MIDLAND, Mich. – The Wayne State University football team (1-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) began its 2016 campaign with a 28-3 triumph at Northwood University (0-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon behind a dominating first half where the Warriors scored four touchdowns in five possessions and limited the hosts 67 yards of total offense before intermission.

HOW IT HAPPENED

--The Warriors took the opening kickoff and drove 85 yards in four plays for the first score of the season.  After two runs by Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) netted a first down, sophomore quarterback Donovan Zezula (Clarkston, Mich.) connected with senior wide receiver Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) on a short screen pass and Hicks outraced the Timberwolves defense to the end zone.  It was Hicks longest career reception.

--After the next three drives (2 for Northwood, 1 for WSU) ended in punts, it took Wayne State just 54 seconds to cover 58 yards.  After a nine-yard carry by Brown, Zezula found Hicks behind the NU secondary for a 49-yard touchdown reception.

--On Northwood's ensuing possession, two WSU penalties extended the drive but on fourth-and-one from the Wayne State 22, junior cornerback James Howard recorded a seven-yard tackle for loss.

--The Warrior offense then went 71 yards in nine plays with Brown scoring his 21st career rushing touchdown on a first-and-goal from the NU 10-yard line to increase the WSU lead to 21-0 following freshman Luke Bevilacqua's (Lake Orion, Mich.) third PAT of the game.

--On its final drive of the opening half, it took Wayne State six plays to cover 62 yards with true freshman wide receiver Darece Roberson, Jr. (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) making his first collegiate reception a 35-yard touchdown grab.

--Northwood tallied the only second half points on a 42-yard field goal by David Riser, which concluded a five-play, 11-yard drive following a Warrior fumble.

TEAM STATS

Wayne State led in total offense 381-138, including a 217-71 advantage in passing yards.

Northwood had 30:49 to 29:11 edge in time of possession.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Brown rushed for a game-high 71 yards and one score, while junior Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) added 64 yards on 11 attempts.

Zezula completed 9-of-15 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.  It was the fourth 200-yard passing game of his collegiate career, and the second time he passed for three touchdowns in a game (first time was Sept. 19, 2015, vs. Malone).

Hicks had game-high totals of five receptions and 154 receiving yards.  His yardage total was the most by a Warrior since Troy Burrell had 163 receiving yards at Minnesota Duluth in the Super Region 3 title game victory on December 3, 2011.  Hicks' 30.8 yards per catch was the highest by a WSU player with at least five receptions in a game since Burrell averaged 33.2 (5-166) yards per reception in the 2011 regular-season finale against Findlay.

Abdul Levy paced the Northwood rushing attack with 35 yards on 10 carries.

Brett Israel, in replace of injured Timberwolves starter Joe Garbarino, passed for 62 yards on 6-of-14 with one interception (by senior DeAndre Grady in his first collegiate start).

WORTH NOTING

--Hicks became the 17th player in school history with at least 1,000 career receiving yards with his 75-yard TD catch on the game's opening drive.  His second TD reception set a career-high as his previous six touchdown catches came in six different contests.

--The Warriors managed just 85 yards of total offense in the second half after gaining 296 yards on 26 plays in the first 30 minutes.

--The following 13 WSU players made their collegiate debut in Midland:  Dakota Kupp (Waterford, Mich. / Mott), DeOntay Moffett (Muskegon Heights, Mich. / Mona Shores), Stephen Charron (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Leon Eggleston (Sylvania, Ohio / Southview), Bevilacqua, Kyle Toth (Hudsonville, Mich.), Jalen Lewis (Pontiac, Mich. / West Bloomfield), Ryan Smith (Warren, Mich. / De La Salle), Justin Tockstein (Warren, Mich. / Mott), Roberson, Kyle Muller (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley), Kyle Lewis (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) and Justin Hollins (West Bloomfield, Mich.).

--Four true freshmen made the trip for Wayne State – besides Bevilacqua and Roberson, kicker Dylan Donnelly (Fraser, Mich.) and quarterback Jake AmRhein (South Elgin, Ill.) also traveled.

UP NEXT

Wayne State continues on the road with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Ashland next Saturday.