WINONA, Minn. – In what began as a halftime shutout by the Winona State University defense ended in a high-scoring affair that saw a pair of defensive players earn MVP honors and the Warriors prevailing in the fourth annual "Battle for the Sledge" over Southwest Minnesota State University at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium Saturday afternoon, 38-26.
Senior defensive captain Michael Ferrante ensured the Sledge would remain in Winona for the third consecutive year as he totaled two sacks, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble en route to MVP honors, presented by BIG Athletics. The defensive end and his teammates spent all afternoon in the Mustang backfield, racking up season highs in tackles-for-loss (13) and sacks (7.0).
Winners of four of its last five games, Winona State improves to 6-3 this season while SMSU falls to 4-5. Linebacker Shane Ratkovich was named the Mustangs' Sledge MVP.
The Warriors took a comfortable 16-0 lead into the locker room after two quarters that saw both sides dominate the defensive line of scrimmage. The teams combined for nine sacks and 15 total tackles in the backfield in the first half which resulted in both sides registering negative rushing yards at halftime.
Winona State allowed just one second half sack, but the defense was quickly put on its heels by Blake Gimbel and the Mustang offense. SMSU erased its 16-point halftime deficit in less than five minutes after the break, and the shootout was on from there.
After a pair of quick strikes and two-point conversions by the Mustangs, neither side scored for the remainder of the third quarter. Paul Ortiz's fourth field goal of the day broke the stalemate early in the fourth quarter before Owen Burke and Isaiah Frandsen got locked in later in the frame to put the game out of reach.
Isaiah Hall's huge fourth quarter was just beginning when the speedster returned a Mustang punt 38 yards to the SMSU 24-yard line after the WSU defense forced a three-and-out. Following Hall's return, Burke needed just one snap to connect with Frandsen in the end zone to pad the Warrior lead to 25-16.
After a Mustang field goal, Winona State answered with a seven-play drive that covered 62 yards – 42 of which were gained on the ground by Sam Santiago-Lloyd on a pair of 20-yard rushes. Burke capped that drive by finding Frandsen in the corner of the end zone for the duo's second touchdown hook up of the contest.
On the ensuing drive, Hall stepped in front of a pass from Gimbel and returned his first interception of the season for 23 yards and a touchdown as Winona State's fourth quarter spurt had reached a 22-3 advantage prior to the Mustangs' final score late in the ballgame.
Burke threw for a career-best 294 yards in the victory while matching his season high with three touchdowns. Frandsen led the way with six catches for 79 yards and recorded the fourth multi-TD game of his Warrior career while overtaking the team lead in touchdowns (7).
Connor Schulz hauled in three catches for a season-best 76 yards, and Jaylen Schleicher finished with three catches for 58 and yards and his first career touchdown which stood as the first score of the day on the Warriors' opening drive.
Ortiz connected on a trio of field goals in the first half including booming strikes from 49 and 50 yards out.
Despite entering halftime with negative nine yards rushing, Winona State concluded the game with 111 yards on the ground. Javian Roebuck collected 82 yards on 10 carries and Santiago-Lloyd finished with 68 yards on 10 carries.
Devon Moore paced the Warriors' swarming defense with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Hall added five tackles and two pass breakups. Cole LaLiberty (1.5), Trey Telez (1.0), Corrie King (0.5) and Luc Leszczynski (0.5) were all in on the sack party. LaLiberty scooped up a fumble forced by Ferrante late in the second quarter which led to an Ortiz field goal late in the half.
The Warriors hit the road for the first time in three weeks next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Augustana University. Following that tilt, Winona State concludes the regular season on November 10th at home against Concordia University, St. Paul.
