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WSC Football 2006-07 Press Releases

WAYNE STATE PICKED FIFTH IN 2007 NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

August 6------The Wayne State College football team was selected to finish fifth in the 2007 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll released today by the league office in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wildcats received 49 points in voting as determined by the league’s 10 head coaches. WSC returns 14 starters from the 2006 team that finished with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record, the best-ever finish for a Wildcat football team since joining the NSIC in 1999.
Defending league champion Bemidji State collected seven of 10 first place votes and finished with 88 points to top the 2007 NSIC Preseason Poll. Winona State, an NCAA Division II playoff qualifier last season, was second in the voting with 82 points and two first place votes while the University of Mary came in third with 72 points and one first place vote. Concordia-St. Paul garnered 69 points and was fourth in the poll, followed by Wayne State (49 points), Southwest Minnesota State (46 points), Northern State (43), MSU Moorhead (36), Upper Iowa (35) and Minnesota, Crookston (19).
Junior offensive lineman Brian Okonofua (pronounced oh-con-uh-fu-uh) and senior linebacker Nick Baldetti (ball-debt-ee) were listed as players to watch for Wayne State this season. The 6-5, 330 pound Okonofua was a Second Team All-NSIC left guard last season and is one of four returning starters on a Wildcat offensive line that allowed just two sacks in eight league games last season. Baldetti, a 6-1, 230 pound senior linebacker, had 73 tackles for the Wildcats last season and ranked eighth in the league in tackles per game last season at 7.6.
Wayne State opens the 2007 football season on Saturday, September 1 at Chadron State College with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The Wildcats’ home opener is Saturday, September 8 vs. Nebraska-Kearney at 1:00 p.m. at Cunningham Field in Wayne.

LAUREL-CONCORD'S BRIAN SAUNDERS TO JOIN WSC FOOTBALL PROGRAM

May 29-----Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin has announced that Brian Saunders of Laurel-Concord High School will join the Wildcat football program for the 2007 season.
Saunders, a 6-2, 200 pound wide receiver, was a standout in football and track and field for the Bears, earning letters for four years in both sports while starting in football three seasons. He was a three-time All-District selection in football, hauling in 11 touchdown passes during his senior season to go with Academic All-State honors as a senior. In track and field, Saunders helped Laurel-Concord to an unbeaten season as a senior as the Bears captured the Class C Boys State title. He is the school-record holder in the 400 meter dash, 100 meter dash, long jump and 1600 meter relay. Saunders was named Most Valuable Athlete at the Sioux City Relays in April and was selected the Sioux City Journal Male Athlete of the Week.
“We are very pleased with the signing of Brian Saunders to the Wildcat football team,” said McLaughlin. “He is a big, strong athletic wide receiver who will provide immediate depth. His recent success in track and field has us very excited about his future with the football program here at Wayne State College.”
Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats finished the 2006 season with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third place in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record under second year head coach Dan McLaughlin. The tie for third place was the best-ever finish for a Wayne State football team in the NSIC since joining the league in 1999 and the four league wins tied for the most in league play for the Wildcats in the Northern Sun Conference.

DEFENSE DOMINATES IN WAYNE STATE SPRING GAME

April 21-----The Black team (defense) notched three interceptions and outscored the White team (offense) 31-19 in the annual Wayne State College spring football game played Saturday afternoon at Cunningham Field in Wayne.
Sophomore defensive back Robert Manuel picked off a pair of Travis Dietz passes while sophomore linebacker Aaron Nielsen (Creighton) recorded the other interception to lead the WSC defense. Junior college transfer Benny Collins and sophomore linebacker Ryan Reeves had two pass breakups each.
Offensively, sophomore quarterback Silas Fluellen was 14 of 32 for 128 yards and one touchdown, a 25-yard scoring strike to redshirt freshman wide receiver Eddy Cesar. Travis Dietz was 7 of 18 passing for 60 yards and three interceptions.
The top rusher was sophomore Eric Meyer, who gained 24 yards on nine carries, while Fluellen added 21 yards on six attempts.
Wayne State opens the 2007 season at Chadron State College on Saturday, September 1.
Wayne State Spring Football Statistics:

Rushing: Eric Meyer 9-24; Silas Fluellen 6-21; Chris McCuien 3-5; Alex Hall 9-3; Travis Dietz 1 (-2).
Passing: Silas Fluellen 14-32 128 yards (1TD); Travis Dietz 7-18 60 yards (3 INT).
Receiving: Blake Mosel 5-58; Brian Locke 7-52; Ricky Massa 6-43; Eddy Cesar 3-35; Collin Prosser 1-11; Chris McCuien 2-8; Alex Hall 1-3.

ZACH MOLACEK SIGNS DEAL WITH SIOUX CITY BANDITS

April 18-----Former Wayne State College standout running back Zach Molacek has recently signed a deal to play for the Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football League. He becomes the third player from Wayne State College on the Bandits’ roster, joining wide receiver Johnnie Ostermeyer and long-time offensive lineman Erv Strohbeen.
Molacek, 6-1, 215 pound running back from Stanton, Nebraska, finished his WSC career last fall as the second-leading rusher in school history with 3,391 yards. He capped his senior season last fall by leading the Northern Sun Conference in rushing with 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was a three-time All-NSIC running back and was named to the 2006 Daktronics Division II All-Northwest Region Second Team. Molacek was one of just three players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in two different seasons, going over 1,000 yards in the 2004 and 2006 seasons.

SPRING FOOTBALL REPORT - WILDCATS FOCUSED ON BUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM

April 13-------After winning four games in 2005, followed by a five win campaign in 2006, the Wayne State Football Team opened spring practice March 28 with designs on continuing that trend of upward mobility.

Wildcat Head Coach Dan McLaughlin, beginning his third campaign at WSC, said that the WSC football program has big goals as the Wildcats head into the final season of Northern Sun Conference Division II football. In the 2008 season, the Conference will add four new schools: Minnesota State University – Mankato, St. Cloud State University, University of Minnesota – Duluth, and Augustana College.

According to McLaughlin, the prospect of success begins with hard work in the off-season and in the spring football session. "I am really pleased with how we have looked so far," said McLaughlin, who noted that the Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at Cunningham Field on the WSC campus. The next spring practice for the Wildcats will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14 at the WSC practice fields, located north of the Rec Center.

"We have seen marked improvement since the first day. While the weather has been somewhat of a headache, the kids have fought through the wind and rain and shown tremendous energy," said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin added, "Overall, I am very pleased with the progress that has been made. We are a much better football team at this point than we were a year ago, and we are a better football team now than we were at the end of the season last fall.”

The Wildcats return 12 starters, including eight on offense and four on defense. One of those seniors lost is a big one – All - Conference running back Zach Molacek of Stanton, NE. Zach capped an outstanding career at Wayne State by being named the Northern Sun Conference Player-of-the-Year, as he led the conference in rushing with 1,155 yards, finishing his career as the second leading rusher in Wildcat history (3,391 yards). The Wildcats also lose all four starting defensive linemen, three of the starting defensive backs, All – Conference tight end Jake Robinson and five other seniors who played major roles in the turnaround at Wayne State.

From these early days of spring practice, McLaughlin noted that the offense was picking up steam behind the leadership of new Offensive Coordinator Gene Suhr, the former head football coach at Papillion – La Vista Senior High School. Coach Suhr is a legend in the Nebraska prep ranks, winning state championships in 1990 and 1996, and winning over 200 games. He is widely respected as an offensive guru, and the wrinkles he has brought to the Wildcat offense are already bearing fruit. Coach Suhr is coaching the quarterbacks, and while Travis Dietz, of Indianola, IA, and Silas Fluellen, of Bellevue, NE are relatively young, they are not without experience, as Travis started seven games in 2005, and Silas started eight games in 2006.

McLaughlin emphasized the leadership of three year starter Jay Winter (Miller, SD) as well as returning All – NSIC offensive guard Brian Okonofua (Dallas, TX) who anchor what looks to be a very strong offensive line. Leading receiver Logan Masters (Storm Lake, IA) is sitting out spring practice with shoulder surgery, but Ricky Massa (Lincoln, NE) and Brian Chapman (Battle Creek, NE) have looked very good so far in the early stages of the spring.

Despite the return of eight offensive starters, the biggest question mark is filling the running back spot held by Molacek the last three years. Front runners in that competition include Alex Hall (Lincoln, NE) who started seven games at tailback in the 2005 campaign, and sophomore Eric Meyer (Hooper, NE) who has impressed the coaches with his explosiveness in drills and scrimmage situations.

McLaughlin noted that former first team All – NSIC wide receiver Marque McCray of San Mateo, Calif., has returned to school after a year away from the program. McLaughlin says McCray looks confident and fast. "He has picked up where he left off two years ago," said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin also mentioned that sophomore Brian Locke (Omaha, NE.) has shined at tight end in the early days of spring ball. He pointed out that Scott Umphenour (Mapleton, KS) is pushing for time at the number one (offensive) tackle spot. He was also pleased with the work of Brandon Carlson (Cherokee, IA). "He continues to get better and I believe Brandon will be a premier lineman in the league next season,' said McLaughlin.

