Wayne State rallied from a 21-7 third quarter deficit and took advantage of 11 Sioux Falls penalties as the Wildcats knocked off #25 Sioux Falls 31-24 Saturday afternoon at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls in a key NSIC South Division and Super Region 4 football game.  It was the first-ever victory in 10 career meetings for Wayne State, now 8-2 and 4-2 in the NSIC South Division, while the Cougars drop to 7-3 and 2-3 in division play.
            Both teams punted on their first possession, but Wayne State opened the scoring on their second series of the game with a 53-yard drive on five plays that was capped with a 39-yard scoring strike from sophomore quarterback Nick Bohn to Mason Lee giving Wayne State a 7-0 lead at the 6:39 mark of the first quarter.
            Sioux Falls scored twice in the second quarter, both on Theo Reisdorfer touchdown runs of one yard, to take a 14-7 lead at intermission. 
            The first score came at the 12:19 mark of the second quarter highlighting an 11 play, 66 yard drive to even the score.  The second came following a blocked punt for the Cougars that USF the ball at the WSC 18 with Reisdorfer scoring again with 3:40 left before halftime.
            The Cougars started quickly in the third quarter as defensive back Cain McWilliams intercepted Bohn on the second play of the second half and raced 29 yards for a touchdown giving Sioux Falls a commanding 21-7 lead with 13:55 to play in the third quarter.
            But Wayne State responded in a big way, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal on their next four possessions to gain control of the contest.
            WSC marched 75 yards on just six plays following the pick six and used a 28-yard scoring pass from Bohn to freshman Trevor Marshall to cut the Cougar lead to 21-14 with 11:07 to play in the third quarter.
            The Wildcat defense forced a USF turnover on the next series that resulted in Wildcat points as sophomore linebacker Dexter Larsen intercepted a Cougar pass giving WSC the ball at the USF 42.  After getting a first and goal at the Cougar 5, WSC had to settle for an Alex Powders 22-yard field goal making the score 21-17 USF heading into the fourth quarter.
            Sioux Falls came back with a field goal of their own as Nick Hernandez connected from 37 yards out giving the Cougars a 24-17 lead with 14:22 remaining.
            Wayne State wasted little time in responding as Bohn broke loose on a 56-yard scoring run to cap a 64-yard drive as the 'Cats evened the score at 24-24 with 13:01 to play.
            WSC forced a USF punt and took advantage of a pair of Cougar penalties to get great field position with the go-ahead scoring drive capped on a 17-yard pass from Bohn to Jadon Johnson giving the 'Cats a 31-24 lead. 
            Sioux Falls started their next drive at their own 25 and drove to the WSC 33, but a pair of unsportmanlike penalties on the Cougars stalled their drive forcing a punt. 
            After WSC went three and out, the 'Cats stopped USF on downs with 1:55 to play and sealed the 31-24 win.
            Wayne State held a 309-302 edge in total offense over the Cougars.  The 'Cats had 144 yards rushing and 160 passing in the game.  Bohn was the top WSC rusher with 115 yards on 18 carries and one score. 
            Throwing the ball, Bohn completed 13 of 24 passes for 165 yards with three TD's and two interceptions.  Wayne senior Mason Lee was the top target with six grabs for 93 yards and one TD.
            Sophomore linebacker Alex Kowalczyk had 10 tackles to lead the WSC defense.  Senior Jaylan Scott added seven stops with Larsen posting five tackles that included one sack and an interception. 
            Wayne State will close out the 2022 regular season at home next Saturday hosting MSU Moorhead in a 12 p.m. contest at Bob Cunningham Field.