MANKATO, Minn. – Winona State University entered Saturday's pivotal tilt at No. 3 Minnesota State Mankato with a chance to claim first place in the NSIC South. That opportunity vanished in a hurry when Owen Burke threw an interception on the game's first play from scrimmage, and the Warriors were unable to overcome a 14-point first quarter by the Mavericks in a 20-6 loss.
Looking to attack a vulnerable Mankato secondary, Burke was intercepted three times, for the second time this season, and was held to just 107 yards passing.
Mankato needed just three plays to cash in on the turnover and put the Warriors in an early 7-0 hole. Winona State moved the ball successfully against the Mavericks on its ensuing possession drive until the drive was halted in the red zone by Burke's second interception of the quarter.
WSU cut into its 14-0 deficit with a 41-yard Paul Ortiz field goal that capped an 18-play 54-yard drive, and looked to send the Warriors into the locker room with some momentum as the clock stood at just 30 seconds remaining in the first half. However, Mankato returning the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to set up a field goal of its own to take a 17-3 lead into the break.
A defensive standstill followed in the third quarter until Ortiz connected once again from 28 yards late in the quarter to make it a 17-6 affair. But, the Winona State remained stuck in first gear as the Warriors were limited to just 47 total yards in the second half of play.
Winona State has now been held out of the endzone in back-to-back contests while playing in Mankato.
Sam Santiago-Lloyd accounted for 81 of the Warriors' net 80 rushing yards. In total, the Mankato defense stymied the Warrior offense to a season-low 187 yards.
The Warrior defense did all it could to keep the ballgame close, holding the Mavericks out of the endzone in the second half as well and limiting the NSIC's top offense to 329 total yards – more than 100 yards less than their season average.
Devon Moore led the defensive unit with eight tackles. Cole Monckton added seven and one TFL. Kenneth Sanders added an interception on the Mavericks' final offensive possession.
Winona State (2-2) will play its second of two consecutive road games next week at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 5.
