The Road to Game 1,000: Galligan to Molinari, 1929-1970

The journey to 1,000 games continues with the next chapter in Winona State football history. After closing Monday's installment with Game No. 104 and Glen Galligan's perfect 1928 season, today's look back covers the next 297 games and more than four decades of Warrior football, spanning the Great Depression through the Vietnam era.

GALLIGAN'S FINAL YEARS

Galligan opened the next decade with another strong season, leading the Warriors to a 6-1 record in 1929. The team's only loss came in an 18-0 setback against Wisconsin-La Crosse. Winona State remained competitive throughout the remainder of Galligan's tenure, but his final season in 1935 proved challenging as the Warriors finished 0-8.

Galligan concluded his eight-season run (1927-33, 1935) with a 30-23-4 record. His legacy continues through the Glen Galligan Award, presented annually to honor outstanding NSIC student athletes.

JACKSON DELIVERS THE FIRST CONFERENCE TITLE

Harry Jackson took over in 1936 and led Winona State for six seasons, compiling an 18-20-4 record. His most successful campaign came in 1939, when the Warriors finished 7-1 and captured the program's first conference championship listed in the record book.

Winona State opened the championship season with a 14-0 victory over St. Mary's and followed with wins over Bemidji State (12-0), Wisconsin-Stout (24-7), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (7-6), St. Cloud State (19-0) and Mankato State (19-0). The Warriors' lone loss came in a 9-7 decision against Wisconsin-River Falls.

The 1939 squad played Games No. 179-186, establishing an important milestone in the program's early history.

FOOTBALL GOES DARK, THEN RETURNS

Following a 2-4-1 campaign in 1942, Winona State football entered another extended hiatus, with no games played from 1943-45. The Warriors returned to the field in 1946 under head coach Eugene Brodhagen, but the first season back resulted in an 0-6 record.

The program quickly rebounded in 1947, finishing 4-3-1 and earning another conference championship, according to the program record book. Brodhagen coached eight seasons across two stints (1946-50, 1952-54), compiling an 18-39-3 record. Lyle Arns led the Warriors during the 1951 season, finishing 0-6.

GREBIN LEAVES HIS MARK

One of the standout players from the Brodhagen era was Jerry Grebin, whose name appears in multiple categories in the Winona State record book.

Grebin showcased his versatility throughout his career, throwing an 85-yard touchdown pass to Dick Kowles against Bemidji State in 1951. He added a 70-yard punt return against Mankato State in 1953 before recording two long touchdown runs in 1954, covering 80 yards against Bemidji State and 72 yards against St. Mary's.

The 1954 Warriors finished 5-2-1, Brodhagen's best season, while Grebin earned the Glen Galligan Award. Teammate LaVerne Pieper also made his mark that season, returning an interception 88 yards against Northland, a play that remains the third-longest interception return in program history.

OWEN LEADS BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS

Russ Owen took over in 1955 and guided the Warriors for three seasons, finishing with an 11-13 record. While his overall record was modest, Owen led Winona State to consecutive conference championships in 1956 and 1957. The Warriors finished 4-4 in 1956 before improving to 5-3 the following season.

THE MOLINARI YEARS

Madeo Molinari ushered in a new era in 1958, beginning a 13-season tenure that ranks second in program history behind Tom Sawyer's 25 seasons. Molinari compiled a 49-53-4 record and led the Warriors to three conference championships in 1962 (6-1-1), 1964 (6-1) and 1968 (5-4).

Molinari's teams built much of their success on the defensive side of the ball. The 1961 squad established two season records that still stand, allowing just 1,039 total yards and 51 first downs. That same defense held Wisconsin-River Falls without a rushing first down. The 1959 team also established program season records for fewest passing yards allowed (224) and fewest completions allowed (20).

Individual performances highlighted the era as well. Gale Sprute earned NAIA All-American honors in 1960 and 1961 and received the Glen Galligan Award in 1961. That same season, Roger Leonhardt broke loose for a 92-yard touchdown run against Wisconsin-River Falls, which remains the second-longest scoring run in program history.

In 1965, Larry Anderson returned an interception 90 yards against Wisconsin-Platteville, while Bill Price recorded an 85-yard touchdown run against Wisconsin-Stout. Quarterback Davis Usgaard also delivered one of the top passing performances in program history, throwing for 389 yards in a 48-12 victory over Elmhurst. The performance remains among the 10 best single-game passing totals in Winona State history.

Molinari's final season came in 1970, ending with a dominant 54-0 victory over UI-Chicago Circle. By that point, Winona State had played 401 games, with seven of the program's 18 conference championships coming during the first 75 years of Warrior football.

RECORDS THAT STILL STAND: 1,039 yards allowed in a season (1961); 51 first downs allowed in a season (1961); 224 passing yards allowed in a season (1959); 20 completions allowed in a season (1959).

COMING WEDNESDAY: Lean Years and the Turnaround, 1971-1995.