WAYNE STATE (1-4, 1-3 GLIAC)
at Hillsdale (1-4, 1-3 GLIAC)
Saturday, Oct. 12 • Hillsdale, Mich.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:
Stadium: Frank “Muddy” Waters Field (8,500)
Surface: Prescription Athletic Turf
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Site: Hillsdale, Michigan
Series Record: Hillsdale leads 31-11-1

THE GAME
The Wayne State University football team will try to win its third straight game against the Chargers this Saturday (Oct. 12) at Hillsdale.

The Warriors won last year’s game in Detroit, 19-17, in a wild fourth quarter that featured 27 points. HC’s Blake Barisich’s missed a 42-yard field goal attempt on the game’s final play.

WSU had 172 yards in total offense compared to 401 yards for Hillsdale. Earl Carruthers had a 71-yard kickoff return for a touchdown after the Chargers had taken a 10-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. Jeff Roeschke led the Warriors with 32 yards rushing and six pass receptions for 42 yards.

THE COACHES
WSU head coach Steve Kazor is in his third season as the Warrior bench boss. He has an 8-17 record at Wayne State with an overall collegiate head coaching mark of 33-34 in his seventh season.

Hillsdale’s Keith Otterbein is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater following seven seasons as an assistant at Ball State. He compiled a 60-39-3 record in nine years (1986-1994) at Ferris State including three straight NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

THE SERIES
Hillsdale leads 31-11-1 in the all-time series despite the Warriors winning the last two meetings. Wayne State has recorded a 6-13 mark in games at Hillsdale. WSU’s win in 2000 at HC snapped a 10-game losing skid for the Warriors in road games against the Chargers.

IN THE POLLS
The Warriors were selected 11th in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches poll. Hillsdale received 42 points inthe GLIAC coaches preseason poll, which placed them ninth.

SCOUTING HILLSDALE
The Chargers (1-4, 1-3 GLIAC) lost their first two games (33-21 at Ferris State, and 24-17 vs. Indianapolis), before recording a 37-7 win over Ashland. Hillsdale lost the last two games, both on the road, 44-19 at Grand Valley, and 26-23 at Northern Michigan.

Kevin Clive has 566 yards rushing on 129 carries with seven touchdowns. Bill Skelton has completed 81 of 140 passes for 882 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions. Dan Musielewicz (21-253) and Blake Barisich (18-189, 2-TD) are Skelton’s two favorite targets.

Free safety Mitch May has five interceptions, while WLB Rob North has a team-high 60 tackles.

ASHLAND GAME NOTES

• Junior running back Craig Duppong became the first Warrior since the final game of the 2000 season to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. He had 164 yards on 22 carries (and no lost yardage), plus his first Warrior touchdown. Duppong's rushing yards was the most since Thabiti Williamson had 171 yards on 30 carries on Oct. 14, 2000, at Hillsdale
• Marqus Anthony led 10 WSU receivers with five receptions for 51 yards.
• Senior linebacker Daniel Stuckey had 2.5 quarterback sacks for -14 yards against Ashland and three total tackles for -19 yards. He also forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles.
• The Warrior defense allowed only 277 yards (48 rushing, 229 passing) toAshland marking the first time in 13 games (since Sept. 8, 2001, at Ashland) that WSU had allowed less than 300 yards in a game.
• Wayne State has allowed 104 total yards rushing in the last two games on 60 carries (1.73 yards per carry).
• For the second consecutive game, the Warriors had more plays (74-68) and more total yards (360-277) than it allowed.
• After having six turnovers in the first four games, Wayne State had seven turnovers against Ashland.
• The Warriors did not allow a passing touchdown for the first time this season, and equalled a season-high with three quarterback sacks.
• The six interceptions thrown by WSU quarterbacks were the most in a game during Steve Kazor's tenure in Detroit.

ASHLAND 25, AT WAYNE STATE 20
The Warriors suffered a 25-20 setback to visiting Ashland University on Oct. 5 at WSU Stadium.

After falling behind 16-0 midway through the second period, the Warriors scored 20 of the next 26 points making the score 22-20 Ashland with 11:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.

In the next four drives (two for each team), the Eagles punted twice while WSU lost possession on a fumble and an interception.

AU's Austin Wellock made his school-record sixth field goal of the game with 5:03 remaining to increase the Eagle lead to 25-20.

The Warriors turned the ball over on downs at their own 31, but AU quarterback John Szabo's fumble on the next play was recovered by Daniel Stuckey.

Wayne State drove from its 49 yardline to Ashland's seven over the next eight plays, but Dan Gray's fourth down pass was intercepted at the Ashland five yardline.

Wayne State held the advantage in rushing yards (174-48) and total yards (360-277), but Ashland led in passing yards (229-186).

Warrior junior tailback Craig Duppong rushed for a career-high 164 yards on 22 carries. Duppong became the first WSU runner to rush for more than 100 yards since Thabiti Williamson had 122 yards on 15 carries on Nov. 11, 2000, at Northwood.

WSU starting quarterback Randy Hutchison completed five of 11 passes for 15 with two interceptions. Dan Gray entered the game late in the second quarter and completed 15 of 28 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, but threw four interceptions.

Ashland's J.R. McCoy rushed 25 times for 81 yards, while Szabo completed 14 of 32 passes for 229 yards. Kevin McMahon had six catches for 92 yards, while Michael Hall had 101 receiving yards on four catches.

A complete copy of this week's game notes, including GLIAC statistics rankings, is also available in PDF. Click here to download.