WINONA, Minn. - In what promises to be one of the top NCAA Division II football games on tap this weekend, the unbeaten Winona State University Warriors are set to host #13 Minnesota Duluth at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18.
The 1pm kickoff can't come soon enough for football fans around the region and a WSU Family Weekend crowd will likely see a NSIC classic when the Bulldogs and Warriors set foot on Maxwell Field.
Winona State (2-0, 0-0 NSIC South) has won in distinctively different fashions so far this year, dominating Concordia - St. Paul at home in week one 47-6, and then coming from behind to beat Minnesota State - Moorhead in week two, scoring 27 unanswered second-half points to win 27-13 a week ago.
The Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 NSIC North) are ranked #13 in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, and have beaten Upper Iowa 41-14, as well as Minnesota State - Mankato, 30-10.
Saturday's showdown has garnered the attention of football fans, as Winona State's Game Day Experience was named the
Best Gameday Atmosphere in Minnesota for week three football venues. The Star Tribune also has sights set on Winona, with Joel Rippel selecting the contest as the
StarTrib Game of the Week.
Winona State is led by quarterback
Owen Burke, a veteran signal caller who runs one of the most balanced offenses in the NSIC. Burke is 32-of-57 so far on the season, with four TD's and just one interception. When he is not throwing the ball, he is often handing it off to one of two dynamic running backs, as
Javian Roebuck and
Ty Gavin have shown the ability to separate from defenders, or run over them. Roebuck has four touchdowns already in 2021 and averages 94.5 yards a game. Gavin has an eye-popping 11.2 yards per carry and ran for an electric 52-yard score in week one.
On the other side of the ball, Winona State has seen their defensive coaching coaching staff mold a core of strong linebackers, led by
Clay Schueffner. Scheuffner has 19 total tackles on the year and one sack, while teammate
Mitch Snitker is right behind him with 16.
Devon Moore and
Joe Perhats both have had opportunistic interceptions, latching onto tipped balls late in the MSU-Moorhead contest to help ice the win. Many of the batted passes and quarterback hurries have been a result of the play of
Darius Manuel and
Cole LaLiberty up front while the WSU secondary - led by
Cam Gavin - has yet to yield a big vertical scoring play to an opponent this season.
Warrior special teams feature the most experienced of veterans in kick returner
Jake Balliu, also a key receiving threat, and a new face in the placekicking role, as
Jacob Scott is 3-for-4 on field goal attempts this year and has been perfect in PAT's.
For veteran head coach
Tom Sawyer, Saturday will be his last time facing the Bulldogs, having announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
The longtime mentor will likely enjoy Saturday's Warrior walk just a little bit more as Winona State celebrates their Game Day Experience festivities, beginning mid-morning on campus. Ticket windows open 90 minutes for kickoff and for those unlucky few not able to attend in person, the game will by carried on the NSIC Network by HBC Sports 25 and over the radio waves by KQAL, 89.5.
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.
