Oct. 1, 2008

Detroit News article on WSU Football "Defense Propels Wayne State."

State: Notebook

Defense propels Wayne State

Warriors, off to 4-1 start, rate 10th nationally in points allowed (11.6) with a new coordinator.

David Goricki / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- At 4-1, Wayne State is off to its best start in 28 years.

And, the Warriors, who boast one of the most prolific running backs in Division II, are doing it with defense. The Warriors are ranked 10th nationally in points allowed -- 11.6 points. Last season, they averaged 34.8 points allowed while stumbling to 3-8 record.

"We've made some changes since last year," Wayne State coach Paul Winters said. "We have a new defensive coordinator, John Hauser. We're using the same 4-3 defense, but we're not taking as many risks.

"Our defensive line has been outstanding. Jason Thomas is as good an inside player as we've had since I've been here (he's in his fifth season), and Athan Anagonye has played well on the outside. Our linebackers are solid, and Dante Dunn is our all-everything safety."

Hauser, 28, was defensive backs coach at Northern Illinois last season.

Anagonye (Detroit Jesuit), a 6-foot-1, 250-pound junior defensive end, is the younger brother of former Michigan State basketball player Aloysius Anagonye, who plays professionally in Spain.

Wayne State scored two touchdowns on defense Saturday in a 34-18 victory over Tiffin at Adams Field to go to 4-1 overall and 3-1in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

Anagonye scooped up a fumble and ran 68 yards to give the Warriors a 14-12 second-quarter lead. Stan Thornton scored on a 70-yard interception return to extend the lead to 34-12.

"Coach Hauser finds other team's weakness, and we take advantage of it," Anagonye said. "He puts us in position to be successful. We've played faster this year and have shown our athletic ability. We're playing fundamentally better. We're pursuing the ball and tackling better."

Dunn blocked a PAT and a punt against Tiffin.

The Warriors also received a boost offensively from junior running back Joique Bell, who got his first 100-yard game the season after rushing for 3,492 yards his first two years.

Bell gained 128 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown. He has 324 yards on 82 carries (a 4.0 average) and four TDs.