Box Score

WAYNE, NEB.: The Southwest Minnesota State football team blew a 21-7 halftime lead to fall 42-28 to Wayne State on Saturday afternoon.  The loss dropped the Mustangs to 2-6 overall and 2-4 the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  The Wildcats improve to 5-3 and 5-1 in the NSIC.

WSC put up 567 yards of offense, including 366 on the ground.  SMSU had a solid day offensively as well with 411 total yards, but turned the ball over four times.

SMSU got off to a great start, marching 65 yards down the field, capped off by a one-yard plunge by Zach Wysong.  With 4:24 remaining in the first quarter, Tyler Reed recovered a fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to put the Mustangs ahead 14-0.  Wayne State answered with a 64-yard, 8-play drive, scoring with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

After two second quarter turnovers, Derek Townsend scored on a 25-yard pass from Josh Shudlick 12 seconds before halftime, putting SMSU ahead 21-7.

But WSC answered with four touchdowns on four third quarter drives, including 21-straight points to open the second half.  Wysong scored on a 22-yard run with 2:09 left in the third quarter, to slow the momentum, but Wayne State scored its fourth touchdown of the third quarter on a 62-yard run by Eric Meyer with six seconds left in the quarter, putting WSC ahead for good.  Quarterback Silas Fluellen added an insurance touchdown with 4:16 left in the game on a four-yard run.

Shudlick threw for 314 yards, completing 27-of-47 passes with one touchdown, but three interceptions.  Derek Townsend led the Mustang receiving corps with 68 yards on seven receptions.  Paul Benesh also hauled in five passes for 59 yards.  Wysong led the ground game with 44 yards on eight carries, followed by Benesh with 43 on 10 carries.

Korey Roethler had an excellent day punting the ball, averaging 46.6 yards on seven punts with a career-high 60 yarder in the first half.  Bryce Haessly led the defense with 12 tackles, including one for loss.  Ryan Lausted recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter, one of three turnovers forced by the Mustang defense.  Reed's fumble return for touchdown was one of two fumble recoveries for the defense.

SMSU hosts Bemidji State at 1 p.m. next Saturday.