WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State Warriors return home to Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium in the midst of a four-week stretch facing NSIC North opponents for the 2018 Homecoming Game against the University of Mary. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
The Warriors are 5-1 all-time against the Marauders including a dominant 51-0 victory the last time the two teams met in 2016.
Saturday's Homecoming festivities begin at 10 a.m. with the annual parade and the Warrior Game Day Experience opens at 11 a.m.
Along with the 2018 Hall of Fame Class being introduced at halftime of the game, Winona State will also recognize the 1964, 1968, 1973, 1984, 1993, 1998 and 2003 football teams throughout the day.
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LAST WEEK: The Warriors snapped their two-game skid with a gritty 22-15 comeback win at Northern State last Saturday. After leading 14-3 in the third quarter, Winona State saw the Wolves respond with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to take a 15-14 lead. Senior Eric Birth found the endzone for WSU late in the fourth quarter for his second score of the day after a 40-yard punt return by Isaiah Hall set up the game-winning drive.
SCOUTING UMARY: The Marauders (0-5) are still seeking their first win of the 2018 campaign, and have lost nine straight games dating back to last season. Mary is the only winless team remaining in the NSIC this year. The Marauders rank last in the league in scoring defense (44.6 ppg) and are second-to-last in scoring offense (17 ppg). Defensively, Mary has been gashed on the ground this season by 231.8 rushing yards/game while allowing 238.6 yards/game through the air – both of which rank in the bottom half of the NSIC. Three different Marauder quarterbacks have seen action this season. Luke Little leads the team with 23 catches for 362 yards, while DeShawn Gay has a team-best three receiving touchdowns. Bryan Lumsden has rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns this year.
HOMECOMING FIREWORKS: With recent Homecoming Games serving as an indicator, fans can expect a high-scoring affair this Saturday. Despite a 3-4 record over the past seven Homecomings, the Warriors have averaged 35 points per game, including a 42-19 win last year over Wayne State. Winona State's highest scoring output came in a 58-24 victory over CSP in 2011.
MARIO PARTY: Junior safety Romario Gayle leads the team and ranks second in the NSIC with four interception this year, including one in three straight contests. His interception last week sealed the Warriors' win at Northern State with the Wolves driving down the field in the final seconds of the ballgame. Gayle ranks fourth on the team in tackles (25). The Niles, Illinois native was named the 2017 "Battle of the Sledge" MVP after totaling eight tackles (3 TFL) and a forced fumble against SMSU.
CORNERED: The Warriors' two leading tacklers this season reside at the cornerback position in Isaiah Hall (30) and Cole Monckton (27). Hall has a team-best 5.5 tackles-for-loss while Monckton leads the way with seven pass-breakups. The duo has combined for seven career interceptions and three forced fumbles.
IN THE RED: The Warriors successfully punched in a pair of red zone touchdowns last week at Northern State; something WSU has struggled with at times this season. Winona State is 11-18 overall in red zone scoring, but still just 5-18 in red zone touchdowns. The Warriors will look to exploit a vulnerable UMary defense this week and light up the scoreboard inside and outside of the red zone.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Sophomore quarterback Owen Burke has thrown for at least 200 yards and one touchdown in all five games this season. He ranks fourth in the NSIC in touchdown passes (10). The Denver, Colorado native has completed at least 50 percent of his pass attempts each week and ranks fifth in the league in passing yards/game (249.2). Senior Isaiah Frandsen has found a good rhythm with his new quarterback over the last three weeks, combining for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Frandsen has three 100-yard receiving and three multi-TD games in his Warrior career.
PICK YOUR POISON: The Warriors have three horses in the backfield that have shown the ability to carry the offense this season. Winona native Eric Birth ran for a season-best 77 yards and two scores last weekend, including a 62-yard touchdown scamper. Javian Roebuck leads the team with 267 rushing yards, while sophomore Sam Santiago-Lloyd has rushed for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
NEXT MAN UP: Winona State has already suffered its fair share of injuries this year with the losses of Jake Balliu, Cam Gavin, Nick Pridgeon and Michael Gomez just to name a few. The Warriors depth has been tested and seen the emergence of players such as Justin Gross, Devon Moore and David Smith on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, Tyler Anderson and Tanner Gran have contributed in a big way at the receiver position with a combined 409 yards and three touchdowns.
