BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Winona State football team blocked a potential game-tying field goal with under a minute to play to seal a 20-17 win over Bemidji State Saturday night at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji.

Nickai Poyser and Jeff Brown got their hands on an Isaac Aanerud field goal attempt with 55 seconds left to preserve the three-point win for the Warriors.

The first half was a defensive battle, with the only scoring coming off the leg of each team's kicker. Aanerud made a 27-yard field goal to give BSU the first lead, but reigning NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week Carter McCauley answered back with a 43-yard boot of his own to tie it at 3-3. McCauley's kick is tied for the ninth-longest WSU field goal and he now has three kicks in the program's top 10, including the two longest set last week.

That score would remain heading into halftime, but not before the Warriors had a pair of prime opportunity for a score. After Eric Birth caught a seven-yard pass from Jack Nelson down to the BSU one-yard line but later fumbled on fourth and goal and Bemidji State recovered with 1:38 to play.

After just a quick defensive stand for the Warriors, they got the ball back at their own 20 with 1:04 to play in the half. A 50-yard connection from Nelson to Cameron Johnson gave the Warriors first and goal from the 10, But Nelson's pass to the right sideline was intercepted in the end zone and the Warriors were stuck in a 3-3 tie.

The Warriors put together their first touchdown drive of the game on their first drive of the second half, when Nelson found Alan May for an eight-yard score to cap off a seven play, 72-yard drive and take a 10-3 lead.

McCauley later hit his second field goal of the day to extend the lead to 13-3, but the Beavers got on the board on the second play of the fourth quarter with a one-yard run to cut the lead to 13-10.

A 29-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Hein to Jordan Noskowiak gave Bemidji State its first lead with 8:35 to play at 17-13, but Paul Preston countered with a 10-yard touchdown rush just over two minutes later to retake a 20-13 lead before the blocked kick secured the win.

Nelson finished the night 24-of-38 for 272 yards and one touchdown and one interception. Preston broke the 100-yard mark, rushing for 121 yards and a score. Josh Mikes caught 10 balls 93 yards, while Cameron Johnson hauled in three catches for 66 yards and Alan May had five for 53 yards.

Defensively, Collin Corcoran had another big day, recording 13 tackles and assisted on a sack. Mike Imperiale had nine tackles while recording three tackles-for-loss and a sack. Jeff Brown picked up a full and a half sack. Travis Frank recorded the Warriors' lone interception on the day.

Winona State (2-1) returns home Saturday for its annual homecoming game when it hosts St. Cloud State at 2:30 p.m. at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.