WINONA, Minn. – Winona State advances to 5-5 (5-4 NSIC) on the year after a 36-29 comeback win at the University of Mary.
WSU fell behind 19-0 early in the second quarter, but a 22-point fourth quarter led the Warriors to the stunning comeback.
How it Happened:
The Marauders got off to a quick start with a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a Jordan Polo Soloman eight-yard touchdown pass to Damani Wilks to put UMary up 7-0 with 11:47 left in the first quarter. A promising drive by the Warriors was stopped as
Josh Buri was stopped in his tracks on a fourth-and-one run at the Marauders 35-yard line. The Marauders marched down the field again, leading to a Hudsen Sheldon 20-yard pass to Luke Bodine putting UMary up 13-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, the Marauders' Jack Henninger missed a 45-yard field goal to keep the matchup at 13-0. A second
Ben Burgess punt guided UMary to another touchdown pass from Polo Soloman, this time to Karsyn Jablonski to extend the lead to 19-0. The Warriors gained a little momentum back with a fourth down interception by
Brent Jeske to put the squad at the Winona State 49-yard line. A few plays later, Winona State got in the scoring column with a 33-yard house call by
Jahmani Muhammad to make it 19-7 ballgame. The ensuing drive saw WSU force a three-and-out giving the Warriors the ball at the UMary 49-yard line. Mason Phillips sacked Flottmeyer to end the half at 19-7 Marauders.
WSU dialed in a 62-yard bomb from Flottmeyer to
Jake Schultz on the first play of the half to put them at the UMary one-yard line. A play later, Muhammad plunged it in for his second rushing score of the afternoon to tighten the deficit to 19-14 with 13:57 left in the third quarter.
Ethan Doucette later picked off Polo Solomon on a third-and-goal pass at the WSU five-yard line to give the ball back to the Warriors. The Marauders responded with a 31-yard field goal from Henninger to make it 22-14 UMary with 3:44 left in the third quarter. After a Burgess punt, Polo Soloman hit Jablonski for a 97-yard deep ball to stretch the UMary lead to 29-14 with 1:17 left in the quarter.
Winona State came right back with a six-play 73-yard drive capped off by a 32-yard TD pass from Flottmeyer to
James Durst to make it a one score game again at 29-21 with 13:32 left in the contest. WSU forced a crucial punt on the ensuing drive. With their backs to the wall on a fourth-and-10,
Joe Sikma forced a pass interference to put the Warriors deep in UMary territory. After another pass interference, Flottmeyer rushed in for a two-yard touchdown to cut it to 29-27. The following two-point conversions was converted by the reliable Flottmeyer to Durst connected to knot the game at 29-29 with 6:54 remaining. A play before the two-minute timeout, the Warriors faced a fourth-and-five at the UMary 30-yard line. Flottmeyer found Schultz for a seven-yard gain to extend the Warriors drive. A couple of plays later, Flottmeyer ran it in for his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon to give the Warriors their first lead of the game at 36-29 with 1:08 left in the game. The last UMary drive of the game was stalled by a Nies sack to complete the Warriors' comeback attempt at 36-29.
Statistical Comparison:
- Winona State tallied 395 total yards with 230 passing and 165 rushing yards.
- University of Mary gathered 441 yards on 415 passing and 26 rushing yards.
- The Warriors led in time of possession 31:34 to 28:26.
- Flottmeyer started at quarterback for WSU and went 18-of-31 with 230 yards through air with one TD passes and two picks. He added two rushing touchdowns on the ground.
- Muhammad added to a strong rookie campaign on the ground with 95 yards on 25 attempts and two scores.
- Durst hauled in a season-high eight passes for 97 yards and a score with a huge two-point conversion to tie the game. Schultz chipped in with four receptions for 89 yards.
- Blake Schraufnagel led the team with seven tackles with one sack.
- Doucette and Jeske each recorded an interception in the victory.
- For the Marauders, Polo Solomon was 23-of-38 for 385 yards, and four touchdown passes with two costly picks.
- Jablonski went for seven catches for 186 yards and two scores in the loss.
- Tuakoi Mahe led the UMary defense with 10 tackles including 3.5 TFLs.
Winona State will host its regular season finale against Southwest Minnesota State University. Kickoff is set for 12:00pm at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
