For a second straight Thursday evening, the Wayne State College football team took to the field facing an opponent opening their season.
From Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minnesota, week one of the NSIC season began for the Wildcats.
Following a week 0 victory over Missouri S&T, WSC used a 17-0 surge in the fourth quarter to win 44-17 over MSU Moorhead. The Wildcats are now 2-0 (1-0 NSIC) while the Dragons start their season at 0-1 (0-1 NSIC).
After a slow start only gaining four total yards with a trio of three-and-out punts, WSC finally started to move the ball late in the first quarter when senior Nick Bohn connected with sophomore running back Latravious Boyd on a five-yard pass (2:42 remaining).
Boyd then caught a 26-yard pass from Bohn with 9:08 left in the second quarter to lead 14-0.
MSU Moorhead would answer on the next drive from freshman place kicker Max Watson during a 32-yard field goal (6:02 remaining).
Special teams then came up big for the Wildcats as senior Jadon Johnson returned a kick for a 95-yard touchdown (5:47 until half). WSC led 21-3.
The Dragons then put their first touchdown on the board when junior Jack Strand connected with redshirt freshman tailback Fynn Ridgeway from 15-yards out (2:34 left).
WSC would score once more in the first half thanks to a 41-yard field goal from sophomore placekicker Boston Hensley.
Wayne State College led 24-10 at the break.
Both teams then scored once in the third with Hensley knocking through a 35-yard field goal (9:28 left) for WSC as Strand connected with junior Brady Perryman on a 58-yard strike for the Dragons (7:47 remaining).
Going into the fourth, the Wildcats led 27-17.
Wayne State College then took control of the fourth including scoring 10 points in 25 seconds.
Hensley set his career long for the second time on a 44-yard field goal eight seconds into the fourth followed by a pick six from senior linebacker Dexter Larsen (20-yards) with 14:35 to play in the game.
One more score was added thanks to a Bohn to redshirt sophomore Kendrick Watkins-Hogue connection from 54-yards with 12:40 to play in the game.
Hensley went 3-3 on field goals and 5-5 on extra points.
Final favored Wayne State College winning 44-17.
The Wildcats ran 71 plays for 402 yards (267 passing/135 rushing) while MSU Moorhead accumulated 324 yards on 68 plays (302 passing/22 rushing).
Bohn finished 20-34 for 267 yards with three touchdowns and 21 yards rushing on six attempts.
Watkins-Hogue was targeted 17 times and had 10 catches for 142 yards with a score. Johnson added 64 yards receiving on five grabs as Boyd caught three passes for 36 yards and two scores.
Junior running back Dawson Forgy led the ground attack with 64 yards on 15 carries.
Larsen paced the Wildcat defense with five tackles (three solo) and a pick six while fellow senior linebackers Alex Kowalczyk (three solo) and senior Alex Schall (four solo) both had four tackles.
Sophomore defensive lineman James Frank led the party at the quarterback with two sacks along with sophomore lineman Carter Sitzman with a sack. Junior defensive back Marzion Cosby also had an interception.
The Wildcats finished 7-18 on third down conversions, 2-2 on fourth down and were 4-4 on red zone scores and chances. The Dragons were led to 6-15 on third down, 0-2 on fourth down and 2-2 in red zone scoring.
The Wayne State College football team will next host #13 Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. during Family Weekend with a fireworks display to follow the game.
