PHOTO GALLERY

Kearney, Neb. -- The Wayne State University football team advanced to the regional final (Super Region 3) for the first time in school history with a 38-26 win over second-seeded Nebraska-Kearney (10-2 overall) Saturday afternoon.  The sixth seeded Warriors have won back-to-back playoff road games to set a school record with 10 wins on the season (10-3 overall).

WSU will play on the road next Saturday at fourth-seeded Minnesota Duluth, who recorded a 24-21 road win at top-seeded Colorado State-Pueblo earlier today.

The Warriors raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes of the contest on a Josh Renel (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) one-yard plunge and a 47-yard interception return by senior safety Jeremy Jones (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rockford).

WSU added 17 points in the second quarter as sophomore running back Toney Davis (Muskegon Hts., Mich./Muskegon) scored on a four-yard run following Jones' second pick of the afternoon, then senior wideout Troy Burrell (Port Huron, Mich.) hauled in a 26-yard scoring
pass from junior quarterback Mickey Mohner (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey).

Sophomore kicker Stefan Terleckyj (Warren, Mich./Mott) concluded the first half scoring with a 43-yard field goal.

The Lopers tallied the only points of the third period on a two-yard run by Rustin Dring.

Following an eight-yard scoring run by UNK's Stephan Rush, Renel went in from six yards out with 3:29 left to seal the win.

Renel (121 yards) and Davis (69 yards) combined for 190 of WSU's 207 rushing yards.  Mohner completed 8-of-17 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.  Burrell had team-highs in receptions (4) and receiving yards (73).

Dring led the Lopers with 121 rushing yards, while Harlon Hill finalist Jake Spitzlberger passed for 230 yards on 19-of-40 but was intercepted three times by Jones, who broke the school record for interception return yards in a game with 144.

Senior linebacker Jordan Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) led the WSU defense with 12 tackles (4-8).  The Warriors also had six pass break-ups including two each from Aaron Cornett (South Lyon, Mich.) and Nores Fradi (Dearborn Hts., Mich./Dearborn).