WINONA, Minn. – Coming off a wild 28-26 win at MSU Moorhead last Saturday, the Warriors return to Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium for Winona State's 2019 Homecoming Game. Kickoff against the Minot State Beavers is set for 2 p.m. Game Day Experience opens at 11 a.m.
The Warriors have won all three meetings historically against the Beavers and are looking to author back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Undefeated at home this year, the Warriors are 16-3 on their turf dating back to the 2016 campaign.
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SCOUTING MINOT: The Beavers (2-3) are coming off a four-point home loss to SMSU last weekend in which they were held to just 251 yards of total offense and 12 first downs. Minot State ranks 12th in the NSIC in scoring offense (18.4 ppg) and is 11th in scoring defense (26.4). Offensively, the Beavers are averaging 307 total yards/game (compared to 328.4 by WSU), but have been gouged for 451.4 yards/game defensively. Minot is particularly susceptible to the run, allowing the third-most rushing yards in the league (1,140). The Beavers passing offense is the worst in the NSIC (146.4 yards/game), so WSU can expect a heavy dose of Ali Mohamed on the ground. Mohamed ranks second in the conference in rushing yards/game (85.2), but has found the endzone just twice. Quarterback Ben Bolinske has thrown four interceptions with two of his five TDs coming from Lavante Bushnell, who leads Minot with 346 receiving yards.
FOURTH QUARTER FERNZY: Last week at Moorhead, the Warriors led 14-3 after the first quarter and 20-9 at halftime, only to see the Dragons rally for a 26-23 lead in the fourth quarter. With 8:48 left to play, the flood gates opened as WSU forced a turnover, had a game-tying field goal blocked, and recorded a safety, all which led to Owen Burke orchestrating a two-minute drill to set up Paul Ortiz's game-winning field goal. The gritty road triumph stands as the Warriors' first come-from-behind victory of the season. Ortiz went 4-5 on field goal attempts last week and currently ranks third in the country in FG/game (2.25).
SPECIAL DELIVERY: Junior Isaiah Hall was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week, due in large part to his game-opening 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His 29-yard punt return in the fourth quarter also set up Winona's game-winning score. Hall compiled 174 kick/punt return yards last week and currently ranks 12th in the country in combined return yards (415). As a team, WSU leads the NSIC and ranks fifth nationally in kickoff return average (28.42 yards/return).
OFFENSIVE SPARKS: Last week the Warriors got a career-best performance by Tyler Anderson (101 receiving yards) and a season-high 83 combined yards by running back Landon Jacobson. Jacobson recorded a career-high 22 rushing attempts after Sam Santiago-Lloyd left the game. Santiago-Lloyd leads the team in rushing yards (380) and ranks fifth in the NSIC in yards/game (76). Javian Roebuck's return is also imminent to the lineup as the Warriors will look to feast off a Beaver defense that allows 228 rushing yards/game.
CLUTCH PERFORMANCES: Defense has once again been a strength of the Warriors this season, and helped lead to Winona State's comeback win last Saturday. WSU currently ranks 24th in the country in turnovers gained (12), is fourth in the NSIC in interceptions (9) and seventh in the league in scoring defense (20 ppg). Redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Perhats tallied his first two career INTs last weekend, including a huge fourth quarter pick to halt a Moorhead scoring drive. Additionally, Michael Gomez recorded two fourth quarter sacks, one which preceded the Perhats INT and the other forcing a fumble to end the game. Gomez leads the team in sacks (3) and has 5.0 TFL.
RED ALERT: Winona State is still looking for an answer in the red zone this season. The Warriors have successfully scored in 13 of 18 trips, but have converted just four touchdowns in those attempts. WSU put points on the board in five of seven trips last week with one TD strike from Owen Burke to Jake Balliu.
ENSHIRED: On Friday night, former WSU football player Brian Hynes (2000-05) will be inducted into the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame. He and the entire HOF Class of 2019 will be honored at halftime. Hynes led the NCAA in receiving yards/game (129.2) in 2005. That season he was a Harlon Hill Finalist and named an All-American by five different publications. Hynes was a two-time All-NSIC recipient at wideout. His name is still scattered throughout the WSU record book – ranking second in all-time receptions (172) and career reception yards (3,062), and third in career touchdowns (30). His 17 TD receptions and 1,421 receiving yards in 2005 also rank second in single-season history to date. Hynes was a member of five NSIC conference championship teams, helped lead the Warriors to the Mineral Water Bowl twice and the NCAA Division II Playoffs three times.
