Box Score Wayne State 41 Southwest Minnesota State 39

            Junior quarterback Zach Osborn accounted for 431 yards of total offense and five touchdowns to lead Wayne State College in a wild 41-39 victory at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday evening in Northern Sun Conference football played on Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall, Minnesota.  The Wildcats move to 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in the NSIC South with the win while SMSU drops to 4-3 and 1-2 in divisional play.
            Wayne State scored on its first possession of the game as freshman Ethan Knudson booted a 40-yard field goal to put the 'Cats in front 3-0 with 9:05 to play first quarter.
            After holding SMSU on downs at the WSC 30, the Wildcats marched 70 yards on nine plays and scored on a eight-yard pass from Osborn to senior Nick Roth giving the 'Cats a 9-0 lead following a missed PAT kick.
            The second quarter saw SMSU take advantage of two Wildcat turnovers to score 14 of their 20 points that gave the Mustangs a 20-16 lead at intermission.  The first score was a 22-yard Max Simmons run and another Simmons TD run from one yard out following a second straight Wildcat turnover gave the Mustangs a 14-9 lead with 10:05 to play in the second quarter.
            The Wildcats responded on the ensuing drive as WSC drove 67 yards on 11 plays over 5:21 as Osborn hooked up with Nate Rogers on a seven-yard strike to put the 'Cats back in front 16-14.
            SMSU regained the lead just before halftime (19 seconds) as Divonte Beale found paydirt on a two-yard run giving the Mustangs a 20-16 lead at intermission.
            WSC scored all 10 points in the third quarter on a Knudson 27 yard field and a 20 yard TD pass from Osborn to Shymere Williams giving the Wildcats a 26-20 lead heading into what turned out to be a wild fourth quarter.
            The 'Cats scored another touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Osborn and Williams hooked up for a second time on a five-yard pass giving WSC a 34-20 lead with 12:45 remaining.
            SMSU answered with a score as quarterback Blake Gimbel found Hamilt Mateski on a 20-yard scoring pass, cutting the WSC lead to 34-27 at the 10:20 mark.
            Wayne State scored on its fourth straight possession in the second half as Osborn ran into the endzone from eight yards out increasing the Wildcats' advantage to 41-27 with 7:27 to play.
            The Mustangs then scored on their next two possessions to setup a thrilling finish.  The first score was a Max Simmons one yard run at the 5:05 mark with the second score coming on a Gimbel 25-yard pass to Gabriel Galamue with 1:12 remaining to make the score 41-39.
            SMSU then went for the two-point conversion to tie the game and the run failed to keep the score 41-39.
            The Mustangs attempted an onside kick that went out of bounds and Wayne State held on for the win.
            Wayne State outgained Southwest Minnesota State in the contest 485-379.  The 'Cats had 137 yards rushing and 348 passing while the Mustangs produced 123 yards on the ground and 256 through the air.  Wayne State punted just once in the contest.
            Osborn led Wayne State's rushing attack with 83 yards on 11 attempts followed by Arelious Burns with 57 yards on 27 attempts.
            Throwing the ball, Osborn was 23 of 33 for 348 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.  His top target was sophomore Shymere Williams with seven catches for 163 yards and two scores followed by freshman Willie Walton with seven receptions for 72 yards.  Junior Nate Rogers added three grabs for 63 yards and one score.
            Junior Emeka Etta led the Wayne State defense with 12 tackles followed by Glenn Harris and Tyler Thomsen with seven stops each.  Freshman Shaqualle Paddy had one interception, one breakup and four solo tackles.        
            Wayne State will be at home next Saturday hosting Winona State in the annual Egg Bowl Game set for 1 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.