On the defensive side of things, honorable mention All-NSIC linebacker Nick Baldetti (Phoenix, AZ) has started fast. Baldetti led the Wildcats with 73 total tackles including 23 solo and 50 assisted. He also added four tackles-for-loss, one sack, one interception and four pass breakups.

Second team All-NSIC linebacker Luke Hoffman (Wakefield, NE) has also sparked the defense. Hoffman led the Wildcats in tackles in 2006, recording 100 tackles (47 solo, 53 assisted) with nine tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups and one forced fumble. “Luke has started the past two seasons for us, and that experience is showing through to us coaches. He is playing faster than in the past, and is making a lot of plays thus far in the spring,” said Defensive Coordinator Clint Brown. Brown added by saying, “Luke has become a mentor for our young linebackers.”

Troy Pribnow (Scribner, NE, 20 tackles, three sacks), defensive lineman Tyler Krueger (Pierce, NE, 20 tackles, four sacks) and Austin Stanley (Lincoln, NE, 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks) have had strong starts on defense that again looks to be quick, fast and strong and deep. "Pribnow looks good. He is strong and physical and gives us great presence off the edge," said McLaughlin. "Before next season we want to have four defensive ends and six tackles on the defensive front who can play, and there is spirited competition for those slots," he said.

If the Wildcats had some holes to fill from a year ago, it is in the secondary where WSC lost seniors Omari Green (second team All-NSIC), Laron Striplin, and honorable mention All-NSIC safety Adam Peterson. However, McLaughlin noted that WSC had a lot of depth on the defense, as several young players got on the field for the Wildcats a year ago. Sophomore Matt Greenway (Lincoln, NE) and junior Ryan Molacek (Stanton, NE) are improving every day, and have begun to build on their experience from the 06 season. “Both Greenway, and Molacek are both physical players and have shown greater consistency with their play thus far,” Brown said. Sophomore Bruce Mastin (Arlington, NE,) who played the 06 season at corner, redshirt freshman Derek Buckridge (Spring Hill, KS), and mid-year transfer Reno Bloomquist (Phoenix, AZ) have all shown flashes through the midway point of spring drills.
Sophomore corner Robert Manuel (Houston, TX) is the lone returning starter in the secondary from the 06 campaign. Manuel started 11 games for the Wildcats, but is experiencing stiff competition from junior B.J. Campbell (Vermillion, SD), junior Sherrod Richards (Oxnard, Calif.) and mid-year transfer, junior Benny Collins (Phoenix, AZ). “We have been impressed with the overall athleticism from the secondary group, and we are excited to see the competition unfold over the next eight practices,” Brown added.

WISCONSIN, FLORIDA STANDOUTS TO JOIN WSC FOOTBALL PROGRAM

March 28-----Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin has announced that two more players have been added to the 2007 recruiting class at Wayne State College, bringing the total number of student-athletes to sign with the Wildcats to 35.
Dennis Fisher is a 6-1, 210 pound quarterback from Case High School in Racine, Wisconsin. He was an All-Conference selection as a senior and set several school passing records averaging 230 yards per game. Fisher was an All-South Division honoree as a junior and started three seasons.
Javal Jones is a 5-10, 185 pound defensive back from Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida and played under current Wildcat defensive backs coach Charles Hafley. Jones was a three-year starter, earning Class 4A All-County honors and was selected to play in the BCAA North/South All-Star football game.
Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats finished the 2006 season with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third place in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record under second year head coach Dan McLaughlin. The tie for third place was the best-ever finish for a Wayne State football team in the NSIC since joining the league in 1999 and the four league wins tied for the most in league play for the Wildcats in the Northern Sun Conference.

SPRING DRILLS START AT WAYNE STATE ON WEDNESDAY

March 26-----The Wayne State College football team will begin spring football practices on Wednesday, March 28 with workouts being held on the practice fields north of the WSC Recreation Center. The Wildcats will conduct a total of 15 practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with scrimmages and one workout scheduled on Saturdays. The annual spring game will take place on Saturday, April 21 at Cunningham Field starting at 1:30 p.m.
“Our guys have just completed a great winter of strength training and conditioning,” commented WSC head coach Dan McLaughlin. “We need to carry that level of achievement and enthusiasm right to the practice field. It’s essential that we combine the teaching of football fundamentals with installation of team schemes at every single practice. I also expect to see some tough competition for starting positions and playing time and I believe that we will emerge from this spring’s series of practices with outstanding depth.
Wayne State will open spring drills with a new offensive coordinator as Gene Suhr began his duties with the Wildcat football coaching staff on March 1. “I am excited to be working with Coach Suhr for the first time,” remarked McLaughlin. “He brings an extra level of expertise and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to get on the field.”
The Wildcats were 5-6 overall in 2006 and 4-4 in the Northern Sun Conference, finishing in a tie for third place in league play. The four wins and the third place finish were the best-ever by a Wayne State football team since joining the Northern Sun Conference in 1999. Wayne State opens the 2007 season on Saturday, September 1 at Chadron State.

TWO MORE PLAYERS JOIN 2007 RECRUITING CLASS

March 1------Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin has announced that two more players have been added to the 2007 recruiting class at Wayne State College, bringing the total number of student-athletes to sign with the Wildcats to 33.
Jordan Tolston is a 6-1, 240 pound fullback from Lincoln Southeast High School. He was a three-year starter for the Knights and earned honorable mention all-state and all-conference honors as a junior and senior. During his senior season, Tolston averaged six yards per carry and made 66 tackles on defense.
Curtis Brown is a 6-2, 240 pound redshirt freshman linebacker transferring to Wayne State from the University of Sioux Falls. Brown averaged 14 tackles per game at middle linebacker as a senior in high school at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, where he earned First Team All-Conference and All-Western Iowa honors while being named the team’s most valuable player on defense.
Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats finished the 2006 season with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third place in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record under second year head coach Dan McLaughlin. The tie for third place was the best-ever finish for a Wayne State football team in the NSIC since joining the league in 1999 and the four league wins tied for the most in league play for the Wildcats in the Northern Sun Conference.

GENE SUHR NAMED OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

February 28------Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin has announced the hiring of Gene Suhr as the team’s offensive coordinator. Suhr will begin his duties at Wayne State College on March 1.
“Coach Suhr is one of the most respected coaches in the entire Midwest and his knowledge and expertise will be valuable additions to the Wildcat program,” remarked McLaughlin. Suhr coached 23 seasons at Papillion-LaVista High School and posted an impressive mark of 174-74 as Monarchs’ coach, winning Class A state championships in 1990 and 1996 while earning Class A runner-up finishes in 1985, 1995 and 1997. His overall coaching record in high school was 200-95.
“I always enjoyed the ‘chess matches’ that would occur whenever our teams played against each other and our offensive philosophies are remarkably similar,” stated McLaughlin. “Coach Suhr has fostered success everywhere he has coached and I anticipate that will continue here at Wayne State College.”
In addition to his duties as offensive coordinator, Suhr will coach the quarterbacks at Wayne State College. The Wildcats were 5-6 overall in 2006 and 4-4 in the Northern Sun Conference, finishing in a tie for third place in league play. The four wins and the third place finish were the best-ever by a Wayne State football team since joining the Northern Sun Conference in 1999.

TWO MORE RECRUITS SIGN WITH WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

February 14-----Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin has announced that two more players have signed national letters of intent to play football at Wayne State College, bringing the total number of student-athletes in the 2007 recruiting class to sign with the Wildcats to 31.
Travis Rhone (pronounced roan) is a 6’0”, 190 pound running back from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He rushed for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in just nine games last season, averaging 122.3 yards per game. Rhone helped the Tritons to a 9-2 record and the Midwest Conference West Division title and a #9 national junior college ranking. In his two seasons at Iowa Central, Rhone helped Iowa Central to an 18-4 record and two berths in the Graphic Edge Bowl. In high school, Rhone was a standout running back at Cedar Rapids Washington High School in Iowa where he earned All-State honors as a junior and senior. As a senior in high school, Rhone rushed for 1,897 yards and 26 touchdowns and finished his career with 3,661 yards.
Craig Wachter is a 6’2”, 260 pound offensive lineman from Pierce High School. He earned Class C-1 All-State, All-District and All-Area honors as a senior for the Bluejays, helping Pierce to a 9-1 record in 2006. Wachter, a three-year starter in football, also excels in basketball, track and field and baseball at Pierce. In basketball, he was a starter on last season’s 23-2 team that reached the Class C-1 semi-finals and has helped the Bluejays to an unbeaten record (19-0) and a #1 ranking in Class C-1 this season. Wachter placed fifth in the Class B discus (148’0”) as a junior and in baseball has been named a Ralph Bishop League All-Star the past two seasons.
Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats finished the 2006 season with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third place in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record under second year head coach Dan McLaughlin. The tie for third place was the best-ever finish for a Wayne State football team in the NSIC since joining the league in 1999 and the four league wins tied for the most in league play for the Wildcats in the Northern Sun Conference.

