BISMARCK, N.D. - The Winona State University football team heads west to take on the University of Mary in a week six matchup that offers the Warriors a chance to extend a long-standing winning streak over the Marauders. 

Winona State (2-3, 2-2 NSIC) will look to move back over .500 in the NSIC standings and hope to continue a dominance over UMary (0-5, 0-5 NSIC) that dates to Nov. 5, 2011.  Since beating UMary 46-43 that day, WSU has racked up seven straight wins.  The Marauder's only win over Winona State came in 2010, a 21-19 victory in Winona. 

Saturday's WSU – UMary matchup also provides an opportunity for Winona State to end a road losing streak, as the Warriors have gone 0-3 in away games this year and lost the last two road matchups of 2022. The Warriors are unbeaten in the Brian Bergstrom era at home and have earned three straight wins in Bismarck in the series history. UMary has lost seven straight games, including all five this year. 

Winona State – UMary Notables

• Saturday's contest is the third straight meeting between the two schools since 2021. WSU won 25-17 last fall in Winona and 48-38 in 2021 in Bismarck.
• The WSU - UMary game in 2022 was played in front of 2,429 fans at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. 
• Winona State has had placekicker Jacob Scott notch 40 total points this year, leading the team (9 FG's, 13-of-13 in PATs).
• WSU has a top-15 rusher in Cair'ron Hendred, who is 14th in league in average yards per game (49.2)
• Winona State's QB Cole Stenstrom is fifth in the league in QB efficiency, clocking in a 126.6 rating. 
• The Warriors have one of the top punting units in the league, with Tristan Root averaging 40.7 yards per effort. 
• Winona State owns the top spot in tackles in the NSIC, with Clay Schueffner notching 7.6 stops a game.
• Schueffner is tied for second in solo stops in the NSIC (24) with  Augustana's Peyton Buckley. 
• Winona State is seventh in the league in points conceded per game (26.4), while UMary is the bottom team of the same category, yielding 38.6 per contest. 
• UMary's offense is 12th in the NSIC in points scored per game (15.6), while WSU has a sizeable advantage, scoring 24.0 points per contest, eighth overall in the NSIC.

That's a Stat!
In 2021, Winona State's Jake Balliu scored on a 61-yard punt return to break open a 24-24 third-quarter tie at UMary. 

That's a stat, too!
Last fall, Winona State saw UMary score the first two TD's of the game, but the Warriors battled back to notch two TD's and a field goal in the second half for the 25-17 win. 
 
Marauder Musings (courtesy of UMary)

Head coach: Shann Chillinger, 1st season. 

Saturday's matchup is the 10th meeting between the Marauders and the Warriors
Winona State leads the series 9-1 and has won the last seven games
UMary is 0-4 at home and 1-5 at Winona State
The Marauders have lost second half leads in each of the last two meetings
In 2021 UMary overcame a 14-point deficit to take a 38-31 4th quarter lead before Winona State ran off 17 points to win 48-38. Danny Kittner set school records with 235 yards receiving and 371 all purpose yards, catching 13 passes and scoring 3 TDs.
In 2022 UMary held a 17-9 lead early in the second half before Winna State scored the last 16 points of the game. Kittner had 7 catches for 78 yards and a TD. Devyn Charles posted 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Marauders lone win as a 21-19 road victory in 2010. Craig Bagnell passed for 251 yards and two TDs. Marcus Parence blocked a 43 yard field goal attempt by the Warriors on the last play of the game. 

UMary Mentionables

• The Marauders play three of their next four games at home
• UMary is looking for its first win of the season
• The Warriors have alternated wins and losses in 2023
• The Marauders narrowly missed their first win of the season in a 37-34 loss at Concordia. Paul and posted season-highs for points and yardage
• In the second half, 11 of the 22 players on the field between the offense and defense were freshmen or redshirt freshmen
• Three freshmen started on offense against CSP - WR Karsyn Jablonski (Fr.), G Elliot Kooiker (R-Fr.) and RB Jeremiah Moore (R-Fr.)
• Two redshirt freshmen started on UMary's defense against CSP, S Abram Jopp and DL Christian Arteaga
• UMary will play six home games this season for the second straight year, including four of the last six games
• UMary has won the turnover battle in three of four games and was even at CSP
• The Marauders are +2 on turnovers this season. UMary has forced seven turnovers (5 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) and have committed five (3 interceptions, 2 fumbles)
• The Marauders opponents are being whistled for 82 yards of penalties/game, the most in the Northern Sun. UMary is called for 43.8 yards/game, the 4^th fewest in the league.
• One of the least penalized teams in the nation, the Marauders rank 9th in NCAA Division II in fewest penalties/game (4.4) and 17th in fewest penalty yards/game (43.8)
• The Marauders are converting 54.5% of their 4th down attempts (6-of-11) to rank 4th in the NSIC
• Mujeeb Rufai ranks 11th in NCAA D2 in receptions/game (7.4)
• Jason Stoddard has two fumble recoveries this season, ranking 5th in the country
• Sofian Massoud is 15^th in nation in completion percentage (67.5%)

Location, Location, Location: MDU Resources Bowl, Synthetic Turf, Capacity 4,500. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. 

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).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.