Warriors Edge Tiffin 32-24 Behind Late Touchdown, Defensive Score
DETROIT — Wayne State turned a tight non-conference opener into a statement win Thursday night, as the Warriors used a late fourth-quarter touchdown and a defensive score to defeat the Tiffin University Dragons 32-24 at Tom Adams Field.
With 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Warriors facing third-and-goal, wide receiver Cecil Xavier Smith, wearing No. 11, hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass to break open a one-possession game. The score capped a sustained drive and provided the final separation Wayne State needed to withstand Tiffin’s late push, effectively sealing the 32-24 result in front of the home crowd.
Defense also shaped the outcome, highlighted by a pivotal play from Wayne State’s secondary. Cornerback No. 24 delivered one of the game’s biggest momentum swings with an interception returned for a touchdown, adding a pick-six to a stat line that included three pass breakups. His performance helped flip field position and stalled multiple Tiffin possessions as the Dragons tried to mount a comeback.
The game settled into a defensive struggle early, with both teams held scoreless through the first quarter. Tiffin broke through in the second, striking twice before halftime to grab the lead and put the Warriors under pressure heading into the locker room. Wayne State responded after the break, mixing timely passing with its ground game and capitalizing on defensive stops to gradually erase the deficit.
As the fourth quarter wore on, Tiffin continued to apply pressure and mounted a late rally, but Wayne State’s defense produced key stops in the red zone and limited explosive plays. The pick-six from the Warriors’ secondary proved especially critical, forcing the Dragons to chase points and shortening their margin for error in the final minutes.
Wayne State, which improves to 1-0 with the non-conference victory, will look to build on the balanced performance as it moves deeper into its 2025 schedule. Tiffin, meanwhile, leaves Detroit with its first loss but showed enough offensive spurts around halftime and in the late stages to suggest it will remain a factor as its season progresses.
