SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Winona State football team's final road game of the season was not what the Warriors were looking for, falling 33-8 to Augstana in front of 3,138 spectators at Kireby-Over Stadium on Saturday.

The Warriors had a rough go on both offense and defense, as the team was only able to muster eight points and 220 yards of total offense on the day against a stout Vikings defense. On the defensive end, WSU had no answer for Augustana's run game as 243 of the Vikings 473 yards came on the ground. 

Winona State didn't get off to a good start offensively as sophomore quarterback Jack Nelson threw an interception on the first play of the game, giving Augie the ball at WSU's 44-yard line. Augie wasn't able to convert on the turnover, however, missing a 27-yard field goal. 

The Warriors didn't take advantage either, as they were only able to muster one first down in their next two offensive possessions, while the defense gave up two scoring drives resulting in a 14-yard touchdown pass by Trey Heid and a 28-yard field goal by Lucas Wainman, giving Augustana a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Winona State would have a golden opportunity to cut into the lead on the first possession in the second quarter. The Warriors were able to get the ball into the red zone, but Brett Cochran-Bray's 41-yard field goal was blocked, keeping the Warriors off the board.

Augustana scored on the following possession to expand the Vikings lead to 17-0 and would take that lead into the half.

The Vikings were close to blowing the game wide open on the first possession in the third quarter. Augustana drove the ball into the Warriors red zone, but linebackers Ian Murray and Gage Ridenour stuffed Augustana's C.J. Ham on fourth-and-one on the 15-yard-line to keep Augie off the board.

Another WSU three-and-out allowed the Vikings to get the ball back immediately and put in another score on a three-yard touchdown run by Dajon Newell to give Augustana a 24-0 lead.

Winona State finally was able to put a score on the board in the fourth quarter. After Alan May returned a punt 33 yards to the Viking 28-yard line, the Warriors scored four plays later on a Nelson pass to sophomore wide receiver Cameron Johnson. Nelson went back to Johnson on the ensuing two-point conversion to make it a two-possession game 24-8 with 11:36 to go in the fourth quarter.

However, Augustana would put the game away on the following possession. The Vikings put together a 14-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a 19-yard field goal to give the Vikings another three-possession lead at 27-8. 

Winona State would try to put together another drive to attempt a comeback, but Nelson would throw his third interception of the day on the second play of the possession.

Augustana would get one more score late in the fourth quarter after WSU backup quarterback Darren Beenken threw an interception, giving the ball to the Vikings on Warriors nine-yard line, scoring three plays later to make it 33-8.

For the second game in a row, Nelson threw three interceptions in a game after never throwing more than two in any of his previous starts. Nelson finished the day completing 13-of-25 passes for 136 yards with one touchdown.

The Winona State rushing attack struggled as the Warriors rushed for only 75 yards, 31 of which came from sophomore running back Paul Preston on 10 carries.

Junior wide receiver Josh Mikes led the Warriors passing attack with five receptions for 78 yards, while Johnson added three catches for 33 yards to go with his touchdown reception.

Defensively, senior linebacker Ryan Gerts led the Warriors with eight tackles Sophomore defensive back Anthony Catanese intercepted his third pass of the season. 

With the loss, Winona State drops to 4-5 on the season. The Warriors will return to Maxwell Field at Warrior Stadium for their final two games of the year. WSU will host Southwest Minnesota State Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.