WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University welcomes its third ranked opponent to Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium this season as the Warriors look to extend their winning streak to four in a row while handing No. 5 Minnesota Duluth its first loss of the 2018 campaign.
Kickoff between the Warriors and Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. Game Day Experience opens at 11 a.m. on Johnson Street.
Live video, stats and radio links are all available, and the game can be viewed locally on HBC 24.
WSU already owns a victory over a ranked conference foe this year in a 16-15 triumph over then-No. 14 Sioux Falls. A win on Saturday over the Bulldogs could go a long way to bolster the Warriors' resume with the first release of the NCAA regional rankings due out on Monday.
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50/50: It has been a complete team effort that has allowed the Warriors to string together three consecutive wins. After a gritty 22-15 comeback win at Northern State, Winona State has pummeled its last two opponents by nearly identical scores of 54-13 and 51-13. It marks the first time in the past decade the Warriors have scored at least 50 points in back-to-back contests. Even more impressive over the last two weeks has been the depth shown by WSU with blowouts in hand. Last week, Miguel Benjamin and Darryl Williams each scored their first career touchdowns. Benjamin has totaled 150 yards rushing over the past two weeks. Two weeks ago against UMary, John Rumpza made his first appearance under center this year and was perfect in six pass attempts with a touchdown strike.
SCOUTING DULUTH: The Bulldogs (7-0) are one of just two undefeated teams in the NSIC along with Minnesota Mankato. Duluth has been a perennial power in the NSIC North, compiling a 42-11 record and reaching the postseason in each of the last five seasons, including three NCAA Playoff berths. During that span Duluth has won three NCAA Playoff games and one Mineral Water Bowl. Duluth won the 2008 and 2010 NCAA DII Championship. This season, the Bulldogs boast the best scoring defense in the NSIC (11.3 ppg) and the second-best scoring offense (39.7). Duluth averages 450.1 yards/game on offense and has the league's best defense at 223.6 yards/game. Running back Wade Sullivan and quarterback John Larson have combined for 14 rushing touchdowns as Duluth has a league-leading 23 total touchdowns on the ground. Larson's 11 touchdowns through the air rank sixth in the NSIC. Nate Ricci leads the team in catches (24) and yards (334).
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE VS. IMMOVABLE OBJECT: Winona State's three-headed monster in the backfield with square off against a Duluth defense that has allowed just 79.7 rushing yards/game this season. The Warriors have rushed for at least 100 yards in six of seven games this year, at least 150 yards five times and over 200 yards in back-to-back contests. Over the last three weeks, WSU has averaged 213 rushing yards/game. Sam Santiago-Lloyd leads the team with 406 yards and five touchdowns, just ahead of Javian Roebuck's 394 yards and two scores. Senior Eric Birth has also added three rushing touchdowns. The Bulldogs have surrendered just one rushing touchdown and one 100-yard effort on the ground this year.
DEFENSE IS THE BEST OFFENSE: Last week at Crookston, the Warriors' defense put nine points on the board compliments a safety and an Alex Evans fumble recovery for a touchdown. Over the past two weeks the WSU defense has forced six turnovers and enters Saturday ranked seventh in the country in turnovers gained (18). Dating back to last season, the Warrior defense has put points on the board 13 times by way of a safety or touchdown over its last 16 games.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Sophomore quarterback Owen Burke bolstered his touchdown total this season to 15 with two more scores last week. The Denver, Colorado native has at least one touchdown in every game this year and ranks fourth in the NSIC in touchdown passes. Burke also ranks fourth in efficiency rating (135.1) and is fifth in the league in passing yards/game (226.4).
SPREAD THE WEALTH: Burke has found plenty of options in the passing game, connecting with 14 different receivers this year. Senior Isaiah Frandsen leads the way in catches (24) and receiving yards (442) to go along with four touchdowns. Junior Tanner Gran is second on the team in catches (19), third in yards (241) and leads the way with five touchdowns. Gran has a touchdown reception in three straight games. Sophomore Tyler Anderson has burst onto the scene as of late and ranks second on the team with 257 receiving yards.
CORNERED: The Warriors' two leading tacklers this season reside at the cornerback position in Isaiah Hall (37) and Cole Monckton (34). Monckton leads the team with eight pass-breakups while Hall ranks third with 5.5 tackles-for-loss. The duo has combined for seven career interceptions and three forced fumbles. Looming deep in the secondary is the Warriors' interception leader – Romario Gayle (4).
