Wayne State 49 Southwest Minnesota State 10

            Wayne State used three big pass plays of over 50 yards in the first half to set the tone for the game as the Wildcats posted a 49-10 Northern Sun Conference football victory over Southwest Minnesota State Saturday evening at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.  The Wildcats move to 2-1 on the season with the Mustangs now 1-2.
            It was the visiting Mustangs who struck first in the contest as SMSU blocked a Wildcat punt midway through the first quarter as Tate Gaul recovered the block in the end zone for an SMSU touchdown putting the Mustangs ahead 7-0 at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter.
            Wayne State tied the score later in the first quarter on the first of three big pass plays in the half as junior quarterback Nick Bohn found sophomore Kendrick Watkins-Hogue on a 53-yard scoring pass to even the score at 7-7 with 1:53 to play in the quarter.
            Following a punt early in the second quarter, Wayne State then scored on six consecutive drives to put the contest out of reach.
            WSC took the lead for good at the 5:02 mark of the second quarter when junior Jadon Johnson ran down a Bohn pass and scampered 74 yards to paydirt putting the 'Cats in front 14-7.
            Bohn connected with junior Ashten Schmaderer later in the quarter on a 59-yard scoring pass, giving the 'Cats a 21-7 advantage.
            SMSU scored just before halftime on a Carter Dicker 31-yard field goal making the score 21-10 at intermission.
            The Wildcats took the second half kickoff and marched 85 yards on 11 plays, capped by a Bohn 11-yard run to increase the WSC lead to 28-10.
            Wayne State's next two scores came via Mustang turnovers.  The first was following a Mustang fumble recovered by WSC linebacker Tate Hinrichs at the SMSU 33.  Bohn scored on a 10-yard run with 7:26 to play in the third quarter, pushing the WSC lead to 35-10.
            Sam Rallis intercepted a Mustang pass on the next drive giving WSC the ball at the Mustang nine following a 19-yard return.  Sophomore Dawson Forgy capped the short scoring drive with a one-yard plunge putting the 'Cats ahead 42-10.
            WSC closed the scoring early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by redshirt freshman Latravious Boyd to make the final score 49-10.
            Wayne State gained 497 yards in the contest to 290 for SMSU.  The 'Cats had 119 yards rushing and 378 passing yards while the Mustangs had 128 on the ground and 162 through the air.
            Bohn completed 14 of 26 passes for 356 yards and three scores.  Watkins-Hogue was the top Wildcat receiver with six receptions for 129 yards and one TD followed by Jadon Johnson with two catches for 116 yards and one score. 
            Forgy led WSC rushers with 60 yards on nine carries with Bohn adding 30 yards on seven attempts and two TD's.
            Defensively Tate Hinrichs had 11 tackles for the 'Cats.  Junior Dexter Larsen added eight tackles with one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. Alex Schall and Sam Rallis each added interceptions for the Wildcat defense.
            The Wildcats will be on the road next Saturday night traveling to Rolla, Missouri for a non-conference game at Missouri S&T starting at 6 p.m.