WINONA, MN -- Winona State University came up with a huge rushing game and a tight defensive game in knocking off No. 9-ranked Carson-Newman College, TN 17-12 on Maxwell Field at Verizon Wireless Stadium.
It was the season opener for both clubs, but it was the Warriors who looked like they were season-verteran team, as they put up 253 yards rushing and 436 yards in total offense, while holding the Eagles, who were one of the top rushing teams in the NCAA Division II last year, to 108 yards rushing and 364 yards in total offense.
The WSU rushing game was charged by duo-running backs
Rayon Simmons and
Curtis Dewberry who danced and powered their way around a WSU offensive line for 138 yards and 80 yards and a touchdown each respectively. That rushing game set up the Warrior passing attack for 183 yards.
The Warriors started the game on the right foot taking the game's opening drive and marching 63 yards for a 22-yard field goal by Cullen Fahey.
WSU then went on to close out the first half with a 10- lead when Dewberry scored from 12 yards out at 14:55 of the second. The offense went on to run its 17th consevutive unanswered point when Simmons battled his way into the endzone on a two-run yards. Fahey converted both extra points for a 17-0 WSU lead with 3:27 left in the third stanza.
Carson-Newman did counter with 12 points in the fourth quarter only to have an unsuccessful onsides kick with 31 seconds left to played lock up the upset victory for the Warriors.
Brandon White and
Ryan Williams each had seven total tackles with White adding a sack on the defensive side of the ball for the Warriors.
Ryan Jirgl and
Chris Norgaard each picked off a C-N pass and
Matt Kaderly chaled up another sack for Winona State.