WINONA, Minn. – Winona State opened NSIC play for the 2025 season with a come-from-behind 21-17 victory against (RV) Bemidji State in the home opener, and Head Coach
Brian Curtin secured his first career victory.
Bemidji State jumped out to a 17-0 lead with 9:36 left in the first half, but the Warriors rallied and scored the next 21 points of the contest to defeat the Beavers 21-17 in a thrilling game.
How it Happened:
BSU received the opening kickoff and went on a ten play, 63-yard drive capped off by a Micheal Schurman 13-yard receiving touchdown. After a three and out by WSU, the Beavers added a one-yard rushing touchdown by Jayden Washington to make it 14-0 with 3:21 left in the first quarter.
The Beavers later made a 28-yard field goal with 9:36 left in the first half to make it 17-0. After each team went scoreless in their following two possessions, WSU moved the ball well down the field and a big 16-yard, third-down run by
Jackson Flottmeyer put WSU at the one-yard line. On the next play,
Joe Sikma caught a TD from Flottmeyer to make it 17-7 with 0:14 left in the half.
The following kickoff was misplayed by BSU and was recovered by the Warriors at the Beaver 21-yard line. A pass interference call on the Bemidji State gave the Warriors a chance at a 23-yard field goal to end the half, but the attempt was missed as time expired and WSU trailed 17-7 at the break.
Both teams came out with zero points on their respective opening drives of the third quarter. The Warriors then marched down the field with an eight play, 75-yard drive highlighted by Flottmeyer dotting up his receivers with 71 yards through the air.
Anthony Powell capped off the drive with a one-yard plunge to cut the Beaver lead to three with 6:33 left in the third quarter.
After big stops by both teams' defenses, the Warriors would take their first lead of the game on a 32-yard sweep taken to the house by Powell to give Winona State their first lead of the game, at 21-17, with 9:26 to play.
The Winona State defense stymied BSU's next drive to control the momentum in the home crowd's favor. The Warriors were then able to take the clock down to 1:39 after a 43-yard
Ben Burgess punt to put the Beavers at their own 19-yard line. BSU marched down the field and after a 12-yard scramble by quarterback Connor Carver, the Beavers were in the Warrior redzone with 0:26 left in the game. A few plays later,
Conner Haggerty recorded a game-sealing forced fumble on a nine-yard sack, which was recovered by
David Nies to ice the game and complete the comeback.
Statistical Comparison:
- Winona State tallied 280 total yards with 143 passing and 137 rushing yards.
- Bemidji State gained 331 yards with 125 through the air and 206 on the ground.
- BSU led in time of possession 30:52-29:08.
- The Warriors collected two fumbles on the afternoon, with the Beavers corralling in one fumble.
- Flottmeyer started at quarterback for WSU and went 17-29 with 143 yards through air with a touchdown.
- Powell was crucial to the offensive comeback with 85 rushing yards on 13 attempts and two scores, including the deciding touchdown in the 4th quarter.
- Freshman Jake Schultz led the Warriors with 40 receiving yards on two big catches with James Durst recording four receptions for 31 yards.
- For the Beavers, Connor Carver had a busy afternoon, going 14-26 with 125 yards and a passing touchdown. He also led the team on the ground with 123 yards on 21 attempts.
- Michael Schruman hauled in three passes for 43 yards with a touchdown.
Winona State (1-1, 1-0 NSIC) will look to carry momentum into next week as they travel to MSU Moorhead on Saturday, September 13th at 1:00pm in Moorhead, Minn.
