Sam Thiel/Winonan

The Winona State University football team dropped its regular-season opener 34-27 in overtime Thursday in Winona. The Warriors gave up only 195 yards of offense to Bemidji State University, but a couple of Warrior turnovers gave the Beavers a chance to complete a comeback victory.

Winona State allowed Bemidji to just 43 yards on the ground and posted eight quarterback sacks. The strong defensive effort gave the offense the opportunity to build a 27-3 lead at the half.

However, an interception return and a fumble return in the second half got the Beavers back into the game, and they recorded another touchdown with just 31 seconds on the clock in regulation to tie things up and go into an extra period.

Bemidji State scored on their possession in overtime, this time an 18-yard pass from Ryan Shields to Jordan Noskowiak, to take the lead for the first time, 34-27. Winona State had its chance to tie things up, but failed to find the end zone.

Tyler Kubler recorded five tackles, as well as 2.5 sacks for the Warriors. Colin Corcoran led the way defensively for the Warriors with nine total tackles, including 1.5 sacks. Turrell Foster and Morgan Weaver chipped in seven stops apiece as the Warrior defense recorded 15 tackles total for a loss.

On the offensive end for Winona State, John Teigland passed for 240 yards and threw a touchdown, finishing 20-of-30 for the game. The quarterback was knocked out in the fourth quarter and had to sit out for the rest of the game. Teigland’s replacement, Spencer O’Reilly, passed for 50 yards, including a 44-yard connection to Harrison Barton to set up what would have been a game-winning field goal with just nine seconds left in regulation.

Josh Mikes led the way in the receiving department for Winona State, collecting seven catches for 97 yards and a score. Barton and Alex Jensen recorded four receptions each for the Warriors.
Bemidji State started the game off with a field goal on its first possession, but then the Warrior offense started its outburst.

Chichi Ojika returned the next kickoff 50 yards and Teigland connected with Mikes for 42 yards on the first play for the Warriors. Ojika took it to the end zone from there on an eight-yard score to give the Warriors a 7-3 lead. Ojika got another touchdown early in the second quarter, this time an 11-yard carry to increase the Warriors’ advantage to 13-3.

On Winona State’s next possession, Teigland connected with Mikes again, but this time for a score to put the Warriors up 20-3. That marked the fifth game in a row that Mikes has had a receiving touchdown, which includes the 2012 season.

After the Beavers had a fake punt far in their own territory, Ojika recorded his third score in the first half—time a two-yard run just as the clock expired which gave Winona a 27-3 advantage. Ojika finished the night with 82 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

A field goal by Bemidji State in the third cut the deficit to 27-6. Gary Young picked off Winona State’s RJ Gordon for an 18-yard score, marking the Beaver’s first touchdown. Beaver Connor Quinn scooped up a fumble in the end zone for another. The first touchdown on offense for Bemidji State came with 31 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 27.

Winona State will hit the field again Sept. 14 in St. Cloud to face the Huskies.

Contact Sam at [email protected]