WINONA, Minn. – Winona State's defense was special once again on Saturday as they held Northern State scoreless for the first three quarters in a 26-7 win. The Warriors (2-1, 2-1 NSIC) held Northern State (1-2, 1-2 NSIC) to just 5-16 on third downs; through the first three quarters the Wolves were just 4-13 on third down.
 
Offensively the Warriors racked up 463 yards, including 332 through the air. Jack Nelson had his 17^th game with at least 300 yards passing in his career. Cameron Johnson and Will Claussen each had 100 yards receiving.
 
The day started with a quick four play, 47-yard drive as Paul Preston took the ball into the end zone from seven yards out, just 89 second in. The game would stay 7-0 after a quarter of play. The Warriors held the Wolves to just 35 yards of offense in the first quarter.
 
Eric Birth helped the Warriors grab a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter as he finished off a 14 play drive. Birth's five-yard touchdown run was his third score of the season. About 11 minutes later Nelson would hit Johnson in the end zone on a 37-yard toss and catch.
 
Mike Imperiale picked off a Christian McAlvain pass late in the second quarter, putting the WSU offense back on the field. The Warriors took over on their own 37 yard-line with 26 ticks left in the half. Winona State would quickly drive into the Wolves half of the field and set Nate Gennrich up with a 31-yard field goal attempt. The freshman came through and put Winona State up 23-0 as time expired in the first half.
 
Gennrich added to the Warriors lead late in the third quarter, this time connecting from 28 yards out. The third quarter was dominated by defense, as the two teams combined for just 154 yards. Anthony Spencer had an interception in the quarter which helped lead to the Gennrich field goal.
 
Northern State would end the Warriors shutout bid and score the first touchdown by the opposition since the third quarter of last season's game with Southwest Minnesota State. In total the Winona State defense held the opposition off the board for over eight quarters of play. Northern State cut the Winona State lead to 26-7 with 8:37 left in the game.
 
The Wolves would never get the ball back as Winona State held the ball for the next 8:34 to ice the game. The Warriors completed three third downs and fourth and one on the final drive of the contest.
 
QUICK HITS:

• Johnson caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game this season and fourth straight game dating back to last season.
• In his last four games Johnson has seven touchdowns.
• Preston had 57 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
• Winona State had 16 first downs through the air.
• WSU outgained NSU 332-92 in passing yards.
• Northern State averaged just 6.1 yards per pass competition.
• The Warriors held the ball for 36:42 in the game.
• 27 of the Warriors 131 net rushing yards came on the final drive.
• Claussen and Jonson each had eight receptions.
• Preston finished with 131 yards of total offense (87 rushing, 44 receiving)
• Preston did not have a kick return in the game and remains 21 yards short of 1,000 kick return yards in his career.
• Nelson was 24-35 with a touchdown and 332 yards passing in the game.
• The Warriors defense had eight tackles-for-loss, led by Ryan Cain with two.
• Cain had ten tackles and one pass breakup.
• Lauden Wood and Michael Ferrante each had a sack on Saturday afternoon.
• Spencer was all over on defense; he had nine tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one interception and one pass breakup.