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The Malone University football team dropped its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest at home to Wayne State (MI) University on Saturday night by a final score of 39-15.

The Pioneers (0-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the contest, but were unable to capitalize on their early momentum.  Wayne State (2-1 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) cut the deficit to 15-10 midway through the second quarter with a nine-play, 62-yard touchdown drive and then outscored Malone by a 29-0 margin in the second half.

Malone freshman cornerback Daniel Tepe, who snagged a pair of interceptions in the contest, helped set up the Pioneers' first score of the evening by picking off a pass attempt at the Wayne State 37-yard line and returning it all the way to Warriors' 8.  Two plays later, running back Ronnie Beers crossed the goal line on an eight-yard run, putting the hosts ahead 6-3 (two-point conversion failed) with 8:38 showing on the first-quarter clock.

Another interception by Tepe and a fumble recovery by defensive back Brandon Petty stalled the Warriors' next two drives before a wild shotgun snap flew over the head of Wayne State quarterback Carl Roscoe and eventually dribbled out of the back of the end zone for a safety, giving the Pioneers an 8-3 advantage.

Following Wayne State's free kick, a 40-yard pass completion from MU quarterback Brandyn Eckhart to tight end Ricarlo Bell helped set-up Beers' second TD of the night, a four-yard reception from Eckhart that put Malone on top 15-3.

Down 15-10 at the half, WSU grabbed the lead early in the third quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Roscoe to wide receiver Michael Johnson.  Wayne State running back Desmond Martin then scored a pair of touchdowns just over a minute apart at the beginning of the final stanza to put the Warriors in command.

Overall, Wayne State held a 424-230 edge in total yards and a 21-12 advantage in first downs.  Malone forced a total of four turnovers on the night while committing three of its own.

Beers ended the game with 175 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.  He hauled in four catches for 46 yards, tallied 49 rushing yards on just six carries and posted 80 yards on four kick-off returns.

Running back Justin Davis added 51 rushing yards. 

Defensively, linebacker Philip Fisher posted a team-high nine tackles followed by defensive back Cameron Mammen with seven stops.  Linebacker Dan Mower added six tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack.  Defensive back Jordan Johnson made four stops to go with an interception.

For Wayne State, Martin carried the ball 29 times for 200 yards and three scores.

Malone will be back in action next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. contest at Tiffin University.  Fans can catch all the action live on the Malone Sports Network (radio broadcast on ESPN 990 AM or streaming live at www.espn990.com). 

Malone Notes: Tepe finished one interception shy of tying the Pioneer single-game record….Tepe is the first Pioneer to tally two interceptions in one game since Logan Francis picked off a pair of passes during a 33-27 double-overtime win against Tiffin University in 2012...Saturday marked the first time that Malone had picked off three passes in a single game since 2011 in a 27-0 win at Concordia (MI) University.