WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University football team - currently ranked No. 25 in the country - heads to Mankato, Minnesota to take on No. 23 Minnesota State in what will be an impactful contest in both the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference final standings and the 2022 NCAA Division II football postseason. 

Winona State (8-2 overall, 5-0 NSIC South) can claim the NSIC South Division title outright with a win over the Mavericks and likely seal a NCAA Division II playoff home contest. Minnesota State (8-2 overall, 4-1 NSIC South) can earn a share of the NSIC South title with a victory and both the Mavericks and Warriors will have an eye on other scoreboards as Week 11 results roll out over the afternoon as the NSIC overall championship is also on the line. 

Winona State has already knocked off three opponents in the polls this season, defeating (RV) Wayne State, (RV) Augustana, and No. 11 Sioux Falls.

Darius Manuel was named the NSIC Football Defensive Player of the Week after picking up seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks in a 45-7 win over Upper Iowa last week as the Warriors clinched at least a share of the NSIC South title.

Minnesota State, Mankato defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 45-24, at home last weekend. The Mavericks have won four straight contests, each by at least 14 points.

For more on Saturday's contest, read on for highlights of the Winona State - Minnesota 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 Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato, Minn.
• Ticketing information is available at this link.

WINONA STATE STORYLINES

• Winona State is ranked in the national poll for the first time since the 2018 season. WSU came in at No. 25 this week, while Minnesota State is ranked No. 23 in the AFCA Poll. 
• The Warriors defeated the Mavericks in the season finale last year, 18-16, in Winona.
• The last time WSU defeated a ranked MSU team was when the Warriors knocked off No. 1 Minnesota State, 31-27, on the road in 2015.
• Winona State has the best scoring defense in the NSIC, allowing just 16.2 points per game.
• WSU's offense is sixth in the league in average points scored at 30.4 per game. 
• The Warriors are featured in both the NCAA Division II Super Region rankings (5th) and the AFCA Coaches' Poll at No. 25 this week.
• WSU is in the top-50 in the country in total team defense, yielding an average of 300.3 yards per game and offensive TDs allowed at 22 total on the year. 
• Ty Gavin is 4th in the NSIC in average yards per game (74.2) and has 742 total yards so far this year. 
• Sam Santiago-Lloyd is tied for 4th in the NSIC with eight rushing touchdowns this season.
• Winona State has blocked three punts this season that have resulted in Warrior scores, the most in NCAA Division II.
• Kicker Jacob Scott leads the league in points scored by a kicker (76) 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 153-of-277 for 1,871 yards and 11 TD's.
• Darryl Williams leads Winona State in receiving with 380 yards, good for a 14.62 yards per catch. 
• As a returner, Darryl Williams is second in the NSIC in punt return yards (262) and second in kick return yards (450). 
• QB Trevor Paulsen has the fewest interceptions (4) of any NSIC quarterback with at least 125 passing attempts. 
• Jacob Scott is 34-34 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. Scott leads the league in field goals made (14) and attempted (20).
• 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 517 yards on 134 carries this season and leads all WSU rushers with eight touchdowns. 
• Clay Schueffner is third in the NSIC in total tackles (85) and and second in the league in solo stops (52).
• 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 six sacks in 2022, leading the team. 
• Winona State has scored 18 rushing touchdowns this year through six different players. 
• Head coach Brian Bergstrom is 8-2 in his first year at Winona State.

Minnesota State University, Mankato STORYLINES

• The Mavericks are 8-2 on the year and 4-0 at home.
• MSU scored over 30 points in five consecutive games.
• Shen Butler-Lawson leads the Mavericks with 672 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
• The Mavericks average 32.6 points and 365.3 yards each game.
• Minnesota State airs it out for 209.9 yards passing each game and runs for 155.4 yards per game.
• MSU has 18 touchdowns via passing this season and 19 rushing touchdowns.
• Hayden Ekern leads the passing attack with 1,156 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. 
• Nyles Williams is the main receiving, coralling 30 catches for 549 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. 
• Todd Hoffner has been at the helm for Minnesota State since the 2008 season.

WARRIOR NOTABLES:

• Winona State is ranked 5th in the current NCAA Division II Super Region rankings.
• 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 5-0 and are tied for the overall lead at 8-2.
• On the season, WSU is 29-for-34 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 31 attempts. 
• Winona State averages 44.0 yards per game in penalties while Warrior opponents draw an average of 55.3 penalty yards.
• Since 2001, Winona State has played 64 games as a ranked squad. They hold a 45-19 record as a ranked team during that span. Winona State and Minnesota State have squared off just once with both teams being ranked: In 2017, No. 3 MSU defeated No. 10 WSU 27-6.

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).
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