SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Wayne State College football team is one step closer to a potential playoff bid, beating fellow playoff hopeful Sioux Falls 31-24 on Saturday.

The Wildcats overcame a 21-7 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Cougars for the first time in program history. It was Wayne State's first victory over Sioux Falls in 10 tries. Wayne State is now 8-2 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 7-3 after suffering their third straight defeat.

Wayne State struck first, scoring on a 39-yard-touchdown strike from Nick Bohn to Wayne native Mason Lee with 6:39 left in the first period. Sioux Falls answered by scoring the next three touchdowns, including two second-quarter rushing touchdowns.

The Cougars extended their lead to 21-7 on a 29-yard pick six by Cain McWilliams, but Wayne State would respond with a rally of their own.

The Wildcats outscored Sioux Falls 24-3 over the final 26:07 of the game.

Bohn got the turnaround started with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Marshall, giving the pair their second scoring connection in as many weeks. After Wayne State's next drive stalled in the red zone, the Wildcats opted for three points on an Alex Powders 22-yard field goal.

Sioux Falls re-extended their lead to seven points with a Nick Hernandez field goal, but it would be the last points of the day for Sioux Falls.

Bohn tied the game with a 56-yard touchdown run with 13:01 left in the fourth quarter. He then went to the air on the Wildcats' next drive, connecting with Jadon Johnson for the go-ahead score with 9:13 left to play.

Wayne State's sophomore quarterback accounted for all four of the Wildcats' touchdowns, including three through the air and one on the ground. He had 165 yards passing and 115 yards rushing. Lee led the Wildcat receivers with six catches for 93 yards. Alex Kowalczy paced the Wayne State defense with 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, while Dexter Larsen added five tackles and an interception.

Wayne State played a relatively clean game, getting flagged for just two penalties on the road. Meanwhile, Sioux Falls aided the Wildcats with 11 penalties for 130 yards. The Cougars committed 95 yards of penalties in the final quarter alone, including two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and an offensive pass interference in a potential game-tying drive.

The Wildcats now find themselves in prime position to reach the playoffs, hosting MSU Moorhead on the final week of the regular season. The Dragons will come to Wayne with a 4-6 record after holding off Concordia-St Paul on Saturday. Wayne State fought off the Dragons for a 24-21 win in Moorhead last season.

Wayne State entered the weekend ranked sixth in the latest Super Region 4 rankings, one spot behind Sioux Falls. The top seven teams in each super region advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs, with the top four in each super region hosting their first game. Two of the teams ahead of Wayne State, Minnesota State and Winona State, will clash in the final week of the regular season.

The long playoff appearance in Wayne State history occurred in 2008, when current Wildcat head coach Logan Masters was a junior wide receiver. The Wildcats dropped a 23-17 road contest at Chadron State under then head coach Dan McLaughlin.