offense scored 21 fourth quarter points en route to a 31-0 season opening triumph over visiting Walsh University (0-1 overall) Thursday evening at Tom Adams Field.

The first nine drives of the game resulted in just three points, a 30-yard field goal by WSU newcomer Shane Hynes (Clarkston, Mich.).

Following Walsh's fourth punt in the first 19 minutes of the contest, Wayne State extended its lead to 10-0 on a 62-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Dakota Kupp (Waterford, Mich. / Mott) to junior wide receiver Darece Roberson, Jr. (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores).

At intermission, the two offenses had combined for just 221 yards (137 for WSU, 84 for Walsh on 33 plays).

The Warriors took over at their own 18 following another Cavalier punt [Walsh punted 10 times in the contest], late in the third period.  After a 21-yard scamper by senior running back Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass), junior running back James Hill (Livonia, Mich. / Clarenceville) carried the ball on nine consecutive plays totaling 59 yards.  Junior running back DeOntay Moffett (Muskegon Hts., Mich. / Mona Shores) notched his first collegiate touchdown with a two-yard gallop around the right end on the fourth play of the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing drive, senior linebacker Samson Tai (Newark, Calif. / Newark Memorial) recorded his second career interception on a third-and-11 play.  Moffett gained 19 yards on three rushing attempts before senior signal caller D.J. Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) connected with classmate Logan Smith (Norton Shores, Mich. / Mona Shores) on a 22-yard pass play to the Walsh four.  On the very next play, Hill garnered his first collegiate touchdown increasing the WSU advantage to 24-0.

After the Wayne State defense forced its fifth three-and-out, the Warrior offense completed the scoring with a six-play, 52-yard touchdown drive.  Hill gained 24 yards on three carries, before Moffett tallied the final 27 yards on his three attempts concluding with his second touchdown run of the quarter.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State held a 237 to 77 edge in rushing yards, and a 106 to 78 advantage in passing yards for a 343 to 155 margin in total offense.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Hill rushed 13 times for a game-high 88 yards, while Stinson contributed 81 yards on the ground on 14 attempts.  Kupp was 4-of-16 for 76 yards, with Zezula completing 3-of-5 for 30 yards.  Roberson had a game-high 68 receiving yards.  Junior linebacker Leon Eggleston (Sylvania, Ohio / Southview) recorded a team-best eight tackles (5 solo, 3 assisted), including four tackles for loss.

LEADING THE CAVALIERS

Koby Adu-Poku had a team-high 35 rushing yards on 18 attempts.  Mitchell Ault passed for 78 yards on 10-of-18 with one interception.  Bryce Short had three receptions, while Adu-Poku had a team-best 22 receiving yards.

WAYNE STATE NOTES

The shutout victory was WSU's first since a 55-0 whitewash of Tiffin University on Sept. 10, 2011 ( a stretch of 79 consecutive games without a shutout).

The Warriors improved to 22-3 in their last 25 games when rushing for at least 200 yards.

Senior Corey Ester (Lake Orion, Mich.) averaged 11 yards on four punt returns, including a 35-yard jaunt.

The Thursday night win was a first for Wayne State under head coach Paul Winters.  WSU had lost all three Thursday night season openers under Winters (20-15 at Michigan Tech on Sept. 3, 2015; 18-17 at home vs. Michigan Tech on Sept. 4, 2014; and 55-28 at Carson-Newman on Sept. 5, 2013].  The Warriors had also suffered a 24-7 setback at Saginaw Valley State on a Thursday contest on Oct. 11, 2012.

The August 30th date for the season opener was the earliest for a WSU squad since a 31-13 triumph over Mercyhurst on August 29, 2009.

The Warriors have won nine of their last 11 home openers under Winters.

Since the start of the 2008 season, Wayne State has a 31-13 record for games played in August and September.

UP NEXT

The Warriors will travel to Indianapolis for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 8.  WSU has won its last five contests at Key Stadium, including head coach Paul Winters first collegiate victory, a 24-21 overtime triumph on Sept. 25, 2004.

 
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