Warriors pull away late to defeat Tiffin 32-10 in season opener
DETROIT — Wayne State used a late fourth-quarter touchdown and a stingy defense to close out a 32-10 nonconference win over Tiffin University on Thursday night at Tom Adams Field.
With 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Warriors facing third and goal, wide receiver No. 11 hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap the scoring and effectively seal the victory. The score stretched Wayne State’s lead to three possessions and came at the end of a clock‑draining drive that answered any hopes of a Tiffin comeback.
The teams played to a scoreless first quarter before the visitors, listed as the Dragons on the schedule, broke through. Tiffin struck twice before halftime to grab early momentum, but Wayne State’s defense tightened after the break, allowing only a single second‑half score while the offense steadily built its advantage.
Wayne State’s offense mixed the power running of backs such as Sterling Anderson and D’Vaun Bentley with timely throws from its quarterback rotation to wear down the Dragons. The Warriors turned favorable field position into points, capitalizing on short fields created by special teams and the defensive front led by ends Will Fennema and Darel Washington.
On the other side of the ball, Wayne State’s secondary, including cornerbacks Jaheem Richmond and Kelly Matthews, limited explosive plays and forced Tiffin to drive the length of the field. Linebacker Martell Williams helped patrol the middle, as the Warriors repeatedly got off the field on third down to flip possession back to the offense.
The win moves Wayne State to 1-0 in the 2025 campaign and gives the Warriors an early boost heading into another nonconference test at Findlay on Sept. 13. Tiffin, meanwhile, leaves Detroit still seeking its first victory, with lessons to draw from a night when it started fast but could not keep pace with Wayne State’s second‑half surge.
