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Wayne State University Athletics

James Hill 2019 vs. Slippery Rock
James Hill rushed for three touchdowns and a game-high 138 yards.
62
Winner Slippery Rock ROCK 1-0
37
Wayne State WS 0-1
Winner
Slippery Rock ROCK
1-0
62
Final
37
Wayne State WS
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ROCK Slippery Rock 21 28 13 0 62
WS Wayne State 0 14 16 7 37

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

Football Upended By #10-Slippery Rock In Season Opener

Warriors fall 62-37 to the Rock.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team (0-1) began its 2019 campaign with a 62-37 setback to 10th-ranked Slippery Rock University (1-0) Thursday evening at Tom Adams Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The visiting Rock scored a touchdown on their first eight possessions, while the Warriors had two second quarter touchdowns before out-scoring SRU 23-13 in the second half.

Slippery Rock led 21-0 after 15 minutes having out-gained WSU 131-45 in the opening stanza.  Slippery Rock quarterback Roland Rivers III tossed a 24-yard scoring pass on a third-and-10 and after a six-yard touchdown scamper by Charles Snorweah, scored on a one-yard run around right end on a fourth-and-goal play.

Rivers second TD pass of the game to Cinque Sweeting early in the second quarter put the visitors in front 28-0, followed by a 33-yard scoring toss to Henry Litwin on SRU's ensuing possession.

Wayne State answered with a five-play, 75-yard drive concluding on a three-yard touchdown run by senior running back James Hill (Livonia, Mich. / Clarenceville).  It was the sixth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown by Hill.

After a one-yard TD rush by Snorweah, Hill scored on a two-yard rush.  SRU completed the first half scoring with an eight-yard scoring pass from Rivers to Litwin giving the guests a 49-14 lead at intermission.

A 78-yard TD pass on the second play of the third quarter made it 56-14.

Hill notched his third touchdown of the game on a 31-yard dash up the middle.  

Following a holding penalty on the kickoff return by the Rock, WSU senior linebacker Leon Eggleston (Sylvania, Ohio / Southview) recorded a safety by tackling DeSean Dinkins in the end zone for a two-yard loss.  It was the first safety by Wayne State since Anthony Pittman, now a member of the Detroit Lions practice squad, recorded a safety on Sept. 22, 2018, at Saginaw Valley State.

The Warriors completed their 16-0 scoring run on a 12-yard screen pass by senior quarterback Dakota Kupp (Waterford, Mich. / Mott) to sophomore running back Donte McClure (Port Clinton, Ohio).  It was McClure's first career touchdown.

Rivers and Jermaine Wynn, Jr. teamed up for a 22-yard scoring pass for SRU's final score.

Kupp and sophomore tight end Nick Poterack (Byron Center, Mich.) hooked up on a 49-yard scoring pass on a third-and-11 to complete the scoring.  It was Poterack's first career touchdown.

TEAM STATS

Slippery Rock held a slim 522-509 edge in total offense.  SRU led 407-261 in passing yards, with Wayne State leading on the ground by a 248-115 margin.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Hill rushed for a game-high 138 yards, his fourth career 100-yard rushing game, and three touchdowns.  Kupp completed 13-of-17 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns in relief of junior Jake AmRhein (South Elgin, Ill.) who was 5-of-15 for 112 yards and one interception.  Senior Darece Roberson, Jr. (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) had a team-high 98 receiving yards, while McClure tied for game-high honors with eight receptions.  Eggleston finished with a game-best nine tackles (6-3), including 1.5 for loss.

LEADING THE ROCK

Rivers rushed for a team-best 67 yards and one touchdown, while Snorweah had two touchdowns and 19 yards on 11 attempts.  Rivers was 23-of-30 for 405 yards and six touchdowns.  Wynn, Jr., Litwin and Sweeting each had two touchdown catches apiece.  Wynn, Jr. garnered eight receptions for a game-high 152 yards, with Litwin contributing seven catches for 122 yards.

 UP NEXT

Wayne State continues its season-opening non-conference slate with a 1 p.m. Eastern (Noon Central) kickoff on Saturday, September 14th at Truman State in Kirksville, Mo.

 
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