The Warriors suffered their third defeat of the season by eight points or less falling at Hillsdale, 40-34, on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Wayne State trailed 20-6 after 30 minutes but scored 28 second half points, cutting the deficit to six at two different ocassions. The Chargers tallied 20 points after halftime to maintain the lead.

WSU’s first drive of the contest was a season-best 19 plays which concluded with Thabiti Williamson’s two-yard touchdown run. In the second stanza, HC added two field goals, sandwiched around a five-yard run by quarterback Bill Skelton.

Following a Charger touchdown, Wayne State went 74 yards in nine plays with Williamson carrying the final five yards for his second touchdown of the game. Randy Hutchison rushed three times for 36 yards on the drive and completed a 12-yard pass to Nate Collins.

Hillsdale scored on a five-play drive, but the Warriors answered with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with Craig Duppong scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter. Duppong rushed six times on the drive for 40 yards.

After a Charger punt, WSU went 82 yards in eight plays to pull within six at 33-27. Hutchison connected from 24 yards to Collins for the score. Hutchison was four-of-four on the drive for 58 yards.

HC answered with a 63-yard touchdown drive, but the Warriors responded with an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive with Collins hauling in an 11-yard pass from Hutchison for the score. Hillsdale ran four plays to run out the clock.

The Warriors outgained the Chargers on the ground, 245-141. Total offense was nearly even at 427 (Hillsdale) and 423 (Wayne State). Hillsdale scored on seven of its 10 possessions in the game, while the Warriors reached the end zone on their last four possessions. Wayne State converted a season-high nine of 13 (69.2%) third-down conversions against the Chargers.