Eastern Wayne Today

Wayne State University’s football team lost its Homecoming game to Michigan Tech University, with a final score of 48-24. The defeat leaves Wayne State at 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), while Michigan Tech improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The first quarter saw both teams scoring heavily, totaling 35 points. Michigan Tech opened the game with a seven-play, 65-yard drive ending in a touchdown pass from Alex Bueno to Nic Nora. Wayne State’s offense responded quickly despite an early fumble. After a defensive stop, the Warriors executed a four-play, 71-yard drive highlighted by a trick play: wide receiver Justyz Tuggle threw a touchdown pass to Nick Ostas for his first collegiate score.

Defensively, Wayne State made an impact when senior defensive back Kelly Matthews intercepted a pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown, marking the team’s first interception return for a score since September 2022.

Michigan Tech answered with another touchdown before Wayne State regained the lead on their next possession. Quarterback Champion Edwards scored on a one-yard run after key receptions by Tuggle and Donovan Isaac.

In the second quarter, Michigan Tech tied the game following an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Chase Koch. Wayne State took the lead again with Griffin Nowak’s career-long 44-yard field goal, but Michigan Tech closed out the half strong with two more touchdowns and a field goal, entering halftime ahead 38-24.

At halftime, Michigan Tech had amassed 337 yards of total offense compared to Wayne State's 140. The Huskies continued their dominance in the second half, adding two more field goals and another touchdown pass from Bueno to Nora in the fourth quarter. Wayne State was unable to score after halftime.

Statistically, Michigan Tech outgained Wayne State with 506 total yards to WSU's 199. The Huskies held significant advantages in both rushing (189-23) and passing yards (317-176). On third downs, Michigan Tech converted six of fourteen attempts while Wayne State failed to convert any of nine opportunities.

For Wayne State, XaVior Tyus led with 20 rushing yards; Edwards completed sixteen passes for 136 yards but threw two interceptions. Tuggle caught all seven of his targets for sixty-one receiving yards and also threw for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Martell Williams recorded fifteen tackles including one-and-a-half tackles for loss and forced a fumble.

Kolby Hindenach led Michigan Tech’s rushing attack with eighty-four yards. Bueno passed for two hundred thirty-five yards and four touchdowns with one interception; Nora caught four passes for ninety-five yards and scored twice.

Wayne State will look to rebound as they travel to face top-ranked Ferris State on Saturday, October 11 at Top Taggart Field.