Story and photo courtesy of Wayne State Athletics
DETROIT - The Wayne State Offense edged the Warrior Defense 31-25 in the annual spring football game held on Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.
The offense earned one point for every first down and six points for a touchdown, while the defense earned a point for each three-and-out series, as well as a sack, and five points for each turnover.
On the game's second series, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Ryan Hankins (Davison, Mich.) had a fumble recovery which put the Defense ahead 6-0.
The offense responded with a 16-play drive culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by junior Jessie Johnson (Monroe, Mich.).
After a three-and-out, freshman safety Zak Bielecki (Macomb, Mich. / Lutheran North) picked off a deep pass by senior quarterback Mickey Mohner (Painesville, Ohio / Harvey).
On the last play of the first half, Mohner tossed a 23-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Steve Conway (Roseville, Mich. / St. Clair Shores Lakeview) putting the offense ahead 19-14 at the intermission.
The Defense produced back-to-back three-and-outs to start the second half, which included a sack by senior defensive tackle Serxho Guraleci (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Utica Stevenson).
Following a couple of stalled drives, the offense went 65 yards in seven plays with Mohner completing a third-down scoring pass to senior wide receiver Kaunda Hancock (Detroit, Mich. / Brother Rice).
Senior defensive tackle Zach Houghton (Haslett, Mich.) had a sack on the ensuing drive on second down, then junior cornerback Kevin Buford-Wilson (Euclid, Ohio) recorded his third pass break-up of the contest on the next play.
On the game's final series, the offense drove 61 yards before a third-down pass was intercepted by redshirt freshman cornerback Jamiil Williams (Lima, Ohio / Shawnee).
Johnson had a game-high nine carries for 46 yards and one score. Redshirt freshman Chris Burks (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) rushed eight times for 18 yards, while junior Jay Hayes (Goodell, Mich. / Memphis) carried the ball seven times for 35 yards including a 24-yard scamper. Sophomore Desmond Martin (Redford, Mich. / Thurston) had three rushing attempts, with junior Jeff Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Romulus) and redshirt freshman Al Saad (Dearborn, Mich. / Riverview) each getting a carry.
Sophomore quarterback Doug Griffin (North Branch, Mich.) completed 4-of-6 passes for 31 yards and had a game-best 26-yard rushing attempt. Mohner completed 7-of-12 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Sean Guinane (St. Joseph, Mich.) had one completion for six yards.
Juniors James Jackson (Grand Ledge, Mich.) and Dominique Maybanks (Muskegon, Mich.) tied for game-high honors with three receptions each. Jackson totaled 36 yards, while Maybanks had 34 yards plus a reverse for six yards.
Also recording a reception were junior fullback Chet Privett (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Warren De La Salle), Burks, redshirt freshman wide receivers Jamel Hicks (East Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) and Jaylin Staten (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Christian).
Unofficially, sophomore Marcell Jones (Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Mumford) had a game-high six tackles (4-2). Recording five tackles each were sophomore linebacker Nores Fradi (Dearborn Hts., Mich. / Dearborn) and junior defensive end Charles Martin (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota).
Notching four stops was junior Mike Laamanen (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota), while making three tackles were redshirt freshman safety Mike Sawchuk (Lapeer, Mich. / Lapeer East), Bielecki, junior linebacker Moe Davenport (Southfield, Mich.) and redshirt freshman linebacker Mike Smith (Holt, Mich.).