Oct. 8, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

NORTHERN MICHIGAN GAME STORYLINES

Wayne State is 4-2 for the second time in three years following last Saturday's setback at Ashland.

The Warriors were outscored three touchdowns to one in each half vs. the Eagles.

Joique Bell accounted for both WSU scores with a two-yard pass to Brian Rilley just before halftime and an eight-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Wayne State is in a five-way tie for third place, just one game behind second place Ashland.

The Warriors will look to extend their home field winning streak to four games this Saturday in the annual Homecoming contest. The last time WSU won at least four consecutive home games was from Sept. 24, 1983, through Oct. 13, 1984 (eight straight home wins).

After facing veteran quarterbacks the previous two games, Wayne State has to prepare for a pair of Northern Michigan signal callers.

Freshman Carter Kopach has passed for 511 yards and rushed for 100, while junior Ben Hempel has thrown six touchdowns with only one interception.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Northern Michigan leads the all-time series 13-9. WSU is 5-7 at home vs. the Wildcats. The last two meetings in Detroit have been decided by a total of eight points (49-46 OT NMU in 2002, 18-13 NMU in 2004). This will be the fourth time NMU has been WSU's Homecoming opponent in Detroit.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected for ninth in the 2008 GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll, while Northern Michigan was tabbed for 10th.

ON THIS DATE (OCTOBER 11)

Wayne State is 6-5 on this date. WSU has had two Homecoming games on Oct. 11 (49-26 loss to Hillsdale in 2003, and a 41-6 win over Tiffin in 1986).

ON THE HEADSET

Wayne State's Paul Winters has a 17-31 mark in his fifth year with the Warriors. WSU is 16-17 in its last 33 games. The Warriors are 10-13 at home under Winters and won three home games in a season for the third time (2005, 2006, 2008).

NMU's Bernie Anderson is in his third year with the Wildcats.

SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN

The Wildcats have lost four straight since a season-opening win over Northwood.

Mark Bossuah has rushed for 445 yards and four touchdowns. Zach Nichols has a team-leading 30 receptions, while Dan Elmore leads with four TD catches.

Zach Gauthier has a team-high 44 tackles and two interceptions.

STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Cornelius Dillard recorded his third consecutive game with double-digit tackle totals. He has 38 tackles in the last three games along with five pass break-ups and an interception.

Jeremy Jones had a career-high 10 tackles at Ashland and forced a fumble.

Matt Shango tallied a sack for the third consecutive game. Shango leads WSU with 5.5 sacks.

Jason Thomas had a tackle for loss for the fourth straight contest.

Rilley scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard reception of a Bell pass. It was Bell's third career TD pass.

On the play before, Mickey Berce and Ed Sanders hooked up on a 48-yard pass play. It was the longest pass and reception for Berce and Sanders, respectively.

Dante Dunn had six kickoff returns for 134 yards. The six returns are tied for fifth most, while the yardage total is tied for sixth highest in WSU single-game history.

Troy Burrell extended his reception streak to six games with two catches.

Neil Mitchell had career-highs in rushing attempts (8) and yards (60).

Bell moved into fourth place in career GLIAC rushing yards passing WSU's Joe Gough (3,714; 1991-94) and Ashland's Keith Weaver (3,636; 1991-94) and J.R. McCoy (3,635; 1999-2002).

INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS

Dante Dunn, KOR, 5th
Matt Shango, Sacks, T-12th
Stan Thornton, Interceptions, T-23rd
Tristan Black, Tackles, T-32rd
Dante Dunn, Tackles, T-44th
Matt Shango, TFL, T-60th
Joique Bell, Rushing, 64th
Shane Morris, Punting, 67th

NCAA TEAM RANKINGS

Kickoff Returns -- 1st
Turnover Margin -- 18th
Scoring Defense -- 21st
Sacks -- 26th
Sacks Allowed -- T-36th
Tackles For Loss -- T-46th
Rushing Defense -- 67th
Rushing Offense -- 73rd