Wayne State 31 #11 Minnesota Duluth 28
Alex Powders booted a 35-yard field goal with 2:25 remaining to lift Wayne State College in a 31-28 Northern Sun Conference football victory Saturday evening over #11 Minnesota Duluth at Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota. It's the first win over a nationally ranked opponent for WSC football since October 4, 2014 (27-7 over #25 Winona State) and it's just the second-ever win in 16 meetings against the Bulldogs. Both teams are now 3-1 on the season.
The first half was a tale of two quarters as defense dominated the opening stanza followed by a scoring barrage with the two teams combining for six touchdowns in a high scoring second quarter.
The lone score of the first quarter was the result of a Wildcat turnover.
Nick Bohn's pass was intercepted by UMD linebacker Joe Kordus at the WSC 30. One play later, Bulldog running back Cazz Martin raced 30 yards for a touchdown putting Minnesota Duluth ahead 7-0 with 5:27 to play in the opening quarter.
The second quarter scoring barrage was started by WSC on a
Nick Bohn one-yard TD run, capping a 64-yard drive on nine plays, to tie the score at 7-7 with 14:15 to go second quarter.
WSC took the lead moments later thanks to a turnover forced by the Wildcat defense as defensive back
Gerale Flye recovered a Bulldog fumble at the UMD 23. Bohn then fired a 23-yard scoring pass to
Taurean Grady giving the 'Cats a 14-7 lead with 11:59 to go before halftime.
After forcing a Bulldog punt, WSC got great field position at the UMD 37 and took a 21-7 lead when Bohn threw a 12-yard scoring strike to senior running back
Anthony Watkins at the 9:48 mark.
UMD wasted little time in coming back as 12 seconds later Cazz Martin broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run cutting the Wildcat lead to 21-14.
Wayne State bounced back on the following drive and answered with a score as Watkins scampered 48 yards for a score to culminate a nine-play, 80 yard drive giving the Wildcats a 28-14 lead.
The host Bulldogs closed scoring in the wild second quarter with just 22 seconds remaining as quarterback John Larson completed a five-yard pass to Armani Carmickle to make the score 28-21 at intermission.
Defense dominated the third quarter. WSC forced three Minnesota Duluth turnovers while the Wildcats struggled offensively held to -11 yards.
UMD was poised to tie the score late in the third quarter when a bad punt snap by WSC gave the Bulldogs the ball first and goal at the WSC 9. But senior
Kevin Ransom intercepted a Larson pass in the end zone to thwart the scoring drive.
Early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota Duluth was able to tie the game as Martin scored his third touchdown of the night on a six yard run to knot the score at 28-28 with 13:55 remaining.
After both teams traded punts, WSC got the ball at their own 27 and drove 55 yards on 16 plays to set up a 35-yard field goal from
Alex Powders that gave the Wildcats a 31-28 lead with 2:25 to play.
UMD had one last chance with the ball and was driving inside Wildcat territory when WSC linebacker
Ijaaz Rashid recovered a Bulldog fumble at the WSC 36 to seal the win.
Wayne State held a 352-332 edge in total offense over Minnesota Duluth. The 'Cats had 131 yards rushing and 221 yards passing.
Senior running back
Anthony Watkins gained 101 yards on 21 carries with one TD.
Redshirt freshman quarterback
Nick Bohn completed 13 of 22 passes for 221 yards with two TD's and one interception. Senior
Taurean Grady had career-highs of eight catches and 133 yards and one TD to lead Wildcat receivers.
Wayne State's defense forced five turnovers in the contest. Linebacker
Alex Kowalczyk had seven tackles and one forced fumble.
Ijaaz Rashid added five tackles with one fumble recovery.
Gerale Flye had one interception and one fumble recovery,
Kevin Ransom added an interception and
Jaylan Scott had a fumble recovery.
Wayne State will host Winona State Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
