Wayne State 52 Southwest Minnesota State 29
Wayne State College used a balanced offensive attack gaining a season-high 482 yards while forcing seven Southwest Minnesota State turnovers as the Wildcats posted a 52-29 Northern Sun Conference football win Saturday evening over the Mustangs at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne. The Wildcats remain unbeaten in league play at 4-0 while improving to 4-1 on the season as Southwest Minnesota State falls to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the NSIC.
The lone score in the first quarter was a 29 yard run by SMSU junior quarterback Tyler Peschong, giving the Mustangs a 7-0 lead with 2:00 to go in the first quarter. The Wildcats responded on the ensuing drive as redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Most found Kevin Paulsen on a 39-yard scoring strike, making the score 7-7 with 13:57 remaining in the first half The final six minutes of the first half provided a scoring barrage with each team scoring twice.
SMSU regained the lead with 5:57 to play in the first half when Peschong found Tyler Erickson on an 11-yard scoring pass, putting the Mustangs up 14-7. WSC wasted little time in tying the score at Nick Pulscher found the endzone on a one yard run to cap a four play, 65 yard drive to make the score 14-14 with 4:10 to go before halftime.
The Wildcats engineered a perfect two minute drive late in the first half following an SMSU fumble at the WSC 46 yard line as the 'Cats marched 54 yards in seven plays covering just 49 seconds as Tommy Warren hauled in a 23 yard strike from Most to put WSC in front 21-14 with 17 seconds to play before halftime. However SMSU shocked the Wildcats on the ensuing drive as Peschong found Adam Olson, who snuck behind two Wildcat defenders on a 70-yard scoring play with one second to play to tie the score at 21-21 heading into halftime.
The second half saw the Wayne State defense force five SMSU turnovers while the Wildcats offense caught fire as WSC went on to the 52-29 win. Both teams got off to slow starts in the third quarter as each team had a turnover and punt on their first two possessions. WSC then went with a no huddle offense midway through the third quarter and drove 70 yards on eight plays with a 30-yard connection from Most to Mitch Montgomery capping the drive to give WSC a 28-21 lead with 6:05 to play in the third quarter. The Wildcat defense came up big on the next series as Donny Baker recovered an SMSU fumble following a sack by Richard Daniel at the Mustang 20 yard line that resulted in a 39 yard field goal by Max Martin to increase Wayne State's lead to 31-21.
The WSC defense forced another SMSU turnover on the next series as Daniel Leacraft recovered a Warren Matthews fumble at the Mustang 48 yard line. On the next play, senior running back Bryce Hawthorne broke loose for a 48 yard TD run to give the 'Cats a 38-21 lead with 1:37 to play in the third quarter.
The first Wildcat score in the fourth quarter was following another SMSU turnover. Ben Radel intercepted Peschong at the WSC 44 and returned the ball 37 yards to the SMSU 19. That set up a 15 yard scoring run by Pulscher to increase Wayne State's lead to 45-21. SMSU scored on the next drive as Peschong scampered seven yards for the score, trimming the WSC advantage to 45-29 with 6:22 remaining. WSC added an insurance score on the following drive as Most connected with Grant Otten on a 18 yard scoring play for the final score giving WSC the 52-29 win.
Wayne State finished with a season-high 482 of total offense, 274 on the ground and 208 passing, while SMSU had 404 yards. Bryce Hawthorne led the 'Cats in rushing with 131 yards on just 10 carries and one score while Pulscher finished with 83 yards on 19 carries and two scores. Most was 17 of 29 passing for 208 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Mitch Montgomery was the top Wildcat receiver with seven catches for 93 yards.
For Southwest Minnesota State, Tyler Peschong completed 25 of 48 passes for 285 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Warren Matthews had 56 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Wayne State, tied for first in NCAA Division II entering the game in turnover margin, forced seven SMSU turnovers in the game with four fumbles and three interceptions. Michael Bazata paced the Wildcat defense with seven tackles while Richard Daniel had five tackles with three sacks and three forced fumbles. 24 of Wayne State's 52 points followed SMSU turnovers in the game.
Wayne State will be at home again next Saturday hosting the University of Mary in the Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
