WINONA, Minn. –  Junior kicker Carter McCauley helped the Winona State Warriors (4-1, 1-0 NSIC South) pull off an upset over #19 ranked Minnesota State Mankato (3-2, 0-1 NSIC South) Saturday, hitting a 29-yard field goal as time expired.
 
The Warriors would score the final ten points of the game, doing so in under three minutes, to earn the win.
 
Both sides had a three and out followed by a punt from to begin the game. The Warriors would get on the board first; a 47-yard touchdown pass from Jack Nelson to Will Claussen. The score began with a double reverse hand off that was pitched back to Nelson, who connected with Claussen to cap off a four play, 67-yard drive.
 
The Warriors forced the first turnover of the game on an interception by cornerback Sir'Vegias Steele, who fell out of bounds at the opposing six-yard line following a short six-yard return. Winona State quickly capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown on their first play of the possession, as Nelson completed a six-yard pass to a wide open Nick Margiotta in the end zone.
 
The Warrior defense got another interception on the Mavericks next possession, this time by freshman Cam Gavin. The quarter would end with the Warriors leading 14-0.
 
Jack Nelson went over 10,000 yards of total offense in his career with an eight-yard completion to Claussen early in the second quarter.  A ten play, 66-yard drive led to a McCauley field goal from 34-yards out to make the score 17-0.
 
Minnesota State Mankato was held to a field goal for their first points of the game on the next possession, cutting their deficit to 14.
 
After a Warrior punt, defensive penalties including a defensive holding and pass interference, set up the Mavericks for their second score of the game. This time they completed the drive with a touchdown. Nick Pieruccini hit Erik Fuller from two yards out to make the score 17-10.
 
The hot Winona State start was put on ice as the Mavericks dominated the end of the first half. The final MSU score of the half was set up after another Warrior punt and defensive penalty. Pieruccini connected on a 17-yard pass play with Ty Dennis to help knot the score at 17 before the first half ended.
 
The Warrior defense made a crucial goal line stop early in the third quarter. After a bad snap on a punt attempt by Winona State, the Mavericks took possession on the Warriors five-yard line. Andrew Spencer forced a fumble on Minnesota State Mankato's fourth down attempt that was recovered by Lauden Wood.
 
After the turnover the Warriors kept the momentum alive; a 54-yard catch and run by Paul Preston would help set up a Winona State score. On the next play Nelson and Zach Olstad hooked up on a 20-yard touchdown. The drive lasted four plays and covered 96 yards in just over two minutes. The score put the Warriors back on top with a 24-17 lead.
 
The third quarter of play ended in a tie at 24-24; after a four play, 67-yard possession led to an eight-yard touchdown pass by Pieruccini, his third of the game.
 
Minnesota State took their first lead of the game at the beginning the fourth quarter, converting a 12 play, 82-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown pass by Pieruccini.
 
The next possession for each team ended with a punt. The Warriors capitalized on two MSU pass interference calls to finish off their 14 play, 83-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown reception by Cameron Johnson, tying the game at 31 with just over two and a half minutes to go.
 
Winona State's defense didn't break as they forced a three and out. Winona State took over at their 35 with 1:23 on the clock. The final possession of the game featured two crucial catches from Johnson, who made a monumental impact in the final quarter of play. McCauley had a chance to finish off the upset with three seconds left in the game and put the 29-yard field goal through the uprights to seal the 34-31 victory.
 
Quick Hitters:

• Jack Nelson led all passers with 355-yards passing on the day, including four touchdowns passes.
• The 355 yards was 13^th most in school history for a single game.
• The touchdowns extended Nelson's consecutive games with a touchdown streak to 37.
• It was the eighth time Nelson threw four touchdowns in a game and 18^th time he threw for at least 300 yards.
• Nelson needs eight more touchdown passes to reach 100 in his career.
• Cameron Johnson was the Warriors leading receiver with seven catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.
• Johnson surpassed the 2,000 yard receiving mark in the game.
• Johnson extended his consecutive touchdown streak to six.
• Johnson's 108 yards were good enough to make him the 12^th player to reach the 2,000 yard receiving yard mark. His touchdown also gives him sole possession of the ninth spot in Winona State receiving touchdown history with 24.
• Mike Imperiale, Aikan Major and Travis Frank all tied for the team lead with seven tackles. Imperiale had two tackles-for-loss while Frank had one.
• It was the first time since 2011 that MSU has lost two conference games in a season.
• It was the first road loss for the Mavericks since 2011. They had won 24 straight road games.

 
By: Jake Thiede