Saturday afternoon was all about the ground game for Wayne State College who was in search of ending a losing skid dating back to 2022 against Minnesota State-Manakto.
From Bob Cunningham Field, WSC did just that thanks to 388 rushing yards en route to a 35-20 victory over the ninth-ranked Mavericks on Oct. 25.
Wayne State College is now 4-4 (4-3 NSIC/2-1 South Division).
The Wildcats set the tone early on a 16-yard rushing touchdown from redshirt freshman quarterback Brady McGill with 5:31 left in the first quarter.
Later in the quarter, sophomore Brennan Hayes rushed for a 75-yard score (2:51 remaining).
The Wildcats closed the first half on a one-yard score from redshirt junior Dawson Forgy to lead 19-7 at half.
After giving up an early second half score, sophomore quarterback Bennett Dannenbring (first action since 9/20 at MSU Moorhead) found senior Colton Andrews on a nine-yard score (1:06 remaining in third).
Hayes scored early in the fourth on a 69-yard score (12:52 remaining in game) while WSC closed scoring with a safety (3:56 remaining) off a holding penalty in the end zone by the Mavericks.
Final favored WSC winning 35-20 as junior placekicker Boston Hensley was 3-5 on extra points.
McGill started the game and finished 4-8 for 37 yards to go along with five rushes for 31 yards and a score.
Dannenbring closed 5-5 for 63 yards and one score. He also had seven rushes for 30 yards.
Hayes ran the ball 13 times for 184 yards and two scores as Forgy carried the rock 24 times for 137 yards and one score.
Junior Dane Petersen hauled in four receptions for 47 yards as sophomore Wayne native Alex Phelps added two catches for 31 yards.
Sophomore Jes Krcil led the Wildcat defense with 14 tackles (six solo) and a half tackle for loss.
Senior Kaden Sutton blocked a field goal and recorded five tackles (three solo) with two tackles for loss as junior Luke Lambert added six tackles (one solo) and a tackle for loss.
Redshirt freshman Kahmel Johnson finished with an interception and two pass break-ups to go along with two tackles (one solo).
Wayne State College ran 66 plays for 488 yards (388 rushing, 100 passing) compared to the Mavericks converting 57 total plays to 302 yards (147 rushing, 155 passing).
Both teams finished 4-11 on third downs as WSC went 2-2 on fourth downs and MSU-Mankato went 3-3.
Wayne State College will next visit Concordia-St. Paul at noon on Nov. 1.
