WINONA, Minn. – Winona State defeated Minot State 35-25 in Saturday afternoons NSIC contest at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Nolan Ginskey and
Anthony Powell each recorded two touchdowns to lead the Warriors to victory.
The Warriors jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the second quarter and never gave up the lead. WSU scored two game-sealing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help put the game on ice.
How it Happened:
Both squads were held scoreless in the first quarter due to both teams' defenses coming out strong. The Warriors got on the board first with a four-yard TD run by Powell after a methodical 11-play, 56-yard drive that took 5:30 off the clock. The Beavers would score next with a 44-yard field goal with 5:16 left in the first half.
After a huge 85-yard kick return by
Jahmani Muhammad put the Warriors in the Beaver redzone,
Jackson Flottmeyer found
Jake Schultz for a nine-yard score, to put the Warriors up 14-3. The next drive saw Minot State march down the field, going 80 yards on a six-play drive, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Carson Chrisman to Johnathan Noriega with 1:44 left in the half. The Warriors did not end the half quietly, as they put together a third touchdown drive of the second quarter, going 11-plays, 54-yards finished off by a 10-yard score from Flottmeyer to Ginskey with ten seconds left in the half.
The Warriors threw an interception two plays into the third quarter to flip the field for the Beavers. A couple of plays later saw Evan Lovett run in a 21-yard touchdown to cut the Warrior lead to 21-17 with 13:29 left in the third quarter. Both teams punted on their next two drives each.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Flottmeyer hit Ginskey for his second TD on the afternoon to extend the Warrior lead to 28-17 with 14:17 left in the contest. The ensuing drive saw Chrisman find Gage Cavanaugh for a deep 49-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was successful for the Beavers, as Lovett barreled his way into the endzone. WSU responded with a nice drive of their own. A seven-play 65-yard drive led by big runs by Powell and Buri, was capped off with Powell's second rushing touchdown in the game, with 8:31 left. A big 3rd & three TFL by
Blake Schraufnagel gave the Beavers a 4th & six, which they were unsuccessful at. The next drive had two huge 3rd-down runs by Powell to run out the remaining 5:38 on the clock to end the contest at 35-25 Warriors.
Statistical Comparison:
- Winona State tallied 369 total yards with 152 passing and a whopping 217 rushing yards.
- Minot State gained 200 yards with 70 through the air and a season-low 130 yards on the ground.
- WSU led in time of possession 34:20-25:40.
- Minot State dominated the turnover battle forcing two picks and recording a fumble.
- Flottmeyer started at quarterback for WSU and went 15-of-22 with 152 yards through air with a season-high three TD passes and two picks.
- Powell motored his way to 133 yards on the ground and two rushing scores, to give him five TDs in the last three games.
- Freshman Ginskey led the receiving pack with six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns to give him three in his last two games.
- Joe Sikma recorded five catches with Schultz catching a touchdown in his second game in a row.
- Enrique DeLeon and Schraufnagel each recorded seven tackles and a TFL in the contest.
- Wesley Wollan had himself a strong outing with six tackles and a team-leading 2.5 TFLs.
- The Warriors had seven TFLs on the afternoon to stifle the Beavers run game that came in averaging 280 rushing yards a game.
- For the Beavers, Carson Chrisman was 3-of-6 for 70 yards and two passing touchdowns.
- MSU was led on the ground by Lovett who had 54 yards on 14 attempts and a score.
- Cavanaugh hauled in two passes for 50 yards and a TD, with Noriega catching a 20-yard touchdown pass in the loss.
Winona State will look to ride the momentum into a touch opponent, as they travel to #9 Augustana University (SD) on Saturday, September 27th at 1:00pm in Sioux Falls, S.D.
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www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
