HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Visiting Wayne State handed Michigan Tech its first season-opening loss in nine years with a 36-14 final score today in front of 2,977 fans at Sherman Field. The Warriors used a big second half to gain their first win in Houghton since 2002.

The Huskies forced a fumble on the third play of the game as Erik Lehmann sacked quarterback Zack George and Juan Wilson recovered the loose ball. Five plays later, Drew Schaft rolled out on a naked bootleg and scampered 17 yards for a touchdown. Alex Tiseo added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Wayne returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards to the Tech 15-yard line, and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal at the 8:37 mark of the first quarter. Later in the quarter, WSU's Joique Bell rushed nine yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 Warrior lead.

Midway through the second quarter Schaft completed a 30-yard pass to Keith White to get into Warrior territory, but was intercepted at the five-yard line on the next play.

Tech had the ball four minutes later when Lee Marana was hit while diving to the goal line and lost the ball just inches shy of a touchdown. The Warriors recovered the fumble, but couldn't sustain a drive, giving the Huskies ball right back. Tech converted this time as Schaft found White on a slant route from 16 yards out. Tiseo's extra point made the score, 14-10, with 17 seconds left in the half.

Billy Koenig booted a Sherman Field record 71-yard punt with five minutes left in the third quarter to help the Huskies gain a field position edge. The advantage was quickly negated by a 52-yard run from Bell that set up a five-yard touchdown run from Chris Middlebrooks for a 17-14 Wayne State lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, an interception led to a 45-yard Warrior field goal. Bell's 54-yard touchdown dash on WSU's next possession broke the game open. The visitors added a safety after a fumbled snap on a punt attempt and another touchdown on a 73-yard pass play with 1:54 left for the final margin.

Bell led all rushers with 182 yards on 22 carries. Marana tallied 73 yards on 20 touches for the Huskies. George completed 11-of-17 throws for 205 yards for Wayne State, while Schaft completed eight-of-21 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

White was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 91 yards.

On defense, Tech senior safety Jake Meikle recorded a game-high 14 tackles. Matt Lamberti and Cheyne Nelson each added eight tackles. Lehmann finished with six stops including two sacks.

Derrion Fuqua led Wayne State with 10 tackles. Floyd Ferjuste tallied nine stops.

Michigan Tech (0-1, 0-1 GLIAC) will travel to Indianapolis for a 1 p.m. kickoff next Saturday (Sept. 9).

Notes: Freshman Steve Short replaced Schaft at quarterback with 11:35 to play in the fourth quarter, and completed four-of-16 passes for 43 yards . . . Lehmann moved into a tie for seventh on MTU's all-time sacks list. His two sacks today give him a career total of 9.5.