WSU Posts 34-31 Win On The Road

The Wayne State University football squad snapped a two-game losing streak with a 34-31 triumph at Michigan Tech on Saturday, Oct. 19.

After falling behind 14-7 after 15 minutes, the Warriors rallied for 17 second quarter points and 24-21 halftime advantage. It was WSU's first lead at intermission this season.

Randy Hutchison

Following a Huskie field goal early in the third quarter that evened the score at 24, sophomore quarterback Randy Hutchison had his third touchdown run of the game, this time for 11 yards, giving WSU a 31-24 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Michigan Tech went 67 yards for the tying touchdown, which came with just 26 seconds left in the third stanza.

After an exchange of punts, WSU drove 61 yards in 12 plays culminating in Stephen Wayne's 38 yards field goal which bounced on the cross bar and over for his second field goal of the contest.

The Warrior defense limited MTU's offense to 25 yards in 10 plays over the next two drives, with Derrick Thomas' fourth career interception sealing the victory.

Hutchison led the Warrior offense by accumulating 363 yards of total offense. Hutchison rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns. The most rushing touchdowns in a game for a Warrior this season. He also completed 21 of 33 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. His 247 passing yards is also an individual season high for WSU.

Craig Duppong gained 68 yards on 18 carries, while eight different Warriors had receptions with senior Nate Collins recording his first 100-yard receiving game. Collins finished the contest with six receptions for 119 yards. Junior tight end Mike Johnson had five catches for 52 yards, while Michael Griffie had three receptions for 30 yards including a 19-yard TD reception to open the game's scoring.

A key play for the Warrior defense came late in the fourth quarter when MTU, which had converted its three previous fourth down plays, had a fourth-and-10 and its own 42 but Derrick Thomas intercepted Dan Mettlach's pass.

Wayne State is now 2-5 overall and 2-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after playing five of its first seven games away from Detroit. The Warriors will play three of their final four games at home starting with next Saturday's Homecoming contest against Northern Michigan. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. following the Homecoming parade at WSU Stadium.