WINONA, Minn. – Winona State football fell in a heartbreaker as Minnesota Duluth scored with 23 seconds left in the game to hand the Warriors a 42-38 defeat.
Winona State scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and added 10 points in the fourth, including a
Jacob Scott 32-yard field goal with 3:50 remaining in the game, but UMD was able to find the endzone last in a back-and-forth game to stun the Warriors on Senior Day.
In a game where both teams moved down the field with ease, UMD and WSU combined for 928 yards. The Bulldogs outgained the Warriors 535-393 overall and UMD notched 322 yards of rushing compared to Winona State's 170. WSU had the edge in the air 223-213.
Cole Stenstrom went 19-31 for 223 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with
Sylvere Campbell on eight passes for 37 yards.
Cayden Holcomb had a big day, grabbing five balls for 107 yards, and
Joe Sikma caught two passes for 52 yards.
Cair'ron Hendred ran for 70 yards on the ground and scored one touchdown while
Ty Gavin added 49 yards and a score.
Quentin Pringle added 47 yards for the Warriors.
Kyle Walljasper led Minnesota Duluth with 420 yards of total offense, running for 236 and passing for 184 yards and scoring five touchdowns on the ground and one through the air.
The Bulldogs started the game with a 74-yard touchdown pass just 1:34 into the first quarter. Winona State answered right back as Stenstrom connected with Campbell for a score to capitalize on a 10-play, 74-yard drive.
The second quarter was filled with scoring as the Warriors and Bulldogs combined for 35 points. Winona State scored three straight touchdowns within seven minutes to jump out to a 28-14 lead, but Minnesota Duluth found the endzone with less than two minutes left in the half to cut the WSU lead to 28-21 at the break.
The third quarter was a defensive battle with just UMD putting points on the board to bring the game to a 28-28 deadlock heading into the fourth. Winona State scored early in the fourth to take the one-score lead, but Minnesota Duluth answered back just 1:25 later to tie it up. Winona State found themselves with a first-and-goal opportunity late in the game but had to settle with a field goal at the 3:50 mark.
On the first play on the ensuing drive, Walljasper connected with DaShaun Ames for a 31-yard reception. Then, Walljasper ran the ball on four of the next five plays, including a 22-yard scamper to give UMD the ball at the six-yard line with 0:57 left in the game. Two plays later, Walljasper found the endzone to give Minnesota Duluth a 42-38 lead with 0:23 to go. The Warriors were unable make the late comeback and were handed the loss.
Winona State (4-5, 4-4 NSIC) will look to next Saturday as they travel to Marshall, Minn. to take on the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs at 11:00am.
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