Box Score
MARSHALL, MINN. -- Wayne State held off a late Southwest Minnesota State rally to earn a 34-28 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory and spoil SMSU's homecoming game on Saturday in Marshall.
Wayne State snaps a two-game losing streak and improves to 3-2 overall, 2-2 NSIC while SMSU drops to 2-3 overall, 2-2 NSIC.
Both teams used big plays on defense with each team returning an interception for a touchdown while special teams and red-zone offense proved to be crucial as well. WSC finished the game 4-for-4 inside the red zone and converted both field goal attempts while SMSU was just 3-of-5 inside the WSC 20-yard line and missed three field goals in the contest.
Wayne State opened the scoring late in the first quarter as Mario Melvin scored on a 3-yard run with 19 seconds left to cap a 12-play 64 yard drive.
Southwest Minnesota State answered right back to tie the game moving 77 yards on 10 plays with the drive capped by a Josh Shudlick to Wade McDonough 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7 with 11:16 left in the opening half.
WSC regained the lead on its next drive as Frederick Bruno scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 8:06 on the clock. WSC then booted the next kickoff short and the ball was fielded by SMSU and the Wildcats recovered at the SMSU 43-yard line. The SMSU defense stiffened and forced a 43-yard field goal to take a 17-7 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half.
The Mustang offense moved the ball down to the 16-yard line on its next possession but Scott Talcott missed a 38-yard field goal to keep the deficit at 17-7. Following a WSC punt on its next possession, SMSU threatened to score again near the end of half as Shudlick connected with Derek Townsend on a 23-yard pass to the WSC 22-yard line but as the first half ended Talcott hit the right upright on a 39-yard attempt and Wayne State held onto a 17-7 halftime lead.
The second half started with a bang for SMSU as on the first play of the half WSC quarterback Silas Fluellen was intercepted by SMSU cornerback Nate Finkey, and the native of Wayne, Neb., returned the ball 37 yards for his first career touchdown to trim the Wildcat lead to 17-14.
Wayne State answered right though and extended the lead to 24-14 with 10:02 left in the third quarter on a Travis Rohne two-yard touchdown run. During the drive WSC converted a key fourth down and five from the SMSU 35-yard to extend the scoring drive.
Wayne State would then add to the lead and appear to put the game away as Shudlick was intercepted at the WSC 28-yard line and the Wildcats' Luke Hoffman returned it 72 yards for a touchdown to push the WSC lead to 31-14 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Despite the interception return for a score, Southwest Minnesota State came right back on offense marching 56 yards on six plays as Shudlick connected with McDonough on a 15-yard touchdown pass to trim the lead to 31-21 with 1:59 in the third quarter.
SMSU then picked up a hugh defensive play on WSC's next possession as Finkey broke up a WSC pass attempt and on the deflection SMSU's Kevin Wagner picked off the pass and returned it 55 yards all the way down the WSC five-yard line setting up first and goal. But SMSU failed to move the ball as Zach Wysong was stuffed for no gain and then the Wildcat defense recorded back-to-back sacks moving the ball back to the WSC 30-yard line and forcing a 43-yard field goal attempt that missed wide right.
Wayne State extended the lead on a 23-yard field goal with 8:45 left in the game before SMSU rallied with one final drive scoring with 1:01 left on a Shudlick 14-yard touchdown pass to Bret Ballantine to finish off a 12-play 73-yard drive. The Wilcats recovered SMSU's on-side kick to secure the six-point victory.
SMSU finished the game with 349 yards of offense including 339 yards through the air as Shudlick completed 33 of 48 passes with three touchdowns. It was his third straight 300-yard passing game and his eighth in the last 10 games dating back to last season. Wysong led the team with 10 receptions for 74 yards while Ballantine had seven catches for 60 yards. McDonough and #Blake Wilson# each finished with four receptions for 54 yards.
Wysong finished the game rushing for a team-high 45 yards on 14 attempts but Shudlick and #Tony Rislov# were sacked five times for a loss of 35 yards as SMSU finished officially with just 10 yards rushing.
The Mustang defense was once again paced by Tyler Reed with nine tackles including eight solo stops. Derek Klinkner finished with eight tackles including two and a half for loss.
Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC action at home next Saturday, Oct. 4 hosting defending NSIC champion Winona State. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Mattke Field at the Regional Event Center.
