Spencer Ellingson / Winonan

The Winona State University football team is looking for a fresh start after a sixth-place finish in the NSIC South Division last year.

“Obviously we want to improve on our record from last year,” senior running back Paul Preston said. “We just have to come together as a team and make less mistakes.”

There is an upside to this Warrior football squad, especially from the veteran offense led by senior quarterback Jack Nelson.

Nelson was ranked the second best quarterback in Division II football by a football scouting blog, “Tyrant scouting.”

“It makes everyone’s job easier when there is a potential future NFL player on the field with you,” Preston said.

Nelson is sitting at fifth all-time in the NSIC with 8,967 passing yards in his career, and he needs 2,604 yards this year to break that record. Nelson is also on track to break Winona State records including a few he already holds.

Johnson tied for the most touchdown receptions on the team and is working his way into the record books. He has the possibility to break some of the Winona State receiving records this season.

Paul Preston is returning as the starting running back again this year. He was third in the NSIC with 976 yards on 174 carries.

The defense has veteran talent especially in the secondary, according to Preston.

“The strongest part of our team is that we have a lot of leadership and experience coming back this year,” Preston said.

Players to watch on defense are linebackers Mike Imperiale and Jarrett Wood. Wood lead the team last year with four fumble recoveries and he had a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Imperiale finished second on the team last year with 87 tackles, 13 of those came in one game against Augustana.

The Warriors will open their season at Ultra Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winona this Thursday at 6 p.m., playing against University of Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles were ranked last in the NSIC coaches’ preseason poll this year.

“The preseason polls don’t matter, we just need to treat every team like they are the best in the country,” Preston said.

Crookston has won three games in the last three years, finishing last in the NSIC in 2014 and tying for last in 2015.

After Crookston, the Warriors will head to Duluth to take on the 2015 NSIC North Champions University of Minnesota Duluth. This is a game the Warriors are looking forward to, according to Preston.

“We feel this year we have a chance to beat anyone,” said Preston. “It’s especially fun to walk in and beat a top team.”

The Warriors will be travel to Duluth to play University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6:05 p.m.