BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

MARSHALL, Minn. – Winona State running back Rayon Simmons rushed for 196 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries to lead the Warriors to a 44-19 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday in Marshall.

The Warriors finished the game with 571 yards of total offense, including 354 yards rushing in earning its 15th victory over SMSU in the last 17 meetings since 1994.

The victory for WSU is its second straight as they improve to 6-3 overall, 5-3 NSIC. SMSU drops to 4-5 overall, 3-5 NSIC.

SMSU was led by Warren Matthews, who rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. It was his second career 100-yard rushing game. SMSU quarterback Ryan Ratekin completed 14 of 29 pass attemptes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Shawn Younger caught a career-high five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown for the Mustangs, while Bret Ballantine also finished with five catches for 71 yards and one touchdown.

WSU opened the game's scoring on their opening drive with Simmons scoring on a 1-yard touchdown with nine minutes and 44 seconds left in the opening quarter.

SMSU answered on its first drive of the game to tie the game at 7-7. Ryan Ratekin capped an eight-play, 72-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Bret Ballantine with 6:05 remaining in the quarter.

The Warriors regained the lead on its next possession moving 81 yards on seven plays with Simmons plowing across from 2 yards out to make the score 14-7 with 2:34 on the clock.

Following a Ratekin interception, the Mustang defense then forced a pair of WSU turnovers to give SMSU a chance, but the Mustang offense failed to take advantage of the miscues.

SMSU's John Kersbergen forced a fumble at the WSU 36-yard line that was recovered by Robbie Slinkman. But following an SMSU penalty and a rush for a 1-yard loss, Ratekin was intercepted by WSU's Ryan Jirgl at the 20-yard line.

WSU returned the favor as Bryan Bradshaw was intercepted just two plays later by Curt Gosser, his team leading fifth of the season, setting up the offense at the WSU 43-yard line. SMSU failed to move the ball and was forced to punt three plays later.

The Warriors took advantage of the momentum and scored a pair of touchdowns and a field goal on its final three possession of the half to build a 31-7 halftime lead.

WSU racked up 377 yards of offense in the opening half, including 219 yards rushing.

SMSU started the second half strong moving 83 yards in 10 plays with Matthews capping the drive with a 35-yard touchdown run with 10:14 remaining to cut the deficit to 31-13 following a missed two-point conversion.

WSU continued its offensive dominance on its first drive on the second half as Simmons scored on an 11-yard touchdown run with 7:50 left in the quarter to push the lead to 38-13. WSU extended the lead to 44-13 midway through the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Chichi Ojika.

The Mustangs wrapped up the scoring with 5:23 as back-up quarterback Tyler Peschong connected on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Younger to make the score 44-19.

Kersbergen finished the game with 12 tackles with one interception and one forced fumble. Levi Reiff added nine tackles with seven solo stops, while Paul Mueck also recorded nine tackles.

SMSU will hit the road next Saturday, Nov. 6, for its final road game of the season at Minnesota State, Mankato (5-4, 4-4 NSIC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.