This game was a tale of switching identities - AU wore the Superman S and won the first half 33-20 but WSU took off their 'Clark Kent' duds, donned the scarlet S and cape, and stormed back to claim the second half, 27-7. AU special teams also got into the 'Jekyl and Hyde' routine - blocking two extra points and a punt for a safety, but surrendering 215 return yards to sophomore return specialist Josh Renel. In summary - there were great individual efforts - Joique Bell scoring 6 TDs and gaining 272 yards; Billy Cundiff passing for 331 yards and 4 TDs; Joe Horn's two spectacular TD catches; Josh Renel's 245 all-purpose yards - but in the end it came down to one player - Joique Bell - with 26 seconds to go and the score tied 40-40, it was the senior RB who took the team on his shoulders as he caught a swing pass and then eluded 5 different AU defenders as he raced 45 yards to the endzone to secure the homecoming victory and WSU's best start (5-1) since 1976.

Besides winning the game, Bell passed Ricky Williams and Walter Peyton on the all time NCAA scoring list - he now has 480 points in his career moving him to 15th - he also has amassed 5,806 yards rushing ... so far. He also set school records for rushing TDs in a game, points scored in a game, total TDs in a game and career offensive plays (1,036) - a very memorable homecoming, indeed.

College: Ashland University Conference: GLIAC Columnist: Jay Horn
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Billy Cundiff 17 6' 1.6" 219 4.58 QB 2010

Cundiff rebounded from a tough game last week, showing the form that made him the 2008 GLIAC OPOY. He passed for 331 yards and 4 TDs (27-36) with no interceptions in mostly poor field conditions - swirling winds gusting up to 25 mph and intermittent rain made passing risky, but Cundiff showed excellent touch and ability to adjust - connecting on TD passes of 37, 59, 20 and 5 yards. Cundiff could have had a 5th TD but was hurried and threw behind a wide-open Joe Horn in the first quarter. The offensive line still gave up 4 sacks, but the use of more play action passes allowed Cundiff better time to see his options and deliver the ball - which he does very accurately (completing 66.7% of his passes in 6 games with a 175.76 rating). Cundiff did all he could to put his team in position to win this game.

GRADE: POSITIVE

Joe Horn 7 5' 11.9" 186 4.40 WR 2011

Horn's play was excellent today - he got open, made several big plays for TDs (and was open on a third that was underthrown), and was a solid contributor as a run blocker and special teams player. He caught a 59-yard strike from Cundiff that is among his greatest catches of his career - running straight away from Cundiff (and into a stiff wind), Horn beat his defender by a step and looking straight up, was able to pick-up the ball as it dropped just over the DB's outstretched arm; using great concentration, Horn ignored the impact of the defender and used his body to shield the defender from the ball - he cradled the ball, maintained his balance and slipped the defender's tackle as he covered the final 10 yards into the endzone. As part of the punt block team, his quick inside charge drew the protector, allowing teammate Nick Bellanco to come open and block the punt for a safety before the half. He also had some key blocks downfield allowing RB DJ McCoy to add to his 170 yard rushing total for the day.

GRADE: VERY POSITIVE

College: Wayne State Univ (MI) Conference: GLIAC Columnist: Jay Horn
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Joique Bell 5 5' 11.4" 225 4.48 HB 2010

You must see this man play. Today he ran for 272 yards on 32 carries for 5 TDs; he caught one pass for 45 yards (a 5 yard pass and 40 yard run) for the game winning TD. Bell has all the tools to be a marquee running back in the NFL. Speed, balance, vision, strength - Bell demonstrated these all in this game. He routinely stiff arms would-be tacklers into the turf; he takes direct shots from DBs to knock him out of bounds and keeps right on running down the sideline; his patience is evident as he lets the play unfold and then has the acceleration to move through the hole at the precisely right time. He was also versatile, running several plays out of the 'wildcat' and distributing the ball to slot-man Renel. To date, he has carried the ball 186 times for 1162 yards and 15 TDs (6.2 ypc) and caught 11 for 116 yards and 1 TD (213.0 total offense per game). I expect to see him definitely ranked among the top 10 and perhaps even the top 5 RBs in the country come draft time.

GRADE: VERY POSITIVE

GAME NOTES:

AU senior WR Nick Bellanco had his second career punt block and caught at least 2 passes in his 20th consecutive game - Bellanco was also nominated for the Campbell Trophy this week ... Bell came into the game ranked 1st in D-2 rushing at 178 ypg - it is likely he will retain that ranking as he now averages 193.7 ypg ... as Bell passed Peyton, he holds 9th place on the all-time D-2 scoring list.

Next week Wayne State (5-1, 4-1) travels to Northern Michigan (4-1, 4-1) to take on the Wildcats, who just beat SVSU 23-20; while Ashland (3-3, 3-2) hosts Northwood (3-2, 3-2) who won a close game over Indianapolis, 17-10.