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DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (1-1 overall) rebounded from a last play setback nine days ago with a solid 14-point fourth quarter to upend No. 13 Carson Newman (1-1 overall) by a 41-31 margin Saturday evening at Tom Adams Field.

The Warriors entered the contest having suffered seven consecutive losses since starting last season at 3-2.  Senior leadership was exhibited by running back Desmond Martin (Redford, Mich. / Thurston), wide receiver Michael Johnson (Detroit, Mich. / Clintondale), kick returner Val Showers (Detroit, Mich. / Crockett) and cornerback Gerren DuHart (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic).

Martin set a career-high with 235 rushing yards, the 13th highest total in school history and his total was the second-highest mark ever allowed by the Eagles.

Johnson totaled game-high totals of five receptions for 65 yards along with a late second quarter touchdown which gave the Warriors the lead at intermission.

Showers eclipsed the school record for kickoff return yards in game with 191 yards including an 87-yard return for a touchdown just moments after C-N had knotted the game at 10 early in the second period.  The previous mark of 177 was set by Tom Badalamenti in 1985 vs. Ferris State.

Despite totaling just three solo tackles, DuHart had three pass break-ups all coming at key moments in the contest.

It was a back-and-forth contest that was tied at 7, 10, 17 and 24 before Wayne State freshman kicker Paul Graham (Commerce Twp., Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) connected on his second field goal giving the Warriors a 27-24 advantage just past the midpoint of the third quarter.

Less than two minutes later, Carson-Newman took its first lead of the night as running back Andy Hibbett scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 57-yard pass play after tallying his first three scores on runs of 76, 18 and 1 yards.

After the Warriors went three-and-out, WSU's defense allowed a couple of first downs but forced a punt that was returned 25 yards by freshman Ron Brant (Uniontown, Ohio / Green), the longest by a Wayne State returned since 2012.

The Warriors regained the lead with a six-play, 55-yard drive culminating in a six-yard scamper by Martin, his second TD run of the game.

Once again, the WSU defense bent but did not break allowing three first downs but forcing another punt by the Eagles which went for a touchback.

This week, the Wayne State offense sealed the victory with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that included four first downs.  Junior tight end Ethan Walsh (Canton, Mich. / Salem) had an 11-yard reception on a second-and-eight, and Johnson later gained 22 yards on a jet sweep.  Martin finished off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run with 3:13 remaining.

Junior signal caller Carl Roscoe (Kentwood, Mich. / Kelloggsville) completed 11-of-16 for 128 yards with one touchdown, while senior Doug Griffin (North Branch, Mich.) was 3-of-4 for 30 yards.

Hibbett led C-N with 196 yards on 21 carries, while quarterback De'Andre Thomas was 5-of-14 for 128 yards and one score.

Junior linebacker Marcell Jones (Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Mumford) recorded a game-high 10 tackles to lead the Wayne State defense.

Wayne State will play its lone road game of September next Saturday at Malone.  The 7 p.m. kickoff is at Canton's Fawcett Stadium, site of the annual NFL Hall of Fame game.