Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.: Josh Shudlick found a wide open Blake Wilson for a 23-yard touchdown with 3:31 left in the game as the Southwest Minnesota State stunned defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion Winona State 35-28 on Saturday in Marshall.  The win improves SMSU to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC, while WSU drops to 3-3 and 3-2 in the NSIC.  The win also snapped a seven-game losing streak to Winona State for the Mustangs.

The touchdown pass capped a 75-yard drive that took just six plays and answered a Winona State touchdown with 6:07 left in the game that gave WSU a short lived 28-27 lead.

Trailing by one point and starting at its own 25-yard line, Shudlick led the Mustangs down the field completing five of six passes to three different receivers.  Shudlick connected with Ryan Wudtke on the drive's first play for a 25-yard gain.  Shudlick then found Matt Fischer open for 10 yards before Zach Wysong caught a two-yard pass moving the ball to the WSU 38-yard line.  Shudlick then completed his fourth pass in a row, this time to Wilson for 25 yards, setting up first down at the Warrior 13-yard line.  Following an incomplete pass and two straight penalities against SMSU that moved the ball back to the 23-yard line, Shudlick found a wide open Wilson in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.  Shudlick then fired a two-point conversion pass to Wilson to extend the lead to 35-28.

Winona State had one last chance to tie the game but could only muster one first down as the Mustang defense stiffened to earn its first win over WSU since 2000.

Winona State entered the game averaging 420.2 yards per game, ranking 31st in the country, but was held in check on Saturday as the Mustang defense allowed just 333 yards including just 144 through the air.  

SMSU opened the game's scoring with 11:07 left in the opening quarter as Scott Talcott booted a 45-yard field goal on SMSU's opening drive.  WSU answered back later in the quarter as Greg Preson found Tyrre Burks open on a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors a 7-3 lead with 3:08 left in the first.

As it did most of the afternoon, SMSU had an answer and the Mustangs regained the lead on its next drive as SMSU moved 61 yards on eight plays with Shudlick finishing off the drive with a 16-yard pass to Wilson with 13:10 left in the first half.

Winona State came right back on its next drive moving the ball to the SMSU 19-yard line but was forced to attempt a 36-yard field goal but SMSU's Michael Liggins blocked the attempt to keep SMSU in front 10-7.  

The Winona State defense came right back though and forced an SMSU fumble at the Mustang 31-yard line to set up its next scoring drive.  The Warriors took advantage of the fumbled and moved 28 yards in five plays with Andy Verbancouer cruising in from three yards out to give WSU a 14-10 lead with 3:47 left in the half.  

Once again SMSU had a major response as Shudlick and the SMSU offensive line moved the offense down the field driving  77 yards in just under three minutes with Wysong scoring from the one-yard line on third and goal to give SMSU a 17-14 lead with 48 seconds left in the half.

SMSU opened the second half with the ball put quickly turned it over as Shudlick was intercepted at the WSU 35-yard line.  The Mustang defense forced a three-and-out and SMSU regained the ball at its own 17-yard line and once again moved the ball down the field to score once again.  Wysong opened the drive with a 15-yard run and following a two-yard loss by Wysong, Shudlick completed six straight passes with the final completion a 14-yard strike to Derek Townsend to push the Mustang lead to 24-14 with 8:48 left in the third quarter.

The game remained a 10-point lead for SMSU into the fourth quarter before SMSU extended the lead to 27-14 with 11:16 left in the game on a 37-yard field goal by Talcott.

On the next WSU drive the Warriors put together one of its best drives of the game to trim the SMSU lead.  Facing fourth-and-four at midfield, WSU quarterback Amir Ross found Scott Sherman for a 7-yard first down completion to keep the drive alive.  WSU finished off the drive as Ross connected with Burks on a 21-yard touchdown pass to cut the SMSU lead to 27-21 with 8:45 left.

WSU, which entered the game ranked second in the country in turnover margin, came up big again on defense as Shudlick was intercepted by Justin Jensen at the SMSU 35-yard line and returned the INT 26 yards down to the SMSU 9-yard line.  Facing third-and-goal from the six-yard line, Ross found Burks open again in the end zone and following the extra point WSU regained the lead 28-27 and appeared to steal a victory in Marshall, but the SMSU offense came right back with its game-winning touchdown drive.

Shudlick finished the afternoon completing 27 of 38 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns and was sacked just once.  Wysong rushed for 90 yards and a score on 21 carries.  Shudlick's favorite target was Wilson, who finished with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns.  

The Mustang defense was paced by Derek Klinkner, who recorded a career-high 10 tackles including half a sack.  Tyler Reed and #Matt Carmody# each chipped in with six tackles.  Liggins added five tackles, including a sack, an interception and a blocked field goal.

SMSU will continue NSIC south division play next Saturday, Oct. 11 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.