Winona State embarks on its second of six road trips this season when it travels to Bemidji State for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Chet Anderson Stadium. The Beavers and Warriors will be meeting for the 75th time, the most of any opponent in WSU history.

Hear the call live on 89.5 FM KQAL or kqal.org with broadcasters TJ Leverentz and John Wojcik. Watch live via Bemidji State on HBC channel 24 and online at www.winonastatewarriors.com/watch.


LAST WEEK: The Warriors rebounded from a week one defeat with a convincing 38-7 home win over Minot State at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.

KICKOFF FORECAST: It should be a perfect fall-like day in Bemidji Saturday, with temperatues in the mid 60s, clear skies and no threat of rain.

LONG HISTORY: The Warriors and Beavers have one of the longest-standing rivalries in the NSIC as the two teams have met a WSU-most 74 times dating all the way back to 1932, a game the Warriors won 12-0. The Warriors have a 43-30-1 series lead and the Warriors are 10-3 under Tom Sawyer, but since 2004, the series is tied 3-3.

LAST TIME VS. THE BEAVERS: The last time the Warriors and Beavers met was in 2013 in Winona. After knocking WSU QB John Teigland out of what would turn out to be his last game, BSU came back from a 27-3 halftime deficit to claim a 34-27 overtime win. The Warriors used four quarterbacks in the game, but then-true freshman Jack Nelson took over the starting role the following week and has started every game since. 

WOES IN BEMIDJI: Despite the Warriors' constant success the past decade, Bemidji has been a tough place to get a win for WSU in recent times. It's been 11 years since WSU won in Bemidji, a 41-28 win in 2004, though the two teams have only met in Bemidji twice since then. BSU claimed a 28-7 win in 2006 and a 24-19 win in 2009.

A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS: The Beavers are coached by Jeff Tesch, who, like WSU coach Tom Sawyer, is in his 20th year at the helm of the program. Tesch has a career record of 119-89 and a 3-10 record against the Warriors. The Beavers are one of six 0-2 teams in the NSIC this season after losses to Augustana (35-14) and Southwest Minnesota State (34-30). Last week against the Mustangs, the Beavers were doomed by a go-ahead touchdown pass with just 21 seconds left. The Beavers were picked fourth in the North Division and ninth overall in the preseason coaches' poll.

McCAULEY'S RECORD KICKS: It was a day for the record books for sophomore kicker Carter McCauley against Minot State, breaking WSU's record for longest field goal by booting a 53-yarder in the second quarter in last week's win over Minot State. He wasn't done there, breaking his own record in the fourth quarter with a 54-yarder to cement his name in the top two spots of the kicking record. The Owatonna, Minn. native through two games is the top kicker in the NSIC, making four out of five kicks. Minnesota State's Alden Haffar is the only other kicker with four makes, but his is in seven attempts.

NO PLAYING FAVORITES: Quarterback Jack Nelson has proven that he doesn't play favorites when it comes to his receivers. The junior quarterback has thrown the ball to nine different receivers in each of the first two games.

HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE: The Warrior offense finds itself toward the top of the NSIC in variety of categories. QB Jack Nelson is second in the NSIC in passing average at 326 yards per game, while Alan May is fourth in receptions per game with seven and third in receiving yards per game with 125.5. The Warriors are also fourth in the NSIC in first downs with 49.

PASSING THE DEFENSIVE TEST: Teams have not had much success passing the ball against the Warriors, as WSU ranks third in the league in passing defense, allowing just 172.0 yards through the air. The Warriors are nearly as good in total defense, ranking fourth in the league allowing a relatively stingy 335.0 yards per game.

TACKLE MACHINE: Senior LB Collin Corcoran has been all around the ball through two games, compiling 21 tackles, which is tied for the fourth most in the league.

BROWN'S PRESENCE FELT: Senior DL Jeff Brown has been a force for the Warriors in the trenches, last week racking up a game-best three tackles-for-loss and two sacks - one of which caused a fumble that resulted in a recovery and a 76-yard return by linebacker Jarrett Wood that set up WSU's first touchdown of the game.