WINONA, Minn. – Thursday night the Winona State football team officially returns for the 2016 season opener. The opponent will be Minnesota Crookston and kick off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Warriors will try to get the season off to a flying start and earn a season opening victory over the Golden Eagles for the second time since 2012.
In 2012 WSU handed UMC a 58-6 loss to start the year. That season culminated with ten wins and an appearance in the Mineral Water Bowl, the last time a Warriors team has finished the season with double digit wins and a postseason trip.
Tomorrow is the first home season opener since 2013. Three years ago the Warriors started the year with a 34-27 overtime loss to Bemidji State. Bemidji scored 31 unanswered points to earn the victory.
This is the second season opening game against the Golden Eagles in program history. The closest game in the series history was a 20-14 win back in 2000. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter during that game.
PRESEASON POLL: WSU received 139 votes in the preseason coaches' poll, eighth overall in the conference. In the south division they were voted fifth with 27 points. Minnesota State was voted as the preseason favorite with 216 points and the south division favorite with 47 points. Augustana and Sioux Falls were picked as the top challengers to Minnesota State in the South.
JACK ATTACK: Senior quarter
Jack Nelson has already broken the school record for career passing yards with a full season to go. He currently has 8,977 yards, fourth most in Northern Sun History. The conference record is 11,581, set by Upper Iowa's Cole Jaeschke from 2011-14. Nelson has a chance to finish his career as one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history. Another 3,000+ yard season could put Nelson in the top-15 in NCAA Division II history.
KICK IT: Last season place kick
Carter McCauley finished with 18 made field goals, tying a Northern Sun record and setting a new school record. He finished the year with seven field goals of at least 42 yards, including a school record 59 yarder against Southwest Minnesota State. McCauley holds the top-four longest made field goals in program history.
RUNNING WILD: Winona State may have set a team record for most passing yards in a single season last year but Warrior running back
Paul Preston was the third leading rusher in the Northern Sun last season. Preston finished with 89.7 yards per game and five touchdowns. Preston also had 28 catches for 370 yards in 2015, fourth on the team.
ALL HE DOES IS CATCH TOUCHDOWN PASSES: Cameron Johnson tied for the team lead with eight touchdown receptions last season. One of every seven catches went for a touchdown in 2015.
WORTHY EX-SPENCE: The Warrior defense finished last year with 13 interceptions, leading the way was defensive back
Andrew Spencer. He finished last year with three interceptions and 72 return yards.
CLIP THEIR WINGS: The Winona State Warriors will look to improve their third down defense this season after allowing their opponents to pick up 47% of their third down attempts. Opponents were also 15-23 on fourth down last year.
The Warriors were 4-0 last season when holding opponents to less than 40% on third down. The lone win of the year when an opponent converted above 40% was against Concordia-St. Paul. In that game the Warriors forced five turnovers, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
SERIES HISTORY:
Overall Series: Warriors lead 13-0... 14th Matchup
First meeting: Oct 9, 1999, WSU won 61-35
Last meeting: Sept. 20, 2014, WSU won 33-7
Last WSU win in series: Sept. 20, 2014, WSU won 33-7
Last UMC Win Over WSU: None
