WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State football team finished off its season with a 31-28 home loss to Concordia-St. Paul Saturday afternoon at a cold Warrior Stadium.

A one-score game throughout most of the contest, the Warriors had opportunities to come away with a victory but couldn't capitalize on its chances. Total yardage was even, as the Golden Bears held just a slight edge at 378 to WSU's 371.

The Warriors got on the scoreboard first in the most unexpected of ways. WSU lined up for a field goal, but Alan May bobbled the snap. He then gained control, kept his composure and fired it to a wide open Obed Jean-Baptiste – normally a linebacker – for a 12-yard score to put the Warriors up 7-0 with 8:50 to play in the first quarter.

Concordia answered less than five minutes later on a 27-yard pass from Ben Schramski to Jermaine Clemon to tie it at 7-7. They scored again two minutes later when Schramski found Cordell Smith on a 35-yard connection to take a 14-7 lead.

Midway through the second half Winona State pulled even again when Cameron Johnson caught a one-yard pass from Jack Nelson. The Golden Bears added a field goal late in the half to head into the break with a 17-14 lead.

The Warriors had nine penalties for 101 yards in the first half but outgained the Golden Bears 202-181.

CU quarterback Schramski took it himself for an 8-yard score with first scoring of the third quarter to open up a 24-14 lead – the largest of the game – but the Warriors had an answer late in the quarter when Dylan Ulferts leaped straight up to make an athletic catch from Nelson and run for the 33-yard to make it just a 24-21 score at the end of the third quarter.

Concordia running back Tre Spears – who earned the NSIC's rushing title – found the end zone less than two minutes into the fourth quarter with an 11-yard run to make it a two score game again at 31-21. That score would remain until Nelson found May on a 10-yard strike with 20 seconds to go to pull to within three once more. The Warriors appeared to recover the ensuing onside kick, but the officials determined WSU made an illegal touch to seal the Golden Bear victory.

Senior Patrick Lazzara went out in style, saving perhaps his best for last with a spirited effort to lead the Warrior defense with a career-high 15 tackles – including 11 in the second half to go with a pair of tackles-for-loss. Senior Ryan Gerts also had a tackle-for-loss while recording nine tackles.

Nelson finished the day 21-of-35 for 229 yards and three touchdowns while being sacked five times. Nelson ended his sophomore season toward the top of a number of WSU single-season categories, including the third-most passing yards (2,843), third-most completions (207), third-most touchdown passes (27) and the most passing attempts (398).

Josh Mikes finished the day with six catches for 75 yards. Mikes finishes his junior season over the 1,000-yard plateau (1,025) while racking up 13 receiving touchdowns, which ties for the six-most among any WSU receiver.