Wayne, Neb. — Wayne State used big scoring plays to down Missouri S&T 49-17 Thursday evening in the 2024 college football opener that was delayed 30 minutes due to bad weather at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
The first half saw visiting Missouri S&T dominate time of possession (23:09 – 6:51) while out-gaining the Wildcats 201-166 while running 47 plays to just 16 for Wayne State.
Wayne State scored on their second drive of the game as senior quarterback Nick Bohn found sophomore Kendrick Watkins-Hogue on a 21-yard scoring play to give the ‘Cats a 7-0 lead with 2:48 to play in the first quarter.
After Missouri S&T pinned the ‘Cats on a punt at their own 3-yard line, sophomore running back Latravious Boyd bolted up the middle and sprinted 95 yards for a score giving WSC a 14-0 lead. The 95-yard run was the second-longest in school history, trailing only Elroy Brown’s 96-yard run vs. Winona State in 1999.
The visiting Miners closed the opening half with a 46-yard field goal by Layne Ryals to make the score 14-3 at intermission.
Wayne State took control of the game in the third quarter, scoring on two straight and four of five possessions to start the second half.
The first score was a 29-yard pass from Bohn to freshman wide receiver Curtis Witte, making the score 21-3. Boyd scored again at the 9:08 mark of the third quarter on an 11-yard jaunt putting the ‘Cats ahead 28-3.
Third quarter scoring closed when sophomore defensive back Brayden Chaney intercepted a Missouri S&T pass and raced 58 yards for the score increasing the Wildcats’ lead to 35-3.
Senior wide receiver Jadon Johnson was on the receiving end of an 11-yard pass from Bohn to open fourth quarter scoring, giving WSC a 42-3 lead.
Missouri S&T quarterback Tyler Gioia rushed 19 yards for the first Miners touchdown of the game with 7:26 to play, making the score 42-10.
Wayne State’s final score was an 80-yard scoring pass from reserve quarterback Bennett Dannenbring to Keaten Bonderson with 6:25 to play. Missouri S&T closed the scoring on an 18-yard pass from Gioia to Justis Braden as Wayne State finished with the 49-17 victory.
The Wildcats held a slight advantage in total offense over the Miners 448-432. WSC had 255 yards rushing and another 193 passing.
Boyd paced the Wildcat ground attack with 141 yards on just seven carries and two scores including his 95-yard jaunt. Junior Dawson Forgy added 80 yards on 12 carries.
Bohn finished the game completing 7 of 14 passes for 113 yards and three scores. Trevor Marshall had two catches for 44 yards. Bonderson hauled in an 80-yard TD catch with Watkins-Hogue and Jadon Johnson adding TD catches.
Defensively, senior linebackers Alex Kowalczyk and Tyler Leclair each had eight tackles. Sophomore defensive end Jackson Bos contributed six tackles with one sack while Chaney had a 58-yard interception return for touchdown.
The Wildcats will be in action again next Thursday evening (September 5) opening Northern Sun Conference play at MSU Moorhead in a 6 p.m. contest.
