WINONA, Minn. – No. 15 Winona State hosts No. 14 Sioux Falls in the Warriors' home opener on Saturday at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
This marks the earliest meeting in recorded program history (dating back to 1980) that both WSU and its opponent were ranked in the NFCA Top 25. Winona State is riding high off a 41-28 victory last Thursday at Wayne State to open the season in which the Warriors shined on offense, defense and special teams.
Saturday's game will be aired live online and locally on HBC25. The game will also be broadcast on KQAL Radio.
Prior to kickoff the Warrior Game Day Experience will open on campus near Johnson St. at 11 a.m. This free event is open to community members, current students, families and more. New this year is a Student Zone where WSU students can sign up for the Dr. Pepper Dash for Cash and a chance at a $500 scholarship.
Fan are encouraged to wear purple this week to match the Warriors' on-field jerseys.
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TESTED EARLY AND OFTEN: Winona State is one of four NSIC teams currently ranked in the NFCA Top 25. The Warriors were ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll and jumped six spots after their win at Wayne State. Following Saturday's nationally-ranked matchup, the Warriors will also host No. 3 Minnesota State Mankato and No. 24 Minnesota Duluth at home this year.
GIMME THAT: Ranked second in all of Division II last season in interceptions (24) and third in the country in total turnovers gained (37), the Warriors showed last Thursday that their ball-hawking defensive unit will once again be a strength during the 2018 campaign. The Winona State defense forced four turnovers at Wayne State and scored one touchdown. Romario Gayle and Cole Monckton each intercepted passes, Isaiah Hall forced a fumble and another Wildcat fumble ended up in the hands of Carter Duxbury for a WSU score.
PURPLE & BALLIU: Junior Jake Balliu put his name on the map last season by leading all Division II players and setting a new WSU record with 504 punt return yards. On Thursday, he accumulated 186 all-purpose yards and two receiving touchdowns. The elusive threat was fifth in the country with 936 combined returns yards while returning two punts and one kickoff for a score in 2017.
FIRST IMPRESSION: For the second straight season, Winona State opened the year with a new signal caller under center. After making three spot starts in 2017, Owen Burke began the new year as the Warriors' starting quarterback and did not disappoint last week at Wayne State. The sophomore went 20-30 against the Wildcats for 248 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Typically a pocket passer, Burke also showed quickness on his feet, scrambling eight times for 45 yards.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Junior running back Javian Roebuck posted his fourth career 100-yard rushing effort last week at Wayne State. He rushed for 102 total yards on 18 carries, including an explosive 53-yard touchdown scamper for the Warriors' first score of the season. WSU has plenty of depth in the backfield with Winona native Eric Birth alongside sophomores Landon Jacobson and Sam Santiago-Lloyd. Birth and Roebuck each rushed for nearly 700 yards last season, while Jacobson and Santiago-Lloyd combined for eight rushing touchdowns.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Seniors Michael Ferrante (DE), Nick Pridgeon (LB) and Colin Valley (OL), along with junior Michael Gomez (DL) have been named captains of the 2018 Warriors squad. It marks the second straight season Pridgeon has been dubbed a team captain.
HOME SWEET HOME: Dating back to 2012, the Warriors are 22-12 on their home turf in Winona. Over the past two seasons WSU has posted a 9-2 record at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
BACK TO HIS ROOTS: Winona State head coach Tom Sawyer was inducted in the Barron High School Golden Bears Reaching Dreams Hall of Fame on August 24, 2018. Sawyer was named the 2018 NSIC Football Coach of the Year, receiving the horror for the fifth time. Sawyer has led the Warriors to a 174-78 record in his 22-year tenure, including six NCAA DII Playoff appearances. He enters the season ranked third among active DII head coaches in wins.
SCOUTING USF: The Cougars eked out a 27-24 home win over CSP to open the season on a 26-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left on the clock. Gabriel Watson rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. The Cougar defense forced a fumbled and intercepted a pass in the game. The all-time series is knotted at 3-3 between WSU and USF. Last year's 31-13 road win by Winona over then No. 6-ranked Sioux Falls firmly put the Warriors on the nationally radar and helped propel Winona State to its first NCAA Playoff appearance in a decade.