WAYNE STATE ANNOUNCES RECRUITING CLASS OF 29 STUDENT-ATHLETES

February 7------Wayne State College head football coach Dan McLaughlin announced today that 29 recruits have signed national letters of intent to attend Wayne State College and play football for the Wildcats this fall. The 2007 recruiting class consists of 16 high school players from Nebraska, four from Florida, two from Iowa, one each from South Dakota and Texas, to go with five junior college transfers.
The following is a list of players who have signed national letters of intent with Wayne State College:
Nebraska signees

Justin Allen 6-2, 230 Defensive End Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Central HS)
Allen was a three-year letter winner at Omaha Central, helping the Eagles reach the Class A playoffs the past two seasons.

Donny Baker 6-2, 200 Linebacker St. Edward, Neb. (St. Edward HS)
Baker earned Class D-2 All State honors last fall at wide receiver, grabbing 68 receptions for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns, to help St. Edward reach the Class D-2 semi-finals. At linebacker, Baker was the second leading tackler in Class D-2 (second in all classes) with 178 total tackles, including 77 solo stops. Baker is also a two-year starter in basketball and is a member of the National Honor Society and Presidential Academic Award winner.

Michael Bazata 6-4, 230 Defensive End Howells, Neb. (Howells HS)
Three-sport standout at Howells High School, earning All-State honors as a junior and senior in football. Helped Bobcats reach Class C-2 semi-finals as a senior while winning state titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In wrestling, Bazata is a three time state qualifier and was crowned the Class D State Champion at 189 pounds as a junior. Finished high school career with 217 tackles on defense with 14 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.

Jacob Bell 6-2, 200 Punter South Sioux City, Neb. (South Sioux City HS)
Bell was a standout punter/wide receiver at South Sioux City HS, earning First Team Class B All-State honors (Huskerland Prep Report) after averaging 44 yards per punt as a senior. Listed as one of the top five receivers in Class B at 19.8 yards per reception, Bell is also a standout track athlete qualifying for state track in the 400 meter dash as a sophomore and junior, running 51.8 as a junior. Also selected team captain and homecoming king.

Jermaine Blackson 5-9, 160 Defensive Back Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Central HS)
Blackson was a two-year starter and letter winner at Omaha Central HS, earning All-District honors at defensive back as a junior and senior. Helped the Eagles reach the Class A playoffs the past two seasons. Also lettered in track and basketball at Omaha Central.

Sam Blake 6-6, 220 Tight End Utica, Neb. (Centennial HS)
Blake was an All-District and honorable mention All-State selection at tight end last fall helping Centennial reach the Class C-1 playoffs. Holds school record with eight receptions in one game. Also excels in basketball and track, averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds per game in basketball this season after earning All-Conference honors last season as a junior. Blake has also qualified for state track meet in shot put.

Trevor Gappa 6-0, 200 Linebacker Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn HS)
A two-time All-District selection, Gappa was the leading tackler as a junior and senior at Elkhorn High School playing inside linebacker and earned First Team All-State honors as a senior while helping the Antlers reach the Class B championship game. Gappa was a three year starter in football under Coach Mark Wortman and also started three years in baseball at Elkhorn HS.

Chris Helget 6-2, 215 Linebacker Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest HS)
Helget was a three year starter and letter winner at Lincoln Southwest High School, helping Silver Hawks to undefeated regular seasons in 2005 and 2006 and a Class A runner-up finish in 2005. Earned All-Conference and All-City honors as a senior along with Second Team Class A All-State honors at linebacker.

Peter Kneifl 6-4, 210 Tight End Newcastle, Neb. (Newcastle HS)
Kneifl earned First Team All-District honors as a junior and senior at Newcastle HS, helping Raiders reach Class D-2 playoffs all four seasons in high school, including an unbeaten regular season in 2005. Had 39 catches for 852 yards (21.8 avg.) with 14 touchdowns as a senior at tight end while recording 14 sacks and 18 tackles for loss on defense. Also excels in basketball and track and field at Newcastle High School.

Jon Koski 6-7, 240 Offensive Lineman Utica, Neb. (Centennial HS)
Koski was a two-year starter and letter winner at offensive lineman for Centennial High School, earning All-District honors as a senior. Helped Centennial HS reach the Class C-1 playoffs the past two seasons. Also plays basketball at Centennial HS, helping team win Southern Nebraska Conference title.

Brandon Krueger 6-6, 280 Offensive Lineman Verdigre, Neb. (Verdigre HS)
Pronounced (kroo-ger) – Krueger was an All-District selection at defensive line for Verdigre High School, recording 67 tackles and one fumble recovery as a senior. A three-time honorable mention All-State selection, Krueger is also a four-year starter in track and field.

Mitch Montgomery 6-1, 200 Wide Receiver Ralston, Neb. (Ralston HS)
Earned Class B All-State honors (Second Team All-Class) at wide receiver for Ralston as a senior with 45 receptions for 884 yards and 12 touchdowns. Holds numerous school records for receiving at Ralston, helping school make Class B state playoffs last three seasons. Montgomery also excels in baseball and basketball, earning Second Team All-Conference honors in baseball and selected to the NBDA Bison All-Star Team as a sophomore in basketball. Selected First Team Class B All-State wide receiver during junior season and is a two-time All Omaha and All-District honoree.

Josh Prokopec 6-1, 215 Linebacker Clarkson, Neb. (Clarkson HS)
Prokopec earned Class D-1 All-State linebacker honors for Clarkson as a senior and was a three time All-District selection. Helped Clarkson to an unbeaten regular season in 2006 and a 10-1 mark, reaching the Class D-1 semi-finals. Finished with 436 career tackles. As a senior, rushed for 953 yards with 17 touchdowns and had eight sacks and four interceptions on defense. Two-year team captain selected to play in the Eight Man All-Star Game this summer. Prokopec is also a two-year starter in basketball and a three year starter in track and field.

Brandon Sohl 6-6, 280 Offensive Line Columbus, Neb. (Columbus HS)
Received honorable mention all-state honors at Columbus High School while starting two seasons on the offensive line. Sohl is a two-year starter and four year letter winner in wrestling at Columbus HS, earning All-Conference honors for the Discoverers.

Andrew Soliz 6-6, 300 Offensive Line Clay Center, Neb. (Clay Center HS)
A four-year starter at Clay Center, Soliz helped his team to three unbeaten regular seasons and three playoff appearances in Class D-2. Earned First Team All-District and honorable mention All-State honors at offensive line. Also a four-year starter in basketball at Clay Center.

Brian Tomasek 6-2, 225 Defensive End Dodge, Neb. (Dodge HS)
Averaged 11 tackles per game, earning First Team Class D-2 All-State honors, to help Dodge claim the 2006 Class D-2 State title. A three-time All-District selection, Tomasek has been selected to play in the Eight-Man All Star Game this summer. Holds the school record for sacks in a game and has helped Dodge reach the State Basketball Tournament the past two seasons. Averaged 10 tackles a game as a junior.

South Dakota
Daniel Leacraft 6-0, 180 Linebacker Dell Rapids, S.D. (Dell Rapids HS)
Leacraft was a Class 11A All-State linebacker in South Dakota as a senior and named to the Argus Leader Elite 45 Squad after leading Dell Rapids High School to the Class 11A State Championship game. Rushed for 789 yards on 159 carries (5.0 avg.) with eight touchdowns while recording 91 tackles and one interception on defense. Leacraft is also a four-year starter in wrestling and a state medal winner in track and field.

Iowa
Kyle Salow 6-4, 200 Wide Receiver Washington, Iowa (Washington HS)
Earned Class 3A First Team All-State honors in Iowa last fall after making 65 receptions for 1,232 yards (18.9 avg.) with 12 touchdowns for Washington High School. A two-time All-District wide receiver, Salow also earned Second Team All-Conference honors in basketball last season helping his team reach the Class 3A State Tournament. Also named to the All-Academic Team in football as a junior and senior.

Mike Scherer 6-3, 250 Offensive Lineman Grimes, Iowa (Dallas Center-Grimes HS)
Scherer was a three year letter winner and a starter for two and a half seasons at Dallas Center-Grimes HS in Iowa, earning Third Team All-State, First Team All-District and First Team All-County honors as a senior. Also starts in wrestling and baseball at Dallas Center-Grimes HS.

Florida
Frederick Bruno 5-8, 195 Running Back Miami, Florida (Miami Springs HS)
Bruno was a three year starter in football, tennis and track and field at Miami Springs Senior High School in Florida. Named team MVP after scoring nine touchdowns rushing, eight receiving and four on kick returns.

Maurice Ellerbee 5-11, 215 Linebacker Miami, Florida (Miami Springs HS)
Ellerbee was a two-year starter at Miami Springs Senior High School in Miami, Florida and was selected Defensive Player of the Year after recording 150 tackles in 11 games as a senior. Had 110 tackles with two sacks in just eight games as a junior.

