WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University football team is set to host Augustana University, a team receiving votes in the current NCAA Division II football ranks, marking the second week in a row that the Warriors welcome a nationally ranked opponent to Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. 

Winona State (6-2 overall, 3-0 NSIC South) and Augustana (6-2 overall, 2-1 NSIC South) will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. and are both among six NSIC schools found in the most recent NCAA Division II Regional Rankings. The Warriors and Vikings are also each found in the 'Receiving Votes' category of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' poll. Saturday's matchup will give the winner an inside track to the NSIC South title. 

Winona State is coming off a historic victory over then-No. 11 Sioux Falls last Saturday, a signature 20-17 win in the Brian Bergstrom era that moved WSU in the regional and national discussion. Against the Cougars, Winona State shut down one of the top rushing offenses in the country and managed the game at key moments to construct an impressive victory. 

Augustana University lost last week at home to Minnesota State, Mankato, 35-14. The Vikings' 14-point total was a season-low and only a score in the final minute of the game allowed Augustana to reach the two-touchdown mark. 

For more on Saturday's contest, read on for highlights of the Winona State - Augustana University 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

• The contest on Saturday marks 'Senior Day' for Winona State and the team will recognize their players competing in their final season of eligibilty prior to the contest.
• In last week's win over Sioux Falls, Winona State beat a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, when WSU beat #6 USF 31-13.
• Winona State held the Cougars offense in check, allowing just 69 rushing yards.
• Winona State's Mitch Snitker earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors last week for his standout efforts vs. USF. 
• The Warriors are featured in both the NCAA Division II Super Region rankings and the AFCA Coaches' Poll Receiving Votes category.
• WSU is in the top-50 in the country in total team defense, yielding an average of 316.6 yards per game and offensive TDs allowed at 20 total on the year. 
• Ty Gavin is 24th in the country in average yards per carry (6.22) and is 17th in the nation in total rushing yards (722).
• Winona State is tied for fourth in NCAA Division II football in blocked punts with three on the season. 
• Kicker Jacob Scott leads the league in points scored by a kicker (61) and is second overall among all players. 
• Trevor Paulsen and Kyle Haas have split quarterback duties in games so far this year. Combined, they are 130-of-230 for 1,505 yards and eight 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 second in the NSIC in kick return yards (435) and second in punt return yards (249). 
• QB Trevor Paulsen has the third-fewest interceptions (4) of any NSIC quarterback with at least 125 passing attempts. 
• Jacob Scott is 25-for-25 on PAT's this season, one of only two kickers in the league to be perfect on point-after attempts with 25 kicks or more.
• 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 is third in the NSIC in total tackles (71) and leads WSU in that stat category.
• Brian Corbins, Jr. leads Winona State in interceptions with three on the year. 
• Carter Duxbury, last season's NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, has been in on five sacks in 2022, leading the team. 
• Winona State has scored 13 rushing touchdowns this year through six different players. 
• Winona State fell at Augustana last year 38-20. 
• The Warriors and Vikings have split the last four matchups; WSU won in 2017 (52-21) and 2018 34-20). AU won 2019 (26-25) and 2021 (38-20).
• Head coach Brian Bergstrom is 6-2 in his first year at Winona State. Bergstrom served as defensive coordinator for the Vikings. 

Augustana University STORYLINES

• The 2022 season marks 100 years of football at Augustana. 
• Augustana is in the Receiving Votes category of this week's AFCA DII poll.
• Augustana also appears in the NCAA Division II Central Region rankings this week. 
• The Vikings average 26.2 points on offense and just over 350 total yards per game. 
• Augustana has a 3rd down conversion rate of 34.5%. 
• Senior Eli Weber was named the NSIC South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
• Augustana was named the preseason favorite to win the NSIC in 2022, garnering 153 points in the Coaches' Poll. 
• Jerry Olszewski is in his tenth year at Augustana.

WARRIOR NOTABLES:

• The Winona State defense is second-best in the league in points allowed (18.5) and touchdowns allowed (20). 
• The Warriors were tabbed for fourth in the NSIC South and sixth place overall in the 2022 NSIC Football Poll. They currently lead the South Division at 3-0.
• WSU leads the league in field goals made (12).
• Darryl Williams is fourth in the NSIC in all-purpose yards, averaging 126.4 per game.
• 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 15 times on 26 attempts. 
• Winona State averages 45.8 yards per game in penalties while Warrior opponents draw an average of 54.0 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).