Wayne State Hands Hillsdale
19-17 Loss for Homecoming Victory

Wayne State held its 67th Homecoming Game against Hillsdale Saturday. Hillsdale had 24 first downs to Wayne State’s 9. Hillsdale had 401 net total offense yards to Wayne State’s 172. Hillsdale had 107 total offense plays to Wayne State’s 63. Hillsdale had 119 net rushing yards to Wayne State’s 10. The final score? Wayne State 19, Hillsdale 17. So much for statistics, except the one that counts.

The Warriors’ homecoming victory evens their overall record to 3-3, and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference mark to 3-2. And it also evens their overall homecoming record to 32-32-1. It is Wayne State’s first-ever homecoming win over Hillsdale in six attempts. The Chargers were Wayne State’s first homecoming opponent in 1935. Wayne State trailed only once in the contest, taking a 6-0 lead with 1:56 remaining in the first half as freshman runningback Pat Harwood (Romeo, MI) scored on a two-yard carry. The point-after kick by freshman Stephen Wayne (Farmington, MI) failed.

Hillsdale scored its first points in the third quarter when Blake Barisich booted a 31-yard field goal. He would attempt a 42-yard field goal as time expired that failed, preserving the win for Wayne State. Both teams combined for 27 points in the fourth quarter. Hillsdale took its first and only lead when Kevin Clive scored on a four-yard run with 11:01 remaining. Freshman Earl Carruthers (Waterford, MI/Waterford Mott) returned the ensuing kickoff for a 71-yard touchdown return, his first collegiate score.

After punting on its next series, the Warriors’ scored again when freshman wide receiver Marques Anthony (Ypsilanti, MI/Willow Run) caught a 20-yard TD pass from sophomore Dan Gray (Belle River, ONT/District). Anthony’s touchdown came with 4:13 left in the game. Hillsdale scored at the 2:47 mark when Shawn Kersjes caught a 28-yard pass from Bill Skelton, capping off a seven-play, 74-yard drive. After an on-side kickoff attempt that Wayne State recovered, Hillsdale forced the Warriors to punt on a third-and-24 situation. Hillsdale took over on its 7-yard line with 2:08 remaining. The Chargers then ran off 16 plays, moving the ball to WSU’s 20-yard line before a penalty for illegal formation moved it back to the Wayne 25. Barisich attempted his 42-yard field goal try, but missed as time expired. During the series Hillsdale converted three fourth-down attempts. The loss drops Hillsdale to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the GLIAC.

Gray Passes Century Mark Again
Sophomore quarterback Dan Gray (Belle River, ONT/District) accounted for most of Wayne State’s offense against Hillsdale. He threw for 162 net yards, and the Warriors gained only an additional 10 on the ground. Gray completed 16 of 36 pass attempts, and he threw no
interceptions.

Roeschke Puts In Top Overall Performance
Sophomore quarterback Dan Gray’s (Belle River, ONT/District) top target against Hillsdale was junior Jeff Roeschke (Utica, MI), who caught six passes for 42 net yards. He also kicked his first punt in 2001, a 63-yarder. And it was his fielding on a Hillsdale kickoff attempt that started freshman Earl Carruthers’ (Waterford, MI/Waterford Mott) 71-yard touchdown carry early in the fourth quarter. Roeschke was credited with a one-yard return before handing off to Carruthers.

Roeschke also led the Warriors in rushing with 32 net yards on 11 carries.

Spuhler Leads Squad In Tackles
Senior linebacker Joe Spuhler (Macomb Township, MI/Utica Henry Ford II) again led the Warriors in tackles, with 18 total in the Hillsdale contest. He had 10 assisted tackles, and he added three tackles for 13 yards lost, one quarterback sack for three yards lost, and two pass breakups.

WSU Travels To Saginaw Valley State
Wayne State travels to Saginaw Valley State next Saturday, Oct. 20, for a 12 noon EDT contest at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium in University Center, Mich. The Cardinals lead the all-time series with Wayne State 19-6-1, and won last year at Wayne State Stadium 31-19. WSU has lost the last nine meetings against SVSU; its last win was in 1991, also at SVSU, by the score of 21 to 9.

In last year’s meeting Wayne State took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, but Saginaw scored 17 points in the second quarter and another 14 in the second half to end Wayne State’s three-game winning streak.

After Wayne State’s visit to Saginaw Valley State, the Warriors return home Saturday, Oct. 27 to host Indianapolis at 12 noon EDT.