Release courtesy of the WSU Sports Information Department
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The 2011 Wayne State
University football team (12-3 overall) stretched its road winning
streak in the playoffs to four games by recording a 21-14 at
Winston-Salem State (13-1 overall) Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors struck quickly scoring just 76 seconds into the
contest. Senior Jon
Robinson (Livonia, Mich./Churchill) returned a short
kickoff 17 yards to the WSU 46. Senior Josh
Renel (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) had runs
of 7 and 22 yards, and following an incomplete pass, Renel took a
screen pass from junior quarterback Mickey
Mohner (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) 25 yards down the left
side into the end zone.
The next three drives ended in punts until a Wayne State
interception gave the Rams the ball at the WSU 40. However
the WSSU drive ended on a fourth down incompletion.
The Warriors then drove 80 yards in 12 plays with Mohner scoring
on a one-yard keeper on fourth down. Senior wide receiver
Troy
Burrell (Port Huron, Mich.) had catches of 15 and 28
yards on the drive.
Another Ram drive concluded in WSU territory on a fourthdown
incompletion. WSSU finished the game just 1-for-5 on fourth
down.
Winston-Salem went 57 yards in six plays following a WSU punt just
before intermission to cut the Wayne State lead to 14-7.
Kameron Smith tossed a 26-yard scoring pass to Jahuann Butler on a
third-and-14.
After allowing the Rams two first downs on the opening drive of
the second half, the Warrior defense stepped up and forced a
punt.
On WSSU's ensuing possession, Smith fumbled on a fake handoff and
Andrew
Matt (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelet) recovered inside the
10 returning the ball to the WSSU 1-yard line.
Fullback Chet
Privett (Sterling Hts., Mich./De La Salle) scored on the
very next play pushing the Warrior lead to 21-7.
The Rams nearly answered back with a first-and-goal from the WSU 2
but Nicholas Cooper had back-to-back rushes for minus 4 yards and
minus 6 yards. Junior Aaron
Cornett (South Lyon, Mich.) broke up a third-down pass
while Smith's fourth down pass to Tehyvn Brantley was dropped near
the goal line.
Wayne State's next possession ended in an interception with
Malcolm Rowe returning it 45 yards to the WSU 5. Cooper
scored on a one-yard plunge on fourth down making it a seven-point
contest at 21-14 with 10:34 left (although the clock did not run
following the WSSU Timeout).
After three consecutive punts (two by WSU and one by
Winston-Salem), the host Rams had the ball at their own six
yard-line with no timeouts and 2:04 on the clock.
WSSU drove just into Warrior territory but freshman cornerback
Gerren
DuHart (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) batted down a
fourth-down pass sending the Warrior sideline into a frenzy.
Wayne State will be looking for the school's first football
national championship next Saturday in an 11 am Eastern kickoff on
ESPN2 against the winner of tonight's game between Delta State and
Pittsburg State.