Trey Hill 5-9, 190 Safety Tampa, Florida (Jefferson HS)
Hill received honorable mention Hillsborough County honors for Jefferson HS in Tampa, Florida with five interceptions (one for a touchdown) as a senior. Also had four punt blocks and one blocked field goal on special teams. Helped team reach Florida Class 4A state title game as a sophomore.

Dontarrius Thomas 6-2, 175 Wide Receiver Land O’Lakes, Florida (Land O’Lakes HS)
Multi-sport standout at Land O’Lakes High School in Florida, starting in football, basketball and track at least two seasons in each sport. Was a First Team All-County and Second Team All-Conference selection in football as a senior in the Class 5A Sunshine Athletic Conference in Florida.

Texas
Robert Perry II 5-11, 180 Wide Receiver Humble, Texas (Humble HS)
Perry was a two-year starter and letter winner at Class 5A Humble High School in Texas, earning honorable mention All-District honors as a senior.
Averaged 13.9 yards per catch as a senior and runs a 10.9 in the 100 meter dash.

Junior College Transfers

Reno Blomquist 5-10, 205 Safety Chandler, Arizona (Phoenix College)
Blomquist was a First Team All-Western States Football League Defensive Back at Phoenix College in 2006. Was named the National Junior College Defensive Player of the Week on September 12, 2006 after making 13 tackles with three pass breakups, one interception and a fumble recovery for
85 yards in a 25-0 win over Arizona Western College. Tied for fourth in the Western States Football League with four interceptions for 90 return yards. Blomquist will have two years of eligibility at Wayne State College.

Benny Collins Jr. 5-7, 185 Defensive Back Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix College)
Had 43 tackles, seven pass breakups, six blocked field goals, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Phoenix College in 2006. Collins was a three sport athlete at Camelback HS in Phoenix, starring in football, basketball and track. Has two years of eligibility at Wayne State College.

Darius Davis 6-1, 260 Defensive Lineman Tempe, Arizona (Scottsdale Community College)
Recorded 40 tackles with two sacks, three forced fumbles and five tackles for loss at Scottsdale Community College in 2006. Helped team to 6-4 record and a #18 national junior college ranking at the end of the season. Davis will have two seasons of eligibility at Wayne State College.

Josh Keadle 6-2, 290 Defensive Lineman Swansea, South Carolina (Northland CC)
Keadle was a two-year starter at Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Helped team to records of 9-3 and 7-2. In two seasons, had 24.5 tackles for loss while recording 54 total tackles with 5.5 sacks, two blocked field goals, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Keadle will have two seasons of eligibility with Wayne State College.

Wesley Sells 6-2, 240 Defensive End Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix College)
Sells played both football and basketball in 2005-06 school year at Phoenix College and focused on football in 2006. Was an all-state defensive end and All-Region basketball player in high school at McClintock High School in Arizona.

Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats finished the 2006 with a 5-6 overall mark and tied for third place in the Northern Sun Conference with a 4-4 league record under second-year head coach Dan McLaughlin. The tie for third place was the best-ever finish for a Wayne State football team in the NSIC since joining the league in 1999 and the four league wins tied for the most in league play for the Wildcats in the Northern Sun Conference.

ZACH MOLACEK, ADAM PETERSON EARN SECOND TEAM ALL-NORTHWEST REGION FOOTBALL HONORS

November 29-------Wayne State’s Zach Molacek and Adam Peterson have been selected to the 2006 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-Northwest Region Football Team as both players earned Second Team honors.
Molacek, a 6-1, 215 pound senior running back from Stanton, Nebraska, led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in rushing this season with 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns and also topped the league in all-purpose yardage at 134.2 yards per game. He concluded his Wildcat career as the second leading rusher in school history with 3,391 yards and became just the third player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in two different seasons. Molacek was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and was a First Team All-NSIC running back for the third straight season.
Peterson, a 6-0, 205 pound senior safety from West Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling HS), led the Wildcat defense with four interceptions this season and was second in total tackles with 95. With 8.6 tackles per game, Peterson ranked sixth in the NSIC while starting all 11 games for the Wildcats. He was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on October 9th after making 15 tackles with 1.5 sacks and an interception in a 7-0 win over Northern State. Peterson was also selected to the NSIC All-Academic Team for the third straight season. He finished his Wildcat career by appearing in all 44 games as a player and recorded 280 career tackles with 10 interceptions.
Wayne State finished the 2006 season 5-6 overall, including a 4-4 mark in the Northern Sun Conference, good for a third place tie in league play.

ZACH MOLACEK NAMED NSIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - GREEN, OKONOFUA AND ROBINSON SELECTED SECOND TEAM ALL-NSIC

November 14-----Wayne State’s Zach Molacek was named the Northern Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Year today as the Northern Sun Conference released the 2006 All-Conference Football Team. Molacek also was selected First Team All-NSIC for the third straight season. Three other players, Omari Green, Brian Okonofua and Jake Robinson earned Second Team All-NSIC honors while Luke Hoffman, Logan Masters, Adam Peterson, Nick Baldetti and Sean Tili were all selected to the honorable mention team.
Molacek, a 6-1, 215 pound senior running back from Stanton, Nebraska, led the NSIC in rushing during conference play (117.2 yards per game in eight games) and led the conference in all-purpose yardage at 134.2 yards per game. He also ranked tied for second in scoring with eight touchdowns in eight league games. Overall, Molacek finished the season with 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the NSIC in overall rushing at 105 yards per game. He concluded his Wildcat career as the second leading rusher in school history with 3,391 yards.
Green, a 5-11, 180 pound senior from San Francisco, California, had 34 total tackles in eight conference games with two pass breakups and a league-high three forced fumbles in conference play. Overall, Green finished the season with 51 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss totaling 12 yards, to go with three pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
Okonofua, a 6-4, 315 pound sophomore from Dallas, Texas, anchored a young offensive line that helped WSC rank third in the NSIC in total offense at 350.8 yards per game in conference play.
Robinson, a 6-5, 230 pound senior tight end from Pender, Nebraska, was considered one of the top blocking tight ends in the league, making four catches for 39 yards in conference play. Robinson earned First Team All-NSIC honors as a sophomore and junior at tight end.
Hoffman, a 6-2, 205 pound sophomore linebacker from Wakefield, Nebraska, had 68 tackles in eight NSIC games to rank 7th in the league in tackles per game at 8.5. Overall, Hoffman led the Wildcats in tackles with 100 to rank in a tie for third overall at 9.1 tackles per game. He also had nine tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
Masters, a 6-3, 175 pound freshman wide receiver from Albert City, Iowa, led the Wildcats in receiving this season with 44 catches for 693 yards and seven touchdowns. In NSIC play, Masters had 34 receptions for 544 yards and five touchdowns to rank sixth in league play in receiving and 10th in scoring with five touchdowns.
Peterson, a 6-0, 205 pound senior strong safety from West Des Moines, Iowa, recorded a team-high 74 tackles in conference play to rank fourth in the league in tackles per game at 9.2. He also ranked fourth in passes defended at eight. Overall, Peterson was second on the team in total tackles with 95 to rank seventh in the NSIC with 8.6 tackles per game.
Baldetti, a 6-1, 230 pound junior linebacker from Phoenix, Arizona, made 61 tackles in eight conference games, ranking eighth in the league at 7.6 tackles per game. Overall, he finished third on the team in tackles with 73 and had four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Tili, a 5-10, 275 pound senior nose guard, was credited with 29 tackles in eight conference games with one sack. Overall, Tili was eighth on the Wildcat team in tackles with 41 to go with one tackle for loss and one sack.
Wayne State finished the 2006 season 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the NSIC, tied for third place with MSU Moorhead and Concordia-St. Paul. The third place league finish is the best-ever for the Wildcats since joining the NSIC in 1999.

LUKE HOFFMAN EARNS ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONOR

November 14-------Luke Hoffman of Wayne State College has been named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII Football Team, earning Second Team honors. The award is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Hoffman, a 6-2, 205 pound sophomore linebacker from Wakefield, Nebraska, maintains a 3.81 grade point average majoring in elementary education. He led the Wildcats in tackles this season with 100, ranking third in the Northern Sun Conference with an average of 9.1 tackles per game. Hoffman finished the season with nine tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and five pass breakups for the 5-6 Wildcats this season.

