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Grissom, Cardinals rally for 21-14 win at Wayne State

Grissom, Cardinals rally for 21-14 win at Wayne State

DETROIT - The Saginaw Valley State University football team returned to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action against Wayne State University on Saturday in Detroit.

SVSU did not take its first lead until the final minute of the game. The Cardinal rushing attack led by Jarius Grissom, who entered the game at quarterback in the third, scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth giving SVSU the 21-14 win.  

The victory moves No. 24 SVSU to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in the GLIAC.

First Quarter:

  • Neither team was able to get on the board in the first half with SVSU going three-and-out on its first two possessions.
  • Nick Whiteside picked off a Wayne State pass and returned it to the Warrior 30-yard line.
  • The ensuing Cardinal possession was cut short after SVSU quarterback Andrew Brito fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Warriors.

Second Quarter:

  • Josh Kulka put WSU up 7-0 early in the second with a 17-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Nichols.
  • The Cardinals answered right back with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brito to Dante Barthwell to tie it at 7-7.
  • Pinned back to their own one-yard line, SVSU punted, setting the Warriors up inside Cardinal territory.
  • On the next drive, the Warriors went back in front just before the half on a 28-yard touchdown run from Kendall Williams.

Third Quarter:

  • Wayne State remained in front throughout the third quarter despite missing a field goal attempt following an SVSU fumble.
  • SVSU wide receiver Jarius Grissom entered the game at quarterback for the Cardinals in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter:

  • Richard Bowens III set SVSU up deep in WSU territory with an interception with just under 11 minutes to play.
  • The Cardinals rushed seven consecutive plays led by Grissom, who punched the ball in for a three-yard score to tie the game at 14-14.
  • Wayne State went three-and-out on its next possession and SVSU took over after a punt on its own 35-yard line.
  • The running game for SVSU marched down the field with carries from four different rushers. SVSU took its first lead of the game in the final minute when Derrick Hinton Jr. found the endzone from nine yards out for a touchdown.
  • The Warriors had one last shot to tie the game after a roughing-the-passer penalty set the home team up at the SVSU 42-yard line. The final play for WSU failed and the Cardinals escaped with the win.

Inside the Box Score:

  • Prior to leaving the game, Brito was 11-of-16 passing for 87 yards and a touchdown.
  • After entering the game in the third, Grissom ran 14 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. He was 2-of-3 passing for 11 yards.
  • Isaiah Malcome added 13 carries for 77 yards on the ground for SVSU.
  • Alfred Dailey Jr. led the defense with 10 total tackles, including seven solo and one for a loss.
  • Trevor Nowaske added nine tackles and two pass breakups.

Up Next:

The Cardinals have a showdown with No. 22 and undefeated Davenport University as SVSU will celebrate the Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Kickoff is set for 1 pm next Saturday at Wickes Stadium.