Box Score Wayne State 35 Bemidji State 13

            Sophomore quarterback Zach Osborn completed 16 of 26 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while senior fullback Chad Koch added two short touchdown runs to lead Wayne State College in a 35-13 win over Bemidji State University in the 2014 NSIC football opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.  The Wildcats snapped an eight-game losing streak at home, winning at Bob Cunningham Field for the first time since September 29, 2012 (WSC 31 Augustana 27) and are 1-0 on the season while the visiting Beavers drop to 0-1.
            The Wildcats opened the scoring with 11:08 to play in the first quarter when redshirt freshman running back Alex Kline found paydirt on a 13-yard run for a 7-0 WSC lead.  WSC scored again with three seconds to play in the first quarter on a three-yard plunge by senior fullback Chad Koch giving the 'Cats a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
            But Bemidji State put together a pair of lengthy drives in the second quarter to get back into the game as redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan Hein connected with Evan Olson on a 24 yard scoring play at the 11:51 mark of the second quarter.  The Beavers scored again with 3:43 left in the quarter when Hein threw 32 yards to Brady Schmidt to make the score 14-13 after WSC blocked the extra point kick.
            WSC scored late in the quarter as sophomore quarterback Zach Osborn hooked up with senior Cole McDaniel on a 28 yard scoring strike with just 39 seconds remaining in the half for a 21-13 Wildcat lead at intermission.
            The Wildcats held the ball for much of the third quarter and drove 91 yards on 14 plays covering 6:58 to take a 28-13 lead as Osborn found senior tight end Joe Trouba in the end zone on a one-yard pass play.
            WSC closed out the scoring with 3:30 to play in the game as Chad Koch rumbled in from the two yard line to make the final score 35-13.
            Wayne State had 357 yards in the game compared to 327 for Bemidji State.  The 'Cats had 104 on the ground and 253 through the air. 
            Osborn completed 16 of 26 passes for 253 yards and two scores to lead the Wildcat aerial attack.  His top receiver was senior Cole McDaniel with seven catches for 123 yards and one score followed by Adam Stark with three receptions for 91 yards.
            Rashad Trimble and Alex Kline each had 39 yards rushing to lead the Wildcat ground attack while fullback Tyler Johnson added 24 yards on four attempts.
            Defensively, senior linebacker Nick Monzu had eight tackles followed by junior linebacker Nate Scott with seven stops.  Senior defensive end Jeff Van Den Top had seven tackles and 3.5 sacks with one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.  Jon Davis and Tyson McGill each had one interception.
            Wayne State will be on the road next Saturday visiting St. Cloud State in a 3 p.m. contest.