WINONA, Minn. – No. 11 Winona State University travels to Upper Iowa University on Saturday looking to extend its season-opening winning streak to three straight. Kickoff between the Warriors and Peacocks is slated for 6 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa.
The Warriors have dominated the all-time series, 13-1, including a 37-7 home win last year. Last week WSU came from behind in a slugfest with then-No. 14 Sioux Falls for a 16-15 victory.
Winona State will look to continue its climb up the AFCA Top 25 ahead of next weekend's marquee home matchup with No. 2 Minnesota State Mankato.
Live stats and video will be provided Saturday at Upper Iowa with the game also available on KQAL Radio. The game can also be seen locally on HBC channel 24.
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ONE-SIDED AFFAIR: Saturday's tilt in Fayette, Iowa will mark the 15th meeting between the Warriors and Peacocks dating back to 1968. It hasn't been much of a rivalry between the two squads as Winona State owns a dominant 13-1 all-time series lead. Upper Iowa's lone win against the Warriors came on October 17, 2015 in Winona with the Peacocks claiming a 35-21 victory.
SCOUTING UPPER IOWA: The Peacocks have played in two very different games this season. Upper Iowa opened with a 48-45 home loss to Augustana before falling at Concordia-St. Paul last week, 34-7. The Peacocks rank second in the league in passing yards/game (330.5), but are near the bottom of the league in rushing offense (64). Quarterback Brent Lammers has thrown for 661 total yards in two games with five touchdowns and three interceptions. DJ Emsweller is the leading receiver with 208 yards on 17 catches and three scores. UIU has only one rushing touchdown on the year.
TURF WAR: Last week, Winona State won a 16-15 slugfest at home over then-No. 14 Sioux Falls. The Warriors trailed 7-0 at half before the defense put the first points on the board compliments a safety by Devon Moore. Quarterback Owen Burke overcame a pair of first half interceptions with two touchdown passes in the second half to help lead the WSU comeback. The eventual game-winner was hauled in by Tanner Gran for his second score in as many weeks. Among the Warriors' five remaining home games, two more will feature ranked opponents with No. 2 Minnesota Mankato traveling to Winona next weekend and No. 16 Minnesota Duluth visiting on October 20th.
NEXT MAN UP: Winona State has suffered a handful of early-season injuries to marquee players on the defensive side of the ball, but that hasn't stopped the Warriors from being the same disruptive unit that has become a staple in the league and one of the best in the country in recent years. Dating back to last season, the defense has put points on the board in five of the last seven games. The defense will be tested once again this week against one of the best passers in the NSIC after WSU allowed just 129 passing yards last week to Sioux Falls.
IT RUNS DEEP: Junior Javian Roebuck has led the Warriors in rushing both games this season, raking up 180 yards and one touchdown. He broke loose for his fourth career 100-yard rushing game in the opener at Wayne State before posting 78 yards against Sioux Falls. Last week, Roebuck was out-touched, 20-10, by sophomore back Sam Santiago-Lloyd who rushed for 71 yards. WSU has plenty of depth in the backfield that also features senior Eric Birth and sophomore Landon Jacobson who combined for 13 rushing touchdowns last year.
SOMETHING SPECIAL: Junior Jake Balliu has racked up 282 all-purpose yards through two games for WSU. Balliu hauled in a career-best two touchdowns in the opener at Wayne while continuing to be the most elusive return man in the country. He currently ranks second in the NSIC in punt return average (27.0) and is fourth in kick return average (27.0). Teammate Isaiah Hall ranks third in the league in kick returns (28.3).
CORNERED: Along with his return duties, Isaiah Hall has blossomed into a standout cornerback for the Warriors opposite Cole Monckton on the other side of the field. Hall and Monckton, along with Justin Gross, share the team lead with 12 tackles apiece. Hall has a team-best four tackles-for-loss and recorded half a sack last week. Hall and Monckton have combined for four pass breakups. Hall has forced one fumble and Monckton has one interception.
UNSUNG HERO: Punters don't typically make the headline, but senior Michael Russell has shined early this season for WSU. Russell ranks third in the league in punting average (44.6) with a season-long of 59 yards. The senior is tied for the NSIC lead in punts inside the 20-yard line, including a game-changing punt late last week that was downed at the one-yard line to help WSU secure a victory.
