WINONA, Minn. – A goal-line stand to end the game allowed the Winona State University football team to send the Warrior seniors out in style with a 13-7 win over Minot State in front of 1,762 fans at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11
The Winona State defense held Minot State at bay most of the way on Saturday and was called upon late for a key red zone stop in the last two minutes of the game to preserve the Warrior win. The Beavers used a blocked field goal attempt and subsequent sustained drive in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter to threaten an upset, but the WSU defense rose to the occasion to keep Minot State from scoring in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
Key Details: Winona State 13, Minot State 7
Attendance: 1,762
How it Happened
Winona State and Minot State saw their offenses slow to warm up, as the two teams traded punts and turnovers on downs in the early part of the first quarter.
On the second possession of the opening frame for Winona State, the Warriors put together an eight-play, 57-yard drive that culminated with the game's first touchdown.
Quentin Pringle ran for a 4-yard touchdown with 3:51 remaining in the period.
Jacob Scott connected on the PAT for a 7-0 Warrior lead.
Winona State put together a pair of sustained drives in the second quarter, but the WSU offense stalled in the red zone. The field goal unit missed a 27-yard attempt early in the second quarter, but Scott and the Warrior special teams were successful on a 26-yard effort with just 13 seconds remaining in the first half.
Halftime: Winona State 10, Minot State 0
Coming out of the locker room after halftime, Winona State started with promise, receiving the opening kickoff to start the second half. However, after a pair of positive plays to start the initial Warrior drive, an ill-timed fumble saw the Beavers take over at midfield.
Despite the turnover, the WSU defense maintained their impressive performance, holding Minot State to four unsuccessful drives in the third quarter. The Beavers were held to just 11 total offensive yards in the third frame and punted one each of their four possessions of the quarter.
While MSU could not move the ball in the third quarter, Winona State could extend their lead in the third stanza, as
Jacob Scott connected on his second field goal of the day, this time from 22 yards out. Following Scott's kick, Winona State led 13-0
Minot State eventually avoided the shutout, scoring in the fourth quarter, with 7:21 in the game. Sam Buckhanan capped off an eight-play, 73-yard drive for MSU, and after the Beavers PAT trickled over the crossbar, the visitors closed the gap to 13-7 in favor of the Warriors.
Minutes later, WSU looked to add to their advantage on another field goal try, but the kick was blocked by the Beavers. Minot State returned the loose ball to the WSU 45 before
Dakota Matthees and
Jacob Scott hauled down Minot State's Matt Posas.
Following the blocked kick and substantial return, the Beavers drove to the Warrior's six-yard line and looked positioned to potentially pull off the upset with just 13 seconds remaining in the game.
However, the Winona State defense held firm, with
Clay Schueffner and Enrique DeLeon stuffing a Beaver run attempt for no gain on third down, followed by a Minot State incompletion under pressure on fourth down to end the threat.
After the turnover on downs stemming from the goal line stand, Winona State's Trevor Paulson would take a knee on the final play to run out the clock and deliver the 13-7 Warrior win.
Final: Winona State 13, Minot State 7
Beyond the Box Score
Winona State's
Clay Schueffner led WSU with four solo tackles and six assists, finishing his career with 361 tackles over five seasons, ranking in the Top-5 all-time in the NSIC. His 208 solo tackles rank second in NSIC history, just behind Onte Burns of Southwest Minnesota State, who had 213 between 2018 and 2022.
The Winona State PAT unit, including kicker
Jacob Scott, holder Jake Van Hulzien, and long snapper
Morgan White, finished the 2023 season a perfect 34-of-34. WSU is the only NSIC team to finish the season with an unblemished point-after kick mark.
Tristan Root put his only punt attempt of the day inside the Minot State 20-yard line, finishing the year with an impressive – and ironic – 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line on the year. The next closest competitor was SMSU's Mason Carver with 16.
Stat Notables
Winona State held Minot State to just 23 passing yards in the game and only 180 yards of total offense.
WSU racked up 26 first downs, compared to just nine for the Beavers. Five of the Warrior's first downs were due to Minot State penalties.
The Warriors had four sacks in the game;
Enrique De Leon,
Clay Schueffner, and David Neis contributed to the four impressive plays.
Minot State completed just one pass on the day, a 23-yard catch.
Quentin Pringle led WSU in rushing with 65 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Kaleb Skelly had five catches for 85 yards as the leading WSU receiver.
Minot State was led in tackles by Carson Cayko with 10.
Winona State concludes the 2023 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and 5-5 mark in NSIC play. WSU has finished .500 or better in NSIC play for seven straight seasons, dating back to the 2016 campaign.
