WINONA, Minn. - A storybook ending to Tom Sawyer's 26-year coaching career at Winona State University saw two Warriors rewarded for their efforts in a 18-16 victory over rival Minnesota State - Mankato on Saturday. 

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has named linebacker Carter Duxbury (Jr., Chatfield, Minn.) as the NSIC Football Defensive Player of the Week and placekicker Jacob Scott (Fr., Flower Mound, Texas) as the NSIC Football Special Teams Player of the Week, following outstanding performances in Sawyer's 197th college victory.

Duxbury, the NSIC leader in total sacks with 11, changed the momentum of the game in first quarter when he sacked Maverick quarterback Hayden Ekern, stripping the ball into the end zone where a MSU-Mankato lineman picked it up and was subsequently tackled by Corrie King for a Warrior safety.  At the time, the score closed the gap to 3-2 in favor of the Mavericks.  Then, as the clock wound down in the final seconds of the game, Duxbury delivered once more, dropping Ekern again as he sought one last passing attempt towards the end zone from midfield.  In between his two game-changing tackles behind the line of scrimmage, Duxbury racked up four other stops in the Warrior win. 

Kicking in cold and windy conditions, Winona State freshman placekicker Jacob Scott accounted for 10 of the Warrior's 18 points in their season-ending win over Minnesota State - Mankato.  Scott sent three field goal attempts of 27, 26 and 31 yards through the middle of the uprights on Saturday, including the game's final score.  His longest effort of the day put Winona State up 18-16 with ten minutes remaining in the game.  Scott also was 1-for-1 on PAT's, delivering the point-after following an Owen Burke-to-Jaylen Schleicher touchdown toss in the first quarter. 

For Winona State, Duxbury and Scott represent the third and fourth Warriors to earn NSIC Football Player of the Week honors in 2021.  In week one, Clay Schueffner was the NSIC Defensive POW with a outstanding effort in a Winona State win over Concordia - St. Paul, while Jake Balliu earned Special Teams POW in week 6 after a record-setting effort in returning kicks against Northern State, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. 

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

About Winona State University Athletics: 

The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: 

Graduate Champions.

Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.