PENALTIES, TURNOVERS HURT WILDCATS IN 31-3 LOSS TO #20 WINONA STATE

November 11------#20 Winona State defeated Wayne State 31-3 in the NSIC Merchants Bank Metrodome Classic Saturday evening in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the 2006 regular season finale for the Wildcats. Winona State improves to 9-2 and 7-1 in the NSIC and awaits word on a NCAA Division II playoff berth with the announcement coming Sunday afternoon.
Winona State opened the scoring with 8:04 in the first quarter when junior running back Alex Wiese scored on a 30-yard run to put the Warriors in front 7-0. Wiese scored again later in the first quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Boettcher at the 2:45 mark of the first quarter, giving Winona State a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Wayne State got on the board thanks to a 22-yard field goal by Nick Hope, capping an 11-play, 64 yard drive to make the score 14-3 in favor of Winona State with 12:17 left in the second quarter. WSU countered with a field goal of its own when Mike Salerno booted a 22-yard field goal with 8:36 remaining in the first half to put the Warriors ahead 17-3. The Warriors added another score late in the first half when Wiese found the end zone for the third time on a five-yard run to give Winona State a commanding 24-3 lead at halftime.
Defense was the story of the second half for both teams. The Wildcats had a pair of scoring opportunities in the second half but both resulted without any points scored. Luke Hoffman intercepted a Winona State pass with 2:15 left in the third quarter at the Wildcats’ 41-yard line. The ‘Cats drove the ball to the Winona State 21-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Midway through the fourth quarter the Wildcats had a 38-yard touchdown pass to Zach Molacek called back on a penalty. Winona State closed out the scoring with 6:52 left in the game on a Wiese’s fourth touchdown of the game, a 38-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Boettcher, to make the final score 31-3.
Winona State finished the game with 433 yards compared to Wayne State’s 256. The Warriors were led offensively by Alex Wiese, who scored four touchdowns and had 161 yards of all-purpose yardage for the Warriors. He had 63 yards rushing on 12 carries with two scores and added another 98 yards receiving on six catches with two more scores. Quarterback Aaron Boettcher completed 17 of 30 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
For Wayne State, Zach Molacek rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries in his final game in a Wildcat uniform. He finishes his career as the second all-time leading rusher in school history with 3,391 yards. Freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen completed 8 of 22 passes for 113 yards with one interception. The top receiver for WSC was Logan Masters with three receptions for 41 yards.
WSC had 10 penalties in the game for 84 yards and had three turnovers in the game.
Wayne State finishes the season with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the Northern Sun Conference.

MOLACEK, HOFFMAN COLLECT NEBRASKA NCAA DIV. II PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

November 6-----Wayne State’s Zach Molacek and Luke Hoffman were honored Monday afternoon with Nebraska NCAA Division II Player of the Week honors. Molacek was selected Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season while Hoffman received Defensive Player of the Week honors for their play in Saturday’s 14-9 win over Missouri-Rolla.
Molacek, a 6-1, 215 pound senior running back from Stanton, Nebraska, carried the ball 30 times for 142 yards win one touchdown for his fourth straight 100 yard game. Molacek moved into second place on the all-time rushing list at Wayne State with the effort and now has 3,333 career yards in a Wildcat uniform.
Hoffman, a 6-2, 205 pound sophomore linebacker from Wakefield, Nebraska, made 10 tackles to go with one interception to lead the Wildcat defense in Saturday’s 14-9 win over Missouri-Rolla. Hoffman helped the Wildcats force five turnovers on Missouri-Rolla while holding the nation’s top passing team 87 yards below their season average.
Wayne State, 5-5 on the season, will close out the 2006 campaign Saturday at the NSIC Merchants Bank Metrodome Classic against 22nd-ranked Winona State with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. at the Metrodome.

STELLAR DEFENSE LIFTS WAYNE STATE IN 14-9 WIN OVER MISSOURI-ROLLA

November 4-----Wayne State held Missouri-Rolla, the top-ranked passing team in NCAA Division II, to just 272 yards passing as the Wildcats held off the Miners 14-9 at Cunningham Field in Wayne Saturday afternoon. With the win, Wayne State improves to 5-5 while Missouri-Rolla slips to 5-5. The win for Wayne State marks the first time since 1995 (6-4) that the Wildcats have won more than four football games in a single season. UMR entered the game averaging 359.0 yards per game passing to lead NCAA Division II, but the Wildcats forced the Miners into five turnovers, including four interceptions, to pick up the win in a defensive battle.
Wayne State opened the scoring early in the second quarter as redshirt freshman Tyler Jones scored on a six yard run to cap a 10-play, 67 yard drive, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 12:50 remaining in the first half. The Miners answered back with a scoring drive as Tim Valencia booted a 27 yard field goal to culminate a 12 play, 58-yard drive for Missouri-Rolla to make the score 7-3 with 9:13 to go in the second quarter. The next drive saw Wayne State move the ball to the UMR 22 yard line, but a 39-yard field goal attempt by Wayne State’s Nick Hope was wide right to end the scoring threat. Both teams failed to move the ball the rest of the first half to make the halftime score 7-3 in favor of Wayne State.
The opening drive of the second half saw Missouri-Rolla move the ball to the Wildcats’ nine yard line, but a Joe Winters pass was picked off in the end zone by WSC linebacker Luke Hoffman to stop the scoring threat for the Miners. The Miners put together another solid drive later in the quarter, only to have quarterback Joe Winters fumble at the WSC 20 yard line, recovered by Wildcat defensive back Matt Greenway, to end the drive.
Early in the fourth quarter, Wayne State took advantage of a UMR turnover to score their second touchdown as junior linebacker Nick Baldetti intercepted a Miners pass and returned the ball 20 yards to the UMR 30 yard line. On a fourth and four at the UMR 24, senior running back Zach Molacek broke loose for a 24-yard scoring run to put the Wildcats ahead 14-3 with 11:00 left in the game.
The Miners then turned to backup quarterback Mark Becker to score their first touchdown of the game as he guided Missouri-Rolla on a two-play, 44 yard drive midway through the fourth quarter to make the score 14-9 after connecting with Ashton Gronewald on a 38-yard scoring play. Wayne State was forced to punt on their next series, giving Missouri-Rolla the ball at their own 22-yard line with 1:26 left in the game. The Miners moved the ball to the Wildcat 31-yard line and faced a fourth and seven, but Becker’s pass intended for Brandon Landry was intercepted at the goal line by Laron Striplin, who returned the ball to the 24-yard line to preserve the win for the Wildcats.
Missouri-Rolla outgained Wayne State in the contest 353-303. The Wildcats were led offensively by senior running back Zach Molacek, who gained 142 yards rushing on 30 carries with one touchdown. Molacek moved into second place on the all-time rushing charts at Wayne State and now has 3,333 yards for his career. He passed Lamont Rainey, who gained 3,268 yards in his career from 1991-94. Freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen completed just 5 of 17 passes for 89 yards while backup Travis Dietz was 2 of 3 with one interception for 12 yards. Freshman Logan Masters was the top receiver with three catches for 36 yards.
On defense for the Wildcats, sophomore linebacker Luke Hoffman had a team-high 10 tackles to go with one interception. Nick Baldetti, Robert Manuel and Laron Striplin also had interceptions while Matt Greenway recovered a fumble. Sophomore Tyler Krueger had his best game in a Wildcat uniform, recording six tackles with two sacks and one forced fumble.
Wayne State will close out the 2006 season at the NSIC Merchants Bank Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis next Saturday with a contest against #22 Winona State starting at 3:30 p.m.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL DOWNS WAYNE STATE 27-24

October 28-----Concordia University-St. Paul held on for a 27-24 Northern Sun Conference football win over Wayne State Saturday afternoon in the 18th annual Egg Bowl Game played at Cunningham Field in Wayne. The visiting Golden Bears move to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the league while Wayne State slips to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC. The tightly-contested game featured five lead changes as neither team led by more than six points.
Wayne State scored on their opening series of the game as redshirt freshman Nick Hope made a 22-yard field goal with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter to give the Wildcats an early 3-0 lead. Concordia-St. Paul responded with a field goal of their own as Brody Johnson booted a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3 with 2:33 left in the first quarter. Wayne State countered moments later as Zach Molacek scored on an eight-yard run to cap a four-play, 75 yard drive to give the Wildcats a 9-3 lead following a failed PAT kick with 1:00 left in the first quarter.
Concordia-St. Paul took the next drive down the field to take their first lead of the game as Golden Bears quarterback Kole Goodchild scored on a seven-yard run to culminate a 12 play, 66 yard drive to put CSP in front 10-9 with 10:36 remaining in the first half. WSC took the next drive and moved the ball to the CSP 16-yard line, but Nick Hope’s 33 yard field goal was blocked by Concordia-St. Paul’s Antonio Brown to stop the scoring threat. The Golden Bears then drove to the WSC two-yard line and settled for a Brody Johnson 20-yard field goal to give CSP a 13-9 lead with 1:37 left in the first half. Wayne State put together a strong drive in the final 90 seconds to take the lead at halftime as freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen found freshman wide receiver Logan Masters in the left corner of the end zone on a 17 yard scoring pass to cap a nine-play, 74 yard drive with one second remaining in the first half. A two-point pass conversion from Fluellen to Brian Chapman gave WSC a 17-13 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Concordia-St. Paul regained the lead by scoring on their first drive of the second half as Aaron Cawthorn scored on a four-yard run with 7:29 left in the third quarter to give the Golden Bears a 20-17 edge over the Wildcats. WSC took the ensuing drive and marched to the CSP 22 yard line, however Nick Hope’s 38 yard field goal hit the left upright and kept the score 20-17. After holding the Golden Bears, WSC got the ball back at their own 18-yard line and marched 82 yards in 11 plays to regain the lead as Fluellen completed a six yard scoring pass to Josh Peterson to give Wayne State a 24-20 lead with 9:22 left in the game. After CSP mis-handled the ensuing kickoff to start at their own one-yard line, the Golden Bears drove 99 yards on the Wildcats in just five plays to regain the lead as Goodchild found Tyrone Ruffin on a 42-yard scoring strike to put the Golden Bears ahead 27-24. WSC had the ball two more times in the fourth quarter, but was stopped on downs at the CSP 45 and the CSP 49 yard line as the Golden Bears’ defense shut down Wayne State the rest of the game to preserve the 27-24 win.
Wayne State outgained Concordia-St. Paul 471-426 as the Wildcats rushed for 227 yards and passed for 244.
Senior running back Zach Molacek accounted for 247 yards of total offense to earn Egg Bowl MVP honors for Wayne State. He rushed for 182 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown while adding another 65 yards receiving on four catches. It was the third straight game that Molacek surpassed the 100 yard mark on the ground. Silas Fluellen completed 19 of 38 passes for 244 yards with two touchdowns. Josh Peterson, Molacek and Logan Masters each made four receptions to lead Wildcat receivers.
Concordia-St. Paul junior quarterback Kole Goodchild was named Egg Bowl MVP for the Golden Bears, completing 20 of 32 passes for 273 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 65 yards on nine carries. Aaron Cawthorn was the top rusher for CSP with 74 yards on 13 carries.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Luke Hoffman led Wayne State with 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assisted stops). Jordan Frain paced Concordia-St. Paul on defense with 10 tackles.
Wayne State will play their final home game of the season next Saturday against Missouri-Rolla in a non-conference game starting at 3:00 p.m. at Cunningham Field in Wayne.

