Release courtesy of the WSU Sports Information Department [Box Score]
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).