MOORHEAD, Minn. – Winona State University plays its second consecutive road game at MSU Moorhead in its first of four straight matchups against NSIC North foes. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Currently winless away from Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium, following a 20-6 setback at No. 3 Mankato last week, the Warriors look to secure their first road triumph Saturday with four remaining road contests left on the 2019 schedule.
WSU lost 42-17 in its last trip to MSU Moorhead in 2015, but the Warriors have won the previous 15 meetings outside of that game.
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SCOUTING MSU MOORHEAD: The Dragons have won two straight and are 1-1 at home this season. MSU Moorhead ranks second in the NSIC in scoring offense (33.8 ppg), but has shown cracks on the other side of the ball, ranking 12th in scoring defense (29.3 ppg). The explosive Dragon offense put up 20 points in a loss to then-No. 13 Duluth against a Bulldog defense that allows just 12 points/game. MSUM does a bulk of its damage through the air. Freshman quarterback Matthew Plasterer has ascended to the starting role and ranks second in the NSIC in passing efficiency (138.5). The rookie has thrown for 500 yards and five TDs in two games as the starter – including four scores to Grady Bresnahan. The junior wideout leads the NSIC in yards (403) and yards/game (100.8). Denver Colgrove ranks second in the NSIC with five rushing touchdowns and is seventh in yards/carry (5.4), despite only rushing 34 times this year.
SOMETHING SPECIAL: Winona State may have an opportunity to break out in the return game this week as MSU Moorhead ranks last in the NSIC in kickoff return yards allowed (575). Led by Jake Balliu and Isaiah Hall, the Warriors currently lead the league in kickoff return average (25.2 – ranking 25th nationally) while MSUM has allowed an average of 27.4 yards/return. Balliu's 858 career kick return yards rank 16th in program history and Hall currently leads WSU this season with 241 return yards. The Warriors have returned at least one kickoff for a touchdown in each of the past two seasons – including one by Balliu in 2017.
JEKYLL & HYDE: With a high-scoring affair expected on Saturday, the Warriors will rely on junior quarterback Owen Burke to have a bounce-back game from his three INT performance at Mankato. It marked the second time this season Burke has thrown a trio of interceptions. In his second full-time year under center, Burke looked poised for a breakout season after throwing for a career-best 313 yards with three TDs in the opener vs. Wayne State. Since then, Burke has been limited to 429 yards while throwing two TDs and six INTs in the last three games.
SPREAD THE WEALTH: In Burke's breakout game vs. Upper Iowa, the quarterback connected with 12 different receivers – showcasing the Warriors' depth at wideout. If the Warriors can establish the ground game, and work the underneath routes with Tyler Anderson, Jake Balliu and Tyler Knutson, it should open up lanes downfield for WSU's homerun threats in Tanner Gran, Sawyer Maly and Connor Schulz.
NEXT MAN UP: Winona State opened the season expecting to use a heavy dose of its two-headed monster in the backfield of Javian Roebuck and Sam Santiago-Lloyd. After Roebuck went down in the opener, Santiago-Lloyd has picked up the slack with a team-best 379 rushing yards and one touchdown. Landon Jacobson has also been elevated as the new backup and has rushed for 94 yards with a pair of scores. Roebuck's return is expected in the next week or two and will aid the ground attack which ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing touchdowns (3).
GOOSE EGGS: The Warrior defense pitched its first shutout of the year two weeks ago against Upper Iowa, and has posted nine quarters this season without yielding any points. Winona State also blanked Wayne State in the opener for the first three quarters of the contest. The Warriors enter the weekend ranked sixth in the NSIC in scoring defense (18.5 ppg) and eighth in total defense (356 yards/game) after limiting Mankato to 329 yards of total offense (more than 100 less than the Mavericks season average).
CORNERED: With offenses shying away from All-American cornerback Isaiah Hall, senior corner Cole Monckton has seen a lot of action and currently leads the team in total tackles (25) and solo tackles (20). He has one pass breakup and one fumble recovery this year. Hall has totaled 18 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception. The duo will have their hands full on Saturday against the NSIC's leading receiver in Grady Bresnahan.
