Box Score

WAYNE, Neb. – No. 22 Wayne State scored 14 straight points late in the fourth quarter to earn a 42-39 come-from-behind victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday in Wayne, Neb.

SMSU, which trailed 28-12 late in the first half, scored 20 unanswered points, including taking a 32-28 lead late in the third quarter, but the Wildcat defense made enough plays in the fourth quarter to set up its offense and earn the victory.

WSC improves to 4-1 overall, 3-1 NSIC, while SMSU drops to 3-2 overall, 2-2 NSIC. It was SMSU's second loss against a top 20 team this season. SMSU lost 34-27 earlier this season to No. 9 Minnesota Duluth.

The WSC offense finished with 623 yards of offense on 91 plays and converted 12 of 17 on third-down conversion attempts. The Mustang offense rolled up an impressive 377 yards of offense on just 61 plays.

Trailing 32-28, Wayne State regained the lead with 6:02 left in the game on a Logan Master 23-yard touchdown reception from Silas Fluellan to take a 35-32 lead.

The Mustang offense was forced to punt and WSC took over with 4:42 remaining at its own 10-yard line. WSC moved the ball to the 40-yard line and faced third-and-4 but Fluellen found Mitch Montgomery on a 60-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 42-32 with 2:53 left in the game.

The SMSU offense answered back with a 75-yard drive as Blake Wilson caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Ratekin to trim the lead to 42-39 with 41 seconds left in the game. SMSU's on-side kick failed and WSC was able to hold onto the victory.

SMSU scored the game's first points as the Mustang defense forced a WSC punt and the Mustang offense responded moving 63 yards on just five plays on its opening possession capped by a Ryan Ratekin to Wade McDonough 22-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was missed and SMSU led 6-0 with 9:46 left in the opening quarter.

Wayne State answered with a pair of touchdowns to take a 14-6 lead with 25 seconds left in the first quarter before the Mustang special teams answered with just 10 seconds left in the quarter as Warren Matthews returned a Wildcat kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown to trim the lead to 14-12. It was SMSU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since late in the 2007 season and tied for the ninth longest kickoff return in school history.

WSC extended the lead to 28-12 with a pair of second quarter touchdowns, including a score with 32 seconds left in the half. SMSU wasn't finished though and answered right back in just three plays as Ratekin connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Blake Wilson with three seconds remaining in the half to cut the Wildcat lead to 28-19 at halftime and give SMSU momentum heading into the locker room.

WSC racked up 361 yards of offense in the opening half on 51 plays and finished with an outstanding 8-for-10 on third down conversion attempts. SMSU racked up 172 yards in the opening half on just 21 plays, but WSC held a 20:13 to 9:47 time of possession advantage to control the half.

SMSU stormed out of the gate in the second half scoring the first points of the half on a Ratekin to Matthews 23-yard scoring pass and catch to cut the WSC lead to 28-26 with 12:56 left in the third. It was Matthews first offensive touchdown of his young career.

Wayne State drove to the SMSU 34-yard line before the Mustang stepped up and on third-and-11 from the SMSU 35-yard line, Mustang linebacker Mark Schollmeyer sacked Fluelllan forcing WSC to punt for the second time in the game. On the punt attempt SMSU's Alex Mayorov blocked Jacob Bell's punt setting up the Mustangs at the WSC 20-yard line. Six plays later Ratekin gave SMSU the lead with a 4-yard touchdown pass to McDonough giving SMSU the lead at 32-28 with 3:54 left in the third quarter. The key play of the drive was a Ratekin to Wilson 13-yard pass completion on third-and-8 from the WSC 18-yard line to keep the drive alive.

SMSU forced two turnovers and one punt on the next three WSC possessions but the Mustang offense was unable to take advantage and add to its lead. A key possession saw SMSU face fourth-and-1 from the WSC 27-yard line, but the Wildcat defense stuffed Ratekin on a sneak attempt and WSC spoiled the Mustang drive. Following punts by both WSC and SMSU, the Wildcats took over with 7:46 remaining for the go-ahead touchdown drive.

Ratekin finished the game completing 23-of-38 passes for 302 yards and a career-high five touchdowns while tossing one interception. Wilson finished with a career-high 172 yards receiving with two touchdowns on nine receptions. McDonough added four catches for 37 yards and two touchdowns. Wysong recorded 88 yards rushing on 15 attempts to pace the SMSU running attack.

Derek Klinkner finished with nine tackles, all solo, while also collecting three tackles for loss to lead the Mustang defense. SMSU ended the game with three sacks, forced two tunovers and blocked one punt.

Southwest Minnesota State will conclude its two-game road trip next Saturday, Oct. 3 at Winona State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.