MOLACEK, HOPE GARNER NEBRASKA DIV. II PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

October 23-----Wayne State’s Zach Molacek and Nick Hope were honored Monday afternoon with Nebraska NCAA Division II Player of the Week honors. Molacek was tabbed Co-Offensive Player of the Week along with Chadron State running back Danny Woodhead while Hope earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Molacek, a 6-1, 215 pound senior running back from Stanton, Nebraska, rushed for 188 yards on 29 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead Wayne State in a come-from-behind 27-24 win at Southwest Minnesota State. Molacek scored on TD runs of 3, 28 and 51 yards and moved into third place on the all-time rushing list at WSC with 3,009 career yards, becoming just the fourth player in school history to surpass the 3,000 yard mark.
Hope, a 6-0, 205 pound redshirt freshman from Avoca, Iowa, was 2 for 2 on field goals, 3 for 3 on PAT kicks and averaged 54.6 yards on five kickoffs to help WSC top Southwest Minnesota State 27-24. Hope made field goals of 28 and 30 yard to help the Wildcats rally for the win.
Wayne State, 4-4 overall and 4-2 in the Northern Sun Conference, will host Concordia-St. Paul in the annual Egg Bowl Game on Saturday at Cunningham Field in Wayne starting at 1:00 p.m.

WILDCATS RALLY FOR 27-24 WIN AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE - MOLACEK SURPASSES 3,000 YARD MARK

October 21-----Wayne State rallied from 14-0 first quarter deficit to post a 27-24 win at Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Conference football played in Marshall, Minnesota. The Wildcats moved into sole possession of third place in the NSIC with a 4-2 league mark and are 4-4 overall while SMSU falls to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the league.
The Mustangs jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, taking advantage of two interceptions by WSC freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen that gave the Mustangs great field position on both scores. The first Mustang scoring drive covered four yards as Paul Benesh scored on a four-yard run to give SMSU a 7-0 lead with 10:35 left in the first quarter. Following a second Fluellen pick, the Mustangs drove 36 yards with quarterback Josh Shudlick scoring on a one-yard run to put the Mustangs ahead 14-0 with 3:359 left in the first quarter.
WSC got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter as Nick Hope booted a 30-yard field goal, capping a 13-play, 57-yard drive, making the score 14-3 with 14:57 remaining in the second quarter. The Wildcats took advantage of an SMSU turnover later in the quarter to cut into the Mustang lead as Zach Molacek rambled 51 yards for a touchdown with 6:39 left in the second quarter to make the score 14-10. SMSU closed the first half scoring on the final play of the half as Scott Talcott connected on a 22-yard field goal to give Southwest Minnesota State a 17-10 lead at halftime.
WSC tied the score early in the third quarter following a SMSU turnover as Molacek found the endzone from 28 yards out, knotting the score at 17-17 with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter. The Wildcats took advantage of a bad punt snap by the Mustangs, giving WSC the ball at the SMSU 14 yard line, to take their first lead of the game as Nick Hope made a 28-yard field goal with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead.
SMSU used an eight-play, 95-yard drive to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter when Josh Shudlick tossed a nine-yard scoring strike to Ross DeMasi, giving the Mustangs a 24-20 lead with 14:54 left in the game. Wayne State put together an 80-yard scoring drive later in the quarter as Molacek scored from the three-yard line with 6:13 left in the game to put the Wildcats back in front 27-24. On the next drive, SMSU moved the ball to the WSC 35-yard line, but WSC linebacker Nick Baldetti recovered a fumble by SMSU quarterback Josh Shudlick to evade the Mustangs’ scoring threat. WSC was forced to punt in the final minute and a desperation pass by Shudlick was intercepted by Wayne State’sw Robert Manuel, his second interception of the game, to preserve the Wildcat win.
WSC had one more yard in total offense than SMSU, 308-307. The Wildcats had 208 yards rushing and 100 passing. Senior running back Zach Molacek had a milestone day for the Wildcats on the ground, rushing for 188 yards on 29 carries with three touchdowns. Molacek moved into third place on the all-time rushing list at WSC with 3,009 yards, making him just the fourth runner in school history to surpass 3,000 yards. He passed Sam Singleton (3,003 yards from 1967-70) to move into third place on the all-time rushing list with his third 100 yard game of the season.
In passing, Silas Fluellen finished 9 of 17 for 100 yards with two interceptions. His top receiver was Logan Masters with three receptions for 44 yards. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Luke Hoffman had 10 tackles and one forced fumble. Freshman Robert Manuel had two interceptions while Nick Baldetti, Trent Kling and Aaron Nielsen each had one fumble recovery as the Wildcats defense forced five turnovers.
Wayne State will be at home next Saturday when the Wildcats host Concordia-St. Paul in the Egg Bowl Game starting at 1 p.m. at Cunningham Field in Wayne.

SILAS FLUELLEN NAMED NSIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

October 16-------Wayne State’s Silas Fluellen was selected the Northern Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday following his performance in the Wildcats’ 40-37 loss to Bemidji State Saturday afternoon.
The 5-11, 200 pound freshman from Bellevue West threw for a career-high 325 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s contest against the Beavers. Fluellen completed 18 of 39 passes for an average of 18 yards per completion, including a long of 63 yards to Josh Peterson for one of his three touchdowns. For the season, Fluellen has completed 64 of 149 passes for 1,049 yards with 11 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
Wayne State, 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the Northern Sun Conference, plays at Southwest Minnesota State (4-3, 3-1 NSIC) on Saturday in Marshall, Minnesota at 1:00 p.m.

