Wayne State College football used 488 yards of total offense to upend the #9 Minnesota State Mavericks 35-20 this afternoon. Brennan Hayes and Dawson Forgy combine for 321 rushing yards and three scores to lead the offense for the 'Cats. WSC improved to 4-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play. MSU moves to 6-2 and 5-2.
            The Wildcats would strike first as redshirt freshman Brady McGill would find the end zone on a 16-yard rush late in the first quarter to give WSC a 6-0 lead.
            Wayne State's next score followed on the ensuing drive after a three-and-out from MSU. Brennan Hayes would rush for a 75-yard touchdown down the middle of the field on the second play of the drive. WSC took a 13-0 lead after the Boston Hensley PAT.
            MSU would start moving down the field using a combination of short passes and rushes until the Wildcat defense halted them at the WSC 28. MSU would setup for a field goal from 45 yards out. Kaden Sutton would break through the offensive line and block the field goal and force a turnover on downs for the Wildcats. WSC would punt five plays later.
            The Mavericks would put together a 10-play drive later in the second quarter to score their first touchdown on a 20-yard pass to cut their deficit to 13-7.
                In their last drive of the half, WSC looked to put another score on the board. Bennett Dannenbring would lead WSC down the field in a 13-play drive. With the ball on the MSU one-yard line, Dawson Forgy would punch it in and give the 'Cats a 19-7 lead heading into the half.
               Minnesota State started the second half with a quick score to make it 19-15 Wildcats.
                Wayne State would put together a good drive moving down the field until MSU forced them into a punt from their own 44-yard line.
                MSU would throw a pass across center field that was picked off by redshirt freshman Kahmel Johnson and return to the Minnesota 37-yard line. Dannenbring would connect with Colton Andrews on a 16-yard strike to stretch the 'Cats lead back out to 26-14.
               Wayne State defense forced another Maverick punt to start the fourth quarter and would start their drive from the 20. Hayes would bust out another huge run, this one for 69 yards and for his second touchdown of the day. The Wildcats would go up 33-14 at this point.
            Minnesota State used a 15 play, 81-yard drive to score on a three-yard pass. The Wildcat defense would hold strong and stop the 2-point attempt to make it 33-20.
            Wildcats used a big rush from Forgy to get to the MSU 47 before they were forced to punt. Jacob Borrall would stick the ball on the four-yard line and set up the WSC defense.
            From their own four-yard line, MSU would rush for no gain on their first play. On the next play, the Mavericks were called for holding in the endzone and resulted in a safety for the 'Cats. WSC had a commanding 35-20 lead.
            Wayne State was able to close out the contest and would go on to defeat the Mavericks for the first time since 2022. Jes Krcil led the defense with 14 tackles, Clyde Hinton followed with eight and five other Wildcats recorded at least five tackles. Kaden Sutton had two tackles for loss and one blocked field goal.
 
 
            The Wildcats are on the road next Saturday for an NSIC South Division contest at Concordia-St. Paul starting at 12 p.m.