WSU defeated by Grand Valley, 35-13

WSU defeated by Grand Valley, 35-13: Update: _Head coach Paul Winters' thoughts were included about his team's loss on Nov. 3.

In Allendale, Mich. for a matchup with the 19th-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers (8-2 overall, 7-2 GLIAC), the Wayne State football team looked to do what it hasn’t done since 1984, beat the Lakers.

Unfortunately for the Warriors (5-4 overall, 5-4 GLIAC), the losing-streak was extended to 24 games after the Lakers topped WSU, 35-13.

The loss dashed any hopes the Warriors had of winning the GLIAC North.

“It’s very disappointing,” head coach Paul Winters said.

The battle for the Wooden Shoes Trophy started about as well as the Warriors could have hoped for. The Lakers received the ball first, but WSU forced a three-and-out. It got on the board first with a career-long 51-yard field goal from Stefan Terleckyj.

A 45-yard kickoff return to midfield gave the Lakers great field position. They turned the large kickoff return into a touchdown on a three-yard touchdown run by Michael Ratay. 

After the Warriors went three-and-out, the Lakers took over. But Andrew Matt recorded his second interception of the season to give the ball back to WSU at the GVSU 31-yard-line. WSU could only get three points out of the takeaway as Terleckyj hit another long field goal near the end of the first quarter, this one being 46-yards.

The Lakers extended their lead to 14-6 with another three-yard touchdown run from Ratay on the following possession.

WSU went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, and the Lakers went 90-yards in eight plays – 53 on a touchdown run from Kirk Spencer – to make the score 21-6.

With 3:45 remaining in the half, the Lakers drove to the WSU 25-yard line. Throwing to the end zone, GVSU quarterback Isiah Grimes was picked off by WSU cornerback Gerren DuHart – his team-leading third of the season, stalling the drive.

Following a first-conversion to start the second half, the Warriors were forced to punt.

Spencer picked up 57 yards on the ground and Charles Johnson caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap off a two-play drive for GVSU.

Later in the third quarter, the Warriors put together a 17-play, 83-yard drive that took 7:06 off of the clock. Running backs Toney Davis and Jessie Johnson were used heavilyi n the drive, accounting for 13 plays and 62 yards.

On fourth-and-goal from the GVSU two-yard line, quarterback Mickey Mohner found tight end Sean McAuliffe for the touchdown and his first career reception. Mohner is also now WSU's all-time leader in total offensive yards.

After a missed field goal by the Lakers and punts by each team, the Warriors took over on its own 25- yard line with redshirt freshman Carl Roscoe under center. WSU would punt later in the drive.

“[Mohner] had taken some shots,” Winters said. “He was beaten up pretty good at that point. We just felt like [a switch] was the best move at that point.”

The Lakers drove 67-yards in nine plays, scoring on a fourth down touchdown pass from Grimes to Johnson with 1:29 to go in the game.

As a team that prides itself on defense, Winters was none too pleased with giving up 523 yards of total offense, 319 coming from the ground game.

“They got on a roll on us pretty good,” he said. “We didn’t defend them very well. The [players] that played didn’t step up.”

The Warriors wrap up the 2012 season at home on Nov. 10 for a noon kickoff against the Michigan Tech Huskies.