BEMIDJI STATE WINS NSIC SHOOTOUT OVER WAYNE STATE 40-37

October 14------Bemidji State outlasted Wayne State 40-37 Saturday afternoon in a Northern Sun Conference shootout played at Cunningham Field in Wayne. The two teams combined for 894 yards in the game. With the win, Bemidji State remained in a tie for first in the NSIC with Winona State at 4-0 in league play and 5-2 overall while Wayne State had its’ three-game win streak snapped as the Wildcats fall to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC.
Wayne State took the opening drive and marched down the field for a touchdown as Silas Fluellen’s 33-yard pass to Logan Masters capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead. Following an interception by WSC senior safety Adam Peterson, the Wildcats got the ball at midfield and struck for another score as Fluellen and Masters hooked up on a 42 yard scoring play to put the Wildcats in front 14-0 with 9:56 left in the first quarter.
Bemidji State blocked a Wayne State punt late in the first quarter to get the ball at the Wildcat 44-yard line and used a five-yard run by James Moore with 14:18 left in the second quarter. The Beavers struck for another score moments later as Matt Heber picked off a Silas Fluellen pass and rambled 25 yards for a touchdown to make the score 14-13 after WSC blocked the Beavers’ point after kick. Bemidji State grabbed their first lead of the game with 10:11 left in the second quarter when Michael McDonald connected on a 34-yard field goal to give the Beavers a 16-14 lead. Wayne State countered with a field goal of its own as redshirt freshman Nick Hope made a 42-yard field goal with 32 seconds left in the half to put the Wildcats ahead 17-16. However, BSU put together a late drive to end the first half and used a 27-yard field goal by Michael McDonald on the last play of the first half gave the Beavers a 19-17 lead at halftime.
Bemidji State took the opening drive of the second half and scored on a James Moore 10-yard run to grab a 25-17 lead over the Wildcats. WSC responded as Zach Molacek broke loose and sprinted 79 yards for a score to cut the Beavers’ lead to 25-23 with 13:02 left in the third quarter. Bemidji State came right back with a 43-yard drive, capped by a 15-yard pass from Cory Wardrope to Warren Ballard, to make the score 32-23 Beavers with 12:01 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats then used a seven-play, 74 yard drive, capped by a Zach Molacek one-yard run to make the score 32-30.
Wayne State regained the lead late in the third quarter as Fluellen found Josh Peterson on a 63-yard scoring play to five Wayne State a 37-32 lead with :47 seconds left in the third quarter.
Bemidji State bounced right back with a 79-yard drive on seven plays to take the lead back as Wardrope connected with Anthony Schreiber on a 29-yard scoring play to put the Beavers in front 40-37 with 13:07 left in the game. WSC took the next drive and marched to the Bemidji State 24-yard line, but the Wildcats were stopped by the BSU defense on fourth and two when Zach Molacek was held to a one-yard gain to stop the Wildcat scoring threat. That would be the final scoring threat for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter as Bemidji State held on for the 40-37 win.
WSC finished with 479 yards compared to Bemidji State’s 415. Fluellen threw for a career-high 325 yards on 18 of 39 passing with three touchdowns and one interception. His favorite receiver was freshman Logan Masters with eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Molacek added 141 yards rushing on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
Bemidji State quarterback Cory Wardrope was 21 of 29 passing for 255 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. James Moore added 112 yards rushing on 22 carries with two touchdowns.
Adam Peterson and Luke Hoffman led WSC on defense with nine tackles each. Peterson also had an interception and a blocked extra point. Sophomore defensive end Troy Pribnow added five tackles, including two sacks, and one interception.
Wayne State will be on the road next weekend for a Northern Sun Conference contest at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minnesota with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. at Mattke Field in Marshall.

BEMIDJI STATE/WAYNE STATE GAME TO BE CARRIED ON BROADBAND VIDEO WEBCAST THIS SATURDAY

October 11------The Bemidji State at Wayne State college football game this Saturday can be seen on the worldwide web through broadband video streaming. Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at Cunningham Field in Wayne will be the third contest in the Northern Sun Conference to be showcased on the internet this season.
NCAA Division II and CSTV (College Sports Television) have entered into a three-year regular season broadband partnership that will showcase select Division II football games live. Fans will be able to watch the game live on the web by logging on to www.ncaasports.com/DII.
In addition to the live games, the web site will feature stories, scores, blogs, video and audio that are dedicated to Division II sports, making it both a destination site for the live games and a place to obtain information on Division II sports.
This partnership with CSTV is the first of its kind for Division II and provides an amplified platform to highlight the division’s contests and student-athlete accomplishments, while promoting the intercollegiate athletics philosophy for Division II member institutions.

ADAM PETERSON COLLECTS NSIC, NEBRASKA DIVISION II PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

October 9-----Wayne State’s Adam Peterson was selected the Northern Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday following his performance in the Wildcats’ 7-0 win over Northern State Saturday afternoon. He was also honored Monday afternoon with the Nebraska NCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second straight week and for the third time this season.
Peterson, a 6-0, 205 pound senior safety from West Des Moines, Iowa, had 15 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups and 1.5 sacks to help the Wayne State defense limit the Wolves to just 218 yards in the contest. It was the first time since the 1976 season that Wayne State has posted back-to-back shutout wins and the first time since 1995 that Wayne State has won three football games in a row.
Wayne State, 3-3 overall and 3-1 (tie-3rd) in the NSIC, hosts league co-leader Bemidji State on Saturday, October 14 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. at Cunningham Field in Wayne. The Beavers are 3-0 in the league and 4-2 overall. Saturday’s game will be broad banded over the internet by CSTV (College Sports Television). Fans worldwide can log on to http://www.cstv.com/ncaa/divii/ to see the game, the third in the Northern Sun Conference to be carried by the network this season.

WAYNE STATE BLANKS NORTHERN STATE 7-0 - FIRST THREE-GAME WIN STREAK FOR WILDCATS SINCE 1995

October 7------Wayne State blanked Northern State 7-0 in Northern Sun Conference college football played Saturday afternoon in Wayne, Nebraska on Homecoming/Hall of Fame Day for the Wildcats. It was the third straight win for Wayne State, the first time the Wildcats have won three games in a row in football since the start of the 1995 season when WSC topped UNO (37-30), Morningside (31-27) and Northern State (35-14). The win also marks back-to-back shutouts for Wayne State for the first time since the 1976 when the Wildcats blanked Northwestern of Iowa (19-0) and Peru State (20-0). WSC posted a 28-0 win at Minnesota-Crookston last week.
Wayne State scored on its second drive of the game as freshman Silas Fluellen found J.R. Rother on a 22-yard scoring strike to cap an eight-play, 65 yard drive with 5:49 left in the first quarter. It would end up being the only score of the game although both teams had scoring chances later in the game.
Northern State took the ensuing drive down to the Wayne State five yard line, but a 21-yard field goal attempt by the Wolves’ Kyle Schierholt was blocked by Wayne State’s Nathan Meyer to stop the scoring threat. The Wolves had two other drives in the first half reach the Wildcat 23-yard line, but the Wayne State defense held and the Wildcats took over on downs each time.
In the second half, WSC moved the ball to the Northern State six yard line early in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats settled for a 31-yard field goal attempt by Oscar Cervantes, which was wide left. Northern State then moved the ball to the Wildcat 35-yard line, but a pair of sacks by the Wayne State defense pushed back the Wolves to near midfield and Wayne State ran out the clock to seal its’ first three-game win streak in 11 years.
Wayne State held a slight advantage in total offense in the defensive battle, 227-218. The Wildcats rushed for 144 yards while holding the Wolves to minus two yards rushing as a team. NSU had 220 yards passing to 83 for the Wildcats. Senior running back Zach Molacek led the Wildcats on the ground with 81 yards on 15 carries while redshirt freshman Tyler Jones contributed 41 yards on 13 attempts.
In the passing department, Silas Fluellen was 6 of 18 for 79 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Logan Masters was the top receiver for WSC with two receptions for 41 yards.
Defensively, senior safety Adam Peterson had 15 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and one interception for the Wildcats.
Wayne State will host Bemidji State next Saturday in a Northern Sun Conference game scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cunningham Field in Wayne.

MOLACEK'S 131 YARDS RUSHING CARRIES WSC PAST MINN.-CROOKSTON 28-0

September 30-----Senior running back Zach Molacek rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries and scored one touchdown to lead Wayne State in a 28-0 Northern Sun Conference win at Minnesota-Crookston in college football played Saturday afternoon in Crookston, Minnesota. The Wildcats improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC while dropping the Golden Eagles to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in league play.
Wayne State rushed for a season-high 258 yards and accumulated 418 yards, another season-high, in total offense to pick up the win. The Wildcats scored on the opening drive of the game, marching 64 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead following a 26-yard scoring pass from Silas Fluellen to Brian Chapman. Molacek found the endzone early in the second quarter on a 28-yard touchdown jaunt, putting the Wildcats in front 14-0 with 13:51 left in the first half. A 10-yard scoring strike from Fluellen to Logan Masters with 1:06 left in the first half gave Wayne State a comfortable 21-0 lead at halftime.
The lone score in the second half came with 10:14 left in the game when redshirt freshman Tyler Jones scored on a 23-yard run to make the final score 28-0 in favor of Wayne State.
Molacek led a balanced rushing attack for the Wildcats with 131 yards on 19 carries, followed by Tyler Jones gaining 62 yards on 11 rushes. Fluellen completed 8 of 12 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns to lead Wayne State in passing. The top receiver was freshman Logan Masters with four receptions for 92 yards.
WSC held a 418-253 advantage in total offense over Minnesota-Crookston. The Wildcat defense forced two turnovers, recorded four sacks and had two blocked kicks in the win. Senior safety Adam Peterson was credited with 13 tackles (two solo, 11 assisted) to lead the Wildcat defensive effort.
Wayne State will host Northern State (2-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC) in the Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game next Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. at Cunningham Field.

