Wayne State ended the 2016 football season Saturday with a 30-7 setback at No. 4-ranked Sioux Falls at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Cougars took the opening drive 75 yards in six plays, as quarterback Luke Papilion found Brady Rose on a four-yard scoring pass to put Sioux Falls ahead 7-0. Sioux Falls was driving again on their second possession until sophomore Jamaal Conway-Smith intercepted Papilion at the Wildcat 23-yard line to stop the drive. Sioux Falls added a pair of second quarter field goals to close out first-half scoring as Brett Garner booted field goals of 35 and 34 yards to make it 13-0 at the half.
Sioux Falls increased the lead to 20-0 on their opening series of the second half, using a Max Mickey one-yard run to cap an eight-play, 72-yard drive. They added a 43-yard field goal by Garner and another Max Mickey scoring run of 13 yards to make it 30-0 going to the fourth quarter.
Wayne State avoided the shutout late in the fourth quarter when Zach Osborn connected with Shymere Williams on a 45-yard scoring pass with 2:46 left in the game to make the final score 30-7.
Sioux Falls outgained Wayne State in the contest 466-289. The Cougars produced 281 yards rushing and 185 passing while the Wildcats accounted for 167 on the ground and 122 passing. Junior Rashad Trimble gained a career-high 151 yards on 25 carries to lead the Wildcat rushing attack.
Throwing the ball, Osborn completed 10-of-26 passes for 122 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Keaton Slaughter was the top receiver with three catches for 50 yards followed by Willie Walton with three grabs for 14 yards. Williams finished with two catches for 43 yards and one score.
Defensively, linebacker Kolbie Foster led Wayne State with 10 tackles followed by defensive back Cam Montgomery added nine stops in his final game in a Wayne State uniform. Conway-Smith added seven tackles and one interception while Tyler Thomsen also produced seven tackles.
Wayne State finishes the season 3-8 and 2-5 in league play.
