WAYNE, Neb. – Junior wide receiver Jake Balliu combined for 186 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns Thursday night in No. 21 Winona State University's 41-28 victory at Wayne State College to kick off the 2018 season.
The Warrior defense accounted for four turnovers and a score – picking up right where the nation's third-best unit for takeaways left off last year.
Following a touchdown in the opening quarter, Winona State extended its lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter behind a balanced offensive attack. The Wildcats answered with two straight touchdowns of their own to knot the score before Paul Ortiz's 26-yard field goal gave the Warriors' a 17-14 edge at halftime.
An explosive 53-yard touchdown run by Javian Roebuck broke the scoring seal for Winona State on the first play of the Warriors' second offensive drive of the game. Roebuck totaled 70 yards in the first quarter which allowed starting quarterback Owen Burke to find his rhythm in the passing game. Burke hit Balliu in the slot on third down and the shifty receiver scampered into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.
After exchanging punts, the home team was finally able to break through against the Winona State defense. Wayne State's All-Conference wideout Nate Rogers hauled in a pair of touchdown catches on consecutive drives to tie the game at 14-14. The 6'5" senior was able to out-jump WSU corner Cole Monckton on both scores.
Despite Monckton's size disadvantage, the 5'10" defensive back would make his presence felt. With the Wildcats driving again in Warrior territory, Monckton jumped a route for his fifth career interception. The turnover allowed Winona State to execute a successful two-minute drill which resulted in a field goal and a three-point halftime advantage.
The Warriors turned up the defensive intensity in the second half which produced two more turnovers. The first of which came on the Wildcats' second snap of the half and resulted in a fumble recovered in the end zone by Carter Duxbury.
Rogers found the end zone for the third time midway through the third quarter to cut the Wildcat deficit to 24-21, but Balliu wouldn't be upstaged as he and Burke connected once more to stretch Winona's lead back to 31-21.
The back-and-forth affair continued with Wayne State again slashing the WSU advantage to just three points with a touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter. Ortiz connected on his second field goal of the night on the Warriors' ensuing possession to make it a 34-28 game.
The Warrior defense answered with a much-needed stop on the ensuing Wildcat possession in the form of a Romario Gayle interception. The timely turnover preceded a nine-play, 49-yard drive engineered by Burke and culminated with a touchdown pass to Tanner Gran to seal the win.
Burke went 20-37 on the night for 248 yards and three touchdowns in his season debut as the new Winona State signal caller. The sophomore also rushed for 45 yards.
Roebuck finished the game with 102 yards on the ground for his fourth career 100-yard rushing effort.
Gran led the receiving core with six catches for 84 yards and a score. Isaiah Frandsen caught two passes for 47 yards.
Senior linebacker Nick Pridgeon paced the defense with eight tackles. The captain also recorded 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Isaiah Hall recorded a forced fumble in the first quarter and assisted Balliu in return duties as the duo showcased their explosive abilities.
The Warriors' home opener is slated for next Saturday against No. 20 Sioux Falls at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winona. The Game Day Experience opens at 11 a.m. with kickoff against the Cougars set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 8.