WAYNE STATE HANGS ON FOR 24-21 WIN AT MSU MOORHEAD

September 23------Wayne State College built a 24-7 lead, then had to hang on for a 24-21 win at MSU Moorhead in Northern Sun Conference football played Saturday afternoon at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minnesota. It was the first win of the season for the Wildcats, now 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC while MSU Moorhead slips to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in league play.
WSC took a 3-0 lead with one second remaining in the first quarter when Oscar Cervantes connected on a 32-yard field goal. Freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen, in his first career start, found J.R. Rother on a 36-yard pass play with 6:34 left in the first half to put the Wildcats in front 10-0 to close out first half scoring.
MSU Moorhead’s Jabari Taylor returned the second half kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to pull the Dragons within 10-7 with 14:43 remaining in the third quarter. The Wildcats responded with a seven play, 57 yard drive to take a 17-7 lead as Fluellen found Josh Peterson on a 15-yard pass play with 11:15 left in the third quarter. Following a MSUM turnover, Logan Masters hauled in an 11-yard strike from Fluellen to take a 24-7 lead with 6:31 left in the third quarter. The Dragons started to mount their comeback late in the third quarter when Josh Jones picked up a Zach Molacek fumble and rambled 72 yards for a score, drawing MSUM within 24-13 with 3:45 to go in the third quarter.
The Dragons used a 14-play, 77 yard drive early in the fourth quarter to score again as Bruce Green was on the receiving end of a 12-yard pass from Dustin Long to cut the Wildcat lead down to three, 24-21, after a two-point pass conversion from Long to Bert Smith.
MSU Moorhead had the ball with 3:44 to play at their own 16-yard line and drove to the WSC 49-yard line, but Laron Striplin forced a fumble and recovered the ball to stop the Dragons’ drive and secure the win for Wayne State.
Wayne State gained 394 yards in total offense compared to MSU Moorhead’s 238 yards. Fluellen completed 15 of 32 passes for 242 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. His top receiver was Logan Masters with five receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. Senior running back Zach Molacek added 80 yards rushing on 22 carries.
For MSU Moorhead, quarterback Dustin Long was 22 of 33 passing for 144 yards with one interception and one touchdown. Enol Gilles was the top rusher for the Dragons with 42 yards on five attempts.
Junior linebacker Nick Baldetti led Wayne State on defense with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss for six yards. Laron Striplin added six tackles and two fumble recoveries. Freshman linebacker Aaron Nielsen contributed one interception and one fumble recovery for a Wayne State defense that forced four MSU Moorhead turnovers.
Wayne State is on the road again next weekend for a Northern Sun Conference game at Minnesota-Crookston starting at 1:00 p.m.

WOODHEAD'S CAREER-HIGH 324 YARDS CARRIES CHADRON STAT TO 38-14 WIN OVER WAYNE STATE

September 16-----Chadron State running back Danny Woodhead rushed for a career-high 324 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Eagles past Wayne State 38-14 Saturday afternoon before 2,161 fans at Cunningham Field in Wayne. Chadron State improved to 3-0 with the win while Wayne State fell to 0-3. Woodhead scored on touchdown runs of 3, 4, 10 and 28 yards to lead Chadron State in the win. It was the third career 300 yard game for Woodhead, a junior at Chadron State College.
Chadron State opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Travis Atter, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead. Woodhead scored the first of his four touchdowns on a four-yard run with 13:02 remaining in the second quarter to put the Eagles ahead 10-0. Sophomore quarterback Joe McLain found Logan Stropko on a 10 yard scoring strike at the 8:04 mark of the second period to give Chadron State a 17-0 lead. Woodhead found the endzone on a three-yard run with 3:45 remaining in the second quarter to give Chadron State a commanding 24-0 lead. Then Wayne State put together a solid drive toward the end of the first half as backup freshman quarterback Silas Fluellen connected with freshman Logan Masters on an acrobatic 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats on the board, trailing 24-7 at halftime.
The lone score in the third quarter was by Wayne State as Fluellen connected again with Masters on a leaping 18 yard reception in the end zone to cut the Eagles’ lead to 24-14 with 4:13 left in the third quarter. But Chadron State and Woodhead put the game away with a pair of scores early in the fourth quarter to finish off the Wildcats. Woodhead’s 28 yard run with 14:03 left in the game made the score 31-13, followed by a 10-yard jaunt by Woodhead at the 8:55 mark to round out the scoring, giving Chadron State the 38-14 win.
For the game, Chadron State finished with 513 yards of total offense, including 428 on the ground. Wayne State was held to just 198 yards in the game. Most of Wayne State’s offense came from the arm of Fluellen, who was 14 of 31 passing for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Masters was the top receiver for Wayne State with five receptions for 61 yards and two acrobatic touchdown receptions. Josh Peterson added four receptions for 61 yards.
Defensively, senior safety Adam Peterson had 10 tackles to lead Wayne State followed by Luke Hoffman with eight stops. Chadron State’s Kalan Jones recoreded eight tackles with one sack and two pass breakups.
Wayne State, 0-3 on the season, travels to MSU-Moorhead next weekend for a Northern Sun Conference contest starting at 1:00 p.m.

ADAM PETERSON EARNS NEBRASKA DIV. II DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

September 11-----Wayne State’s Adam Peterson was selected the Nebraska NCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon following his performance in Saturday night’s 23-14 Wildcat loss at Nebraska-Kearney.
The 6-0, 205 pound senior safety from West Des Moines, Iowa returned a fumble 76 yards for the Wildcats’ first touchdown of the game in the second quarter. Peterson also picked off a pass deep in Wildcat territory on the Lopers’ first drive of the game and returned it 46 yards. He also had five tackles in the game.
Wayne State, 0-2 on the season, will host Chadron State on Saturday at Cunningham Field in Wayne for a 1 p.m. contest. The Eagles are 2-0 on the season after upsetting Division I-AA Montana State last Saturday in Bozeman, Montana 35-24.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY GRINDS OUT 23-14 WIN OVER WAYNE STATE

September 9-----Nebraska-Kearney used a balanced offensive attack to down Wayne State 23-14 in college football played Saturday evening at Foster Field in Kearney. The host Lopers improved to 1-1 on the season while notching their
ninth straight win over Wayne State, who falls to 0-2 on the season.
UNK held a 453-194 advantage in total offense over Wayne State, recording 23 first downs to eight for the Wildcats. The Lopers gained 238 yards on the ground and 215 more passing to grind out the win.
After a scoreless first quarter, UNK opened the scoring early in the second quarter on a Jake Richards 60 yard run to take a 7-0 lead with 13:42 remaining in the first half. Wayne State tied the score later in the second quarter on a defensive score as senior safety Adam Peterson rambled 76 yards on a fumble return with 4:03 left in the half to tie the score at 7-7. UNK regained the lead late in the first half on a 28 yard field goal by Geoff Carnahan with :22 seconds remaining in the half to take a 10-7 lead at halftime.
The Lopers increased their lead early in the third quarter when quarterback Kevin Arbuckle connected with Eric Myrick on a 27-yard pass play, putting UNK up 16-7 with 9:55 to go in the third quarter. WSC cut into the lead late in the third quarter when Zach Molacek scored on a 12-yard run, capping a six-play, 85 yard drive to make the score 16-14 with 2:44 left in the third quarter. UNK put an insurance score on the board midway through the fourth quarter when Arbuckle tossed a 24-yard scoring strike to Cory Sleeth, making the score 23-14 with 8:41 left in the game to round out the scoring.
UNK junior running back Jake Richards had a big night for the Lopers on the ground, rushing for 188 yards on 35 carries and one score. Loper quarterback Kevin Arbuckle completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards with one interception and two touchdowns. Cory Sleeth and Eric Myrick were the top receivers for the Lopers with seven catches apiece.
Zach Molacek led Wayne State offensively with 64 yards rushing on 14 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run. Sophomore quarterback Travis Dietz was 4 of 9 passing for 55 yards while freshman Silas Fluellen completed 3 of 15 passes for 95 yards. Freshman Logan Masters was the top receiver for WSC with two receptions for 52 yards.
Defensively, Adam Peterson had a big night for Wayne State. The senior safety had a hand in both UNK turnovers, returning a fumble 76 yards for a touchdown and recording one interception for 46 yards. Sophomore linebacker Luke Hoffman had 14 tackles to lead the WSC defense while freshman linebacker Aaron Nielsen added 12 stops, including nine solo tackles.
Wayne State will return home next Saturday to face 2-0 Chadron State, who toppled Division I-AA Montana State 35-24 in Bozeman, Montana Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at Cunningham Field is set for 1:00 p.m.

TURNOVERS DOOM WAYNE STATE IN 24-14 LOSS TO UPPER IOWA

August 31-----Upper Iowa University took advantage of five Wayne State College turnovers to win their Northern Sun Conference debut Thursday evening, 24-14, in Wayne, Nebraska at Cunningham Field. The visiting Peacocks used a balanced offensive attack (209 passing and 162 rushing for 347 total yards) while limiting Wayne State to just 253 yards in the game.
After a scoreless first quarter where WSC gained just 20 yards on 15 plays, Upper Iowa opened the scoring on a 62 yard punt return by Ryan Hudgins with 14:33 left in the first half to grab a 7-0 lead. Wayne State responded with a 12-play, 91 yard drive to tie the score at 7-7 midway through the second quarter as Zach Molacek capped the scoring drive on a one-yard run. However, Upper Iowa closed the half with a time-consuming drive as the Peacocks marched 77 yards on 12 plays, capped by an Andrew Jones two-yard plunge with :23 seconds left in the half, to take a 14-7 halftime lead.
The game remained 14-7 until late in the fourth quarter when Upper Iowa’s Derek Van Horn converted on a 22 yard field goal to give Upper Iowa a 17-7 lead. WSC countered with a three-play, 62 yard drive as Josh Peterson hauled in a 21-yard pass from Travis Dietz with 1:30 left in the game, cutting