WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University football team will host Northern State University in a key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup on Saturday, Sep. 23. Kickoff between the Warriors and Wolves is set for 1 p.m. in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. 

Winona State (1-2, 1-1 NSIC) and Northern State (1-2, 1-1 NSIC) enter the contest with identical records and likely, identical goals. The winner of Saturday's contest remains in the hunt for NSIC hardware while the loser will face a significant setback to any title hopes. The two programs have put up plenty of points in recent contests against each other, and Saturday's showdown looks likely to be more of the same. 

Additionally, the Winona State - Northern State affair also marks the second edition of the Warrior Game Day Experience in the 2023 season. Learn more about Minnesota's best college tailgate experience at this link.

Last week, Bemidji State overcame an early Winona State lead to deal the Warriors a 36-10 setback.  Northern State beat UMary 41-10 at home in Aberdeen in week three action. 

Winona State and head coach Brian Bergstrom have last year's 42-21 loss to NSU on their minds, and will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid to the Wolves. 
 
Winona State – Northern State Notables

• Saturday's contest between the Wolves and Warriors will be the third time the two have faced off since Oct. 9, 2021. 
• NSU and WSU did not play in either 2019 or 2020; the Warriors beat the Wolves in Aberdeen, S.D. on Sept. 29, 2018 by a score of 22-15.
• Northern State enters Saturday's contest with a two-game win streak; NSU lost in week one to Bemidji State, 49-13. 
• Both WSU and NSU fell to Bemidji State in Bemidji; there are no other common opponents so far this season between the two teams. 
• With Upper Iowa leaving the NSIC this fall, the 2023 season marks the first year since 2011 that Winona State has a non-NSIC opponent on its schedule. WSU opened with Saginaw Valley State in week one. 
• Winona State will compete in a single-division NSIC football season in 2023. The league scrapped the two-division alignment with the departure of Upper Iowa.
• Winona State had won 14 straight against Northern State until the Oct. 9, 2021  52-49 loss at home. 
• Saturday's contest is the second of five home games for Winona State and the second road game for Northern State this year. 
• Winona State scored first against Bemidji State last week and battled back to tie the score at 10-10 before the Beavers pulled away in the second half. NSU was down 14-0 to BSU early on in their week one matchup. 

That's a Stat!
The Winona State secondary has had at least one interception in each contest so far this year.  

That's a stat, too!
Winona State's Clay Schueffner sits atop the NSIC in total tackles with 29 on the season so far. 

Northern State Tidbits

Head coach: Mike Schmidt, 4th season, 13-9 at NSU, 40-22 career mark. 

Top offensive NSU performers: Colton Hackel has 594 yards passing & 3 TD's.  Averages nearly 200 yards per game.  Dewaylon Ingram is the top NSU receiver with 405 total receiving yards & 3 TDs. 

Top defensive NSU performers: Trey King has 20 stops on the year, including a sack and 2 TFLs. Payton Hughes has four pass break-ups on the season so far. 
 
Last Season: The Wolves ended 2022 6-5 overall and notched a signature win over Minnesota State (23-22) but dropped their final two games of the year. 

NSU defensive notables: This week, NSU is ninth in the NSIC in points allowed (33.3)
 
NSU offensive notables: After three weeks of play, NSU eighth in the league in points per game (25.0). 

Location, Location, Location: Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winona, Minn. 

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.