CROOKSTON, Minn. – For the second straight week, Winona State University hung a fifty on the scoreboard, defeating Minnesota Crookston University on the road Saturday by a final score of 51-13. The Warriors' offensive output was only bested by their 54-point effort last weekend.
It marked the second straight week the Winona State defense pitched a shutout in the first half of the game. The Warrior defense also directly accounted for nine points in the contest with a safety in the first quarter and an Alex Evans fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth.
It also marked the second straight game in which the WSU defense has put points on the board, and the 12th time in the last 16 contests dating back to last season.
Four of the Warriors' six offensive touchdowns on Saturday came on the ground as the Winona State backs gritted their way through the Golden Eagle defense and cold Crookston conditions. It was the second straight game in which the Warriors rushed for over 200 yards with a season-high 288 Saturday.
Eric Birth and Sam Santiago-Lloyd each bullied their way through the Crookston defense in the first quarter for goal line scores. A high snap later in the first quarter extended the Warrior lead to 16-0 before Santiago-Lloyd broke loose for another touchdown which extended the WSU lead to 23-0 into halftime.
The third quarter featured a pair of Owen Burke touchdown passes as Winona State took a 37-0 lead into the final period of play. Burke connected with Tanner Gran for a 22-yard score and found Darryl Williams for a 25-yard touchdown later in the third quarter. The touchdown catch was Gran's team-leading fifth of the year.
The Winona State lead swelled to 44-0 early in the fourth quarter before the home team finally put points on the board. Evans came up with a scoop-and-score for the Warriors on a Golden Eagle fumble deep in their own territory.
The Warriors' final touchdown drive came on an explosive 70-yard touchdown scamper by Miguel Benjamin in the fourth quarter. Benjamin, a redshirt freshman, set a new career-high for the second straight week with 85 yards rushing on the night.
Santiago-Lloyd led the running backs with a career-best 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Michael Ferrante paced another tenacious Warrior defensive effort with seven tackles, including 1.5 for-a-loss, and one sack. The Winona State defense has allowed less than 14 points per game over the last three weeks.
Winners of three in a row, Winona State improves to 5-2 this season while sending Crookston to a 1-6 mark.
The Warriors are now eyeing a marquee matchup with No. 6 Minnesota Duluth next weekend. Winona State will seek its second win over a nationally-ranked opponent this year next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
