Adam Kirk / Winonan

Even with the offensive stars, the Warrior defense stole the show all season, finishing with a shutout in their final game Saturday, Nov. 12 and as the best defense in the conference. This was the third shutout of the season, which has not happened since 1962.

The Winona State University football team’s defense led them to a 38-0 shutout win over Concordia University, St. Paul on Saturday’s Senior Day at home.

The Warrior offense began the game with a pass from senior quarterback Jack Nelson to senior wide receiver Cameron Johnson, who pitched the ball back to first-year wide receiver Tanner Gran for a 24-yard gain. The trick play was put in early to loosen the team up, according to head coach Tom Sawyer.

“It was a very emotional group offensively. We really were overly emotional in the locker room before the game and I could tell we needed something fun to happen,” Sawyer said. “We needed to start the game with something fun or the guys will just be in this kind of zombie-land knowing it’s their last game because they’re so passionate about our program.”

The offense struggled to capitalize on the momentum of the big first play and went scoreless through the first quarter. But, senior running back Paul Preston found the end zone twice in the second quarter and the Warriors never looked back.

Nelson, Preston and Johnson have all finished their Warrior careers and will go down as some of the best players in school history.

Nelson went over 3,000 passing-yards this season and 12,000 in his career. He finished the game with 226 yards but did not score a touchdown for the first time in his collegiate career. He exchanged words with his coach after he left the game late in the fourth.

“He just said thank you for the opportunity. And I said ‘what are you talking about? Thank you,’” Sawyer said. “He’s the best we ever had and we hope he gets a chance at the next level.”

Preston scored three touchdowns and ran for 84 yards in his final game as a Warrior.

Sawyer said of Preston, “Everybody his whole life told him he was too little and can’t play, but he’s as good as anyone in Division II football.”

Preston talked about his career and playing with Nelson and Johnson and said, “It’s been awesome playing alongside those two. They honestly just make it easier for me. You can’t focus on any one of us because one of us is going to get you. It’s been an honor playing with them and it’s been fun.”

In the third quarter, the special teams unit made big plays. Sophomore running back Elliot Cox returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown and senior linebacker Obed Jean-Baptiste recovered a punt giving Winona great field position.

Jean-Baptiste battled back from an ACL injury to play his senior season and finished the game with four tackles and a sack.

“It was tremendous; it felt good to go out like that. Those seniors deserved to go out with a win. It was great to be able to do that for them,” Jean-Baptiste said.

The defense also scored a touchdown in the third quarter as defensive tackle Michael Gomez intercepted a screen pass and returned it 36-yards to the end zone giving the Warriors a 38-0 lead.

Senior captain and defensive lineman Lauden Wood finished the game with five tackles.

“It was an honor to play with every single one of those guys. I’m proud of what we’ve done here,” Wood said.

The Warriors were knocked out of playoff contention against Augustana University when the referees ruled Winona State’s Hail Mary incomplete, a call that made the end of the season bittersweet for the Warriors.

Sawyer said, “I’ll remember it forever. This team earned it. This team had a chance to play in the playoffs or a bowl game. We’ll be talking about this for a long time.”

-By Adam Kirk