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The Warriors failed to convert two huge opportunities in the second half Saturday and fell 26-21 to Michigan Tech in a nonconference season opener at Sherman Field.
It was the first season-opening loss for WSU since 2005, also the last time it failed to reach the NCAA Division II playoffs.
“We just didn’t play well, especially in the second half,” WSU coach Tom Sawyer said. “We had some early opportunities, but the rest was ugly. I’m not excited about how we played in the second half.”
After the defense created a turnover on the initial drive of the second half, the Warriors failed to move the ball on offense and add to a 14-13 halftime lead.
An incomplete pass started the drive and was followed by a rush for 2 yards by Carey Rottman. A false start penalty forced a third-and-13 play, on which quarterback Greg Preston hit Tyrre Burks for 12 yards.
WSU went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Huskies’ 38, but Rottman was stopped for no gain.
Michigan Tech, which lost 47-44 at WSU in overtime in last season’s opener, took advantage and marched 62 yards in 10 plays to take a 20-14 lead.
“That was a major turning point,” Sawyer said. “We had all the momentum and we did nothing with it. If we punch it in from the 40, we go up eight (points) and still have all the momentum.”
Michigan Tech took a 26-14 lead six seconds into the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Steve Short to Bobby Slowik.
Short, a junior who threw for six touchdowns in last season’s matchup, finished 24-for-28 for 236 yards and three touchdowns.
Still, the Warriors had chances in the fourth quarter. They put together a nice drive to start the quarter, but that drive ended on the 1-yard line with no points.
The Huskies put together a goal-line stand, stopping a quarterback sneak by Preston on third down and a run by Andrew Verbancouer on fourth down.
There was some question as to whether Preston got in, but Sawyer deferred to the officials.
“We need to be all the way in the end zone,’ he said. “We just did not get it done.”
Michigan Tech scored first to take a 6-0 lead, but WSU bounced back to grab a 14-6 lead in the second quarter.
Verbancouer scored on a 7-yard run for the first touchdown, and Drew Alexander caught a 29-yard, tipped pass from backup quarterback Amir Ross for the second score.
WSU’s final touchdown came on a 9-yard run by Preston with 1:29 to play, and the Warriors failed to recover an onside kick.
Preston, a transfer from Division I-AA Tennessee-Martin, competed 14 of 26 passes for 141 yards. Ross was 3 of 3 for 72 yards.
Randy Spring had 69 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Rottman and Verbancouer each added 46 yards on the ground.
The Warriors, who had 394 yards of offense, open play in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at 1 p.m. Saturday against Northern State.
Sawyer expects a better effort from his team in the home opener as it begins defense of the conference title.
“It’s all about the conference,” he said. “We have something to defend and have our next three games at home. I expect us to play a full game.”
