Winona State University came off a long trip home, dropping their previous contest to Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 45-21 loss. The second game in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, and the second loss of the season for the Warriors. Out of their seven offensive touchdowns on the season, only two of them came in the first half. They looked to get off to a strong start on offense for their second game at Maxwell Field.
Jake Schultz, wide receiver for Winona State, talked about Head Coach Brian Curtain’s plan before the game.
“His message to us was that we got to come out fast from the start and that we can’t beat ourselves.”
Plenty of twists and turns in the first quarter, as the Warriors started on defense, going against Carson Chrisman and the Beaver’s triple-option offense. The defense bent but it did not break as Minot turned the ball over on downs at the Winona State thirty-six-yard line.
Warrior quarterback Jackson Flottmeyer started the game with a mistake, as he threw an interception to Minot safety, Cody Raetzman, on their own side of the field. Ethan Doucette slammed the door on the opportunity the Beavers had in enemy territory with a sack on Carson Chrisman on fourth down and three yards at the Winona State thirty-seven-yard line. While the first quarter ended with no scores, the Warriors ran inside the ten on Colton Geurink dive on fourth and one at the Minot eleven.
Blake Schraufnagel, the leading tackler for the Warriors, discussed the defense’s keys to staying composed throughout the game.
“It was key that after Minot had a successful play, we wiped it from our memory and did not let their momentum build. Our ability to refocus was a key reason we came out victorious.”
Running back Anthony Powell kick started the Warrior offense with a four-yard touchdown run. The next time the Warriors got the ball, a mishandled snap gave Minot a field goal with five minutes remaining in the first half. Jahmani Muhammad returned the ensuing kickoff eighty-five yards to put Winona State inside the redzone. Flottmeyer found Schulz in the middle of the field for a nine-yard touchdown to extend the Warriors lead 14-3. Minot State would answer back with Carson Chrisman finding Jonathan Noriega for a twenty-yard score shortly after the two-minute timeout. Winona State drove down the field again, with Jackson Flottmeyer finding freshman receiver Nolan Ginskey in the back corner of the endzone to extend the Warriors lead to eleven to close out the half with 21-10 lead.
James Durst, tight end for the Warrior offense, mentioned the shift in momentum in the early moments of the game.
“I think what made me believe that we could win was scoring first and controlling the tempo. We knew if we could control our lead and stick to our assignments that we could win.”
Winona State nearly got caught in the danger zone to start the third quarter, as Flottmeyer threw his second interception off a tipped pass to Cody Raetzman for the second time of the day. B-back Evan Lovett scampered for twenty-one-yard touchdown to bring the Beavers within four. It became a battle for field position, as the Warriors and Beavers exchanged punts on four consecutive possessions. Winona State had the ball on the final drive of the third quarter. Flottmeyer found Ginskey once again down the sideline for forty-three-yard bomb. The Warriors were once again in deep territory and looking to extend their 21-17 lead in the fourth.
Schraufnagel discussed the swinging momentum towards the Warriors in the second half.
“The offense drove down the field and was able to get in the end zone. At that point, I knew that if the defense could continue to get stops, the way the offense was executing was enough to finish off the game.”
The final period opened with the Warriors going for six once again with Flottmeyer hitting Ginskey on the same throw in the second quarter to extend the tally to 28-17. Minot State would not give up without a fight, as Carson Chrisman led the Beavers on one minute and seventeen second drive to answer the Warriors, capping off with a forty-nine-yard touchdown pass to Gage Cavanaugh. Lovett ran in for the two-point conversion. The Warriors took the next drive as an opportunity to ground and pound the Minot front seven, running the ball six times in a seven-play drive. Powell capitalized on 133-yard day with his second touchdown from fifteen yards out to push the lead to ten with eight and a half minutes left. The Beavers offense sputtered to a halt, turning the ball over on downs for the third time. The Warriors got their second win at Maxwell Field this season with a 35-25 victory over Minot State.
Schultz talked about the importance of continuing to move forward after the win.
“We just got to take it day by day and focus on making ourselves the best we can be to get better every week.”
The Warriors moved up to 2-2 for the season and 2-1 in conference play. Winona State will travel to Kirkeby-Over Stadium to face the reigning two-time NSIC champions in the Augustana Vikings, who are 4-0 so far in the season and 3-0 in conference play. The next time they will be at Maxwell Field to take on Wayne State College on Saturday, Oct. 4.
