WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State football team fell to St. Cloud State 31-20 Saturday afternoon on Homecoming in Winona. The announced attendance of 5,313 marked the second-largest attendance in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium history.
The Warriors were doomed by a fourth quarter where the Huskies' offense was on the field for more than 10 minutes. The turning point of the game came on a St. Cloud State field goal attempt on 4th and 4 from the 6-yard line with the Warriors clinging to a 20-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. A botched snap led to a five-yard run for holder Jameson Parsons to the one-yard line that gave the Huskies a first down and eventually a go-ahead touchdown run by Jaden Huff to put the Huskies up 24-20.
The Huskies' rushing attack sealed the deal with another five-yard rush by Ledell White with 1:46 to play to put SCSU up two scores, 31-20. SCSU racked up 96 of its 320 rushing yards in the final quarter.
Winona State used a pair of highlight plays to stake itself to early leads. The first score of the game came on the first offensive play of the day when Paul Preston caught a 75-yard screen pass from Jack Nelson and took it the distance for the 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game.
The Huskies answered four minutes later with a 6-yard run from Huff to knot it at 7-7.
But the Warriors answered, as Nelson found Alan May for a highlight-reel diving grab in the end zone to put WSU back in front 14-7 with 4:18 still to play in the first quarter.
Winona State increased its lead to 17-7 when Carter McCauley connected on a 19-yard field goal early in the second quarter. That score held until the Huskies hit a 20-yard field goal to bring it to a one-score game headed into halftime.
Huskies' quarterback Nate Meyer scampered in from five yards out on the first drive of the third quarter to even the game before Carter McCauley put WSU back in front 20-17 with his second field goal of the day – this one a 47-yarder that tied the third-longest field goal in program history. McCauley owns the top two marks of 54 and 53 yards, set in WSU's last home game against Minot State.
Nelson finished his day 23-of-42 for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns – the 58th and 59th of his career.
Alan May continued his tremendous senior season, hauling in seven passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Johnson also caught seven balls for 76 yards, while Preston had three receptions for 85 yards.
Preston also rushed 18 times for 86 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
Collin Corcoran reached double-digit tackles for the third time in four games this season, recording a game-high 12 tackles. Mike Imperiale added a career-high 10 tackles, while Andrew Spencer picked off WSU's lone interception and returned it 24 yards.
Winona State (2-2) dives into NSIC South Division play beginning next week when it heads to Concordia-St. Paul for a 12 p.m. kickoff at Sea Foam Stadium.
