WINONA, Minn. - After back-to-back home games - both Warrior wins, - the Winona State University football team returns to the road this weekend, taking on Northern State University at Dacotah Bank Stadium in Aberdeen, S.D. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.
Winona State is coming off an impressive 38-14 win over Wayne State College last Saturday in a game played at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Warriors put a dent in the previously unbeaten Wildcat record, scoring 38 unanswered points to run away with the win. For the second time in two weeks, special teams play led the Warrior way, with a pair of blocked punts factoring heavily in the victory.
Northern State (2-3 Overall, 0-1 NSIC South) will be looking to rebound from a stinging loss, as the Wolves fell by one point 27-26 in OT, at the University of Mary last week. The NSU - WSU matchup also features a return to Aberdeen for Winona State offensive coordinator
Isaac Fruechte who served in the same capacity with the Wolves last season.
For more on Saturday's contest, read on for highlights of the Winona State - Northern State matchup below.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats, live radio and live video are available at the links above.
- The contest will take place at Dacotah Bank Stadium.
- Ticket and parking information is available online at www.nsuwolves.com
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Winona State is on a two-game winning streak, earning victories by large margins, 38-14 over Wayne State and 40-7 over MSU-Moorhead.
- Two weeks ago, Warrior kicker Jacob Scott also went 4-for-4 on field goals, each over 40 yards, earning NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week that week.
- Winona State has blocked at least one punt in the past two match ups.
- Ty Gavin is third in the league in total rushing yards (577) and average rushing yards per game (115.4).
- Kicker Jacob Scott is third in the NSIC in points scored with 39 so far.
- Trevor Paulsen and Kyle Haas have split quarterback duties in several games so far this year. Combined, they are 75-of-139.
- Tristan Root lines up both as a punter and defensive back for WSU. Against MSU-Moohead, Root recovered a blocked punt for a TD.
- Darryl Williams leads the league in kick return yards with 248.
- Williams is one of just two players to score a TD on a punt return so far this season.
- Darryl Williams had his highest output of the season with 119 all-purpose yards against MSUM.
- 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 233 yards on 54 carries this season with three touchdowns.
- Clay Schueffner leads WSU in total tackles with 52 on the year.
- Schueffner and Brian Corbins, Jr. both have two interceptions this season.
- Three Warriors have two sacks apiece; Nathaniel Wilcher, Carter Duxbury and Luc Leszczynski.
- Winona State will be looking to avenge a 52-49 loss to the Wolves last year.
- Head coach Brian Bergstrom is 4-1 in his first year at Winona State.
Northern State STORYLINES
- The Wolves failed to score in the second half versus UMary after leading 20-6 at the half.
- NSU is hosting Gypsy Days this weekend.
- Northern State has lost two straight after beating nationally-ranked MSU 23-22 in week three.
- The Wolves shut out Upper Iowa 30-0 in their season opener.
- Quarterbacks Michael Bonds and Will Madler have combined for 103 completions in 186 attempts. Both have three TD passes.
- Trey King leads NSU in tackles with 26 and has three pass break ups on the season.
- Ar'Shon Willis has two interceptions to lead NSU.
- Payton Eue is 8-for-12 on field goals and 8-of-11 on PAT's.
- Head coach Mike Schmidt is in his third year as a head coach at Northern State.
WARRIOR NOTABLES:
- Placekicker Jacob Scott is 15-of-15 on PAT's this year, currently tops in the NSIC.
- The Warriors were tabbed for fourth in the NSIC South and sixth place overall in the 2022 NSIC Football Poll.
- WSU has two of the top ten points scored totals in the league, with 40 versus Moorhead and 38 against Wayne State ranking seventh and eighth, respectively.
- On the season, WSU is 15-of-19 in scoring attempts in the Red Zone.
- Winona State averages 42 .6 yards per game in penalties while Warrior opponents draw an average of 54.80 penalty yards.
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). Wino
