WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University football team is set to take on nationally-ranked University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a Homecoming matchup that will have a significant impact on the NSIC South standings. 

Winona State (5-2 overall, 2-0 NSIC South) and the No. 11 Cougars (7-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC South) are tied atop the division standings and the Warriors will have a chance to knock off the last remaining unbeaten team in the league.  Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. 

Winona State is coming off an impressive 43-7 win over Southwest Minnesota State University last Saturday, a victory that allowed WSU to retain The Sledge, a traveling trophy between the Warriors and Mustangs. Last week, special teams play loomed large for Winona State, with the unit accounting for 22 points while the offense produced a pair of big plays for touchdowns as well. The Warrior defense was distinctly dialed in, holding the home team to just one touchdown and 203 total yards. 

The University of Sioux Falls won last week at the University of Mary, 41-27.  USF has scored 30 points or more in every contest but one this season. 

For more on Saturday's contest, read on for highlights of the Winona State - Sioux Falls matchup below. 

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stats, live radio and live video are available at the links above.
• The contest will take place on Maxwell Field at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium
• Ticketing information is available at www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com 

WINONA STATE STORYLINES

• Winona State scored a season-high 43 points last Saturday in their 43-7 win over Southwest Minnesota State. 
• Last week, the Warrior punt return team accounted for two touchdowns and a safety, including a 62-yard TD return by Aarion Lacy. 
• Winona State held SMSU to just 203 total offensive yards last week and a single first-quarter touchdown. 
• Ty Gavin is second in the league in total rushing yards (698) and average rushing yards per game (99.7).
• Kicker Jacob Scott is tied for third in the NSIC in points scored with 53 so far.
• Trevor Paulsen and Kyle Haas have split quarterback duties in games so far this year. Combined, they are 117-of-206 for 1,366 yards and six TD's.
• Darryl Williams leads Winona State in receiving with 275 yards, good for a 13.75 yards per catch. 
• As a returner, Darryl Williams is first in the NSIC in kick return yards (371) and second in punt return yards (200). 
• QB Trevor Paulsen has the second-fewest interceptions (3) of any NSIC quarterback with at least 100 passing attempts. 
• Jacob Scott is 23-for-23 on PAT's this season, one of only two kickers in the league to be perfect on point-afters with more that 20 attempts. 
• Winona State picked up a high-profile transfer wide receiver in Ricky Smalling, who had a standout career at the University of Illinois. Smalling joins other former Big Ten athletes Noah Carlson (Michigan), Cooper Nelson (Wisconsin) and Dominik London (Minnesota) on the Warrior roster. 
• Sam Santiago-Lloyd has 310 yards on 77 carries this season and four touchdowns. 
• Clay Schueffner leads WSU in total tackles with 65 on the year. 
• Schueffner and Brian Corbins, Jr. both have two interceptions this season. 
• Carter Duxbury, last season's NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, has four sacks in 2022, leading the team. 
• Three Warriors have two sacks apiece; Nathaniel Wilcher, Darius Manuel and Luc Leszczynski. 
• Winona State beat the University of Sioux Falls 14-10 last year in Sioux Falls. 
• The Warriors have won three of the last four meetings between the teams. 
• Head coach Brian Bergstrom is 5-2 in his first year at Winona State.

University of Sioux Falls STORYLINES

• The University of Sioux Falls is 7-0 on the year, 2-0 in NSIC South. 
• USF is ranked No. 11 in the current AFCA Coaches' Poll 
• Sioux Falls is one of 13 unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II football
• The Cougars have scored the second-most points in the NSIC (246) and third-most touchdowns (32). 
• USF leads the NSIC in rushing yards with 1,752 and rushing TD's with 24. 
• Thuro Reisdorfer is the NSIC's leading running back with 965 rushing yards and 14 TD's.
• Cougar teammate Landon Freeman is second in the league in TD's with eight.  
• USF QB Adam Mullen is 97-for-160 yards and eight TD's. He has been intercepted six times this year. 
• Head coach Jon Anderson is in his sixth season as a head coach for the University of Sioux Falls. 

WARRIOR NOTABLES:

• The Winona State defense is fifth in the NSIC in yards allowed (606) and leads the league in interceptions (9). 
• The Warriors were tabbed for fourth in the NSIC South and sixth place overall in the 2022 NSIC Football Poll. 
• WSU leads the league in field goals made (10) and is tied for points scored via safety (2 safeties/4 points). 
• On the season, WSU is 19-for-23 on scoring attempts in the Red Zone.
• The Winona State defense is first in the NSIC in Red Zone defense; WSU opponents have scored only 12 times on 23 attempts. 
• Winona State averages 47.4 yards per game in penalties while Warrior opponents draw an average of 46.3 penalty yards.

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

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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).