Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – Winona State took advantage of three Southwest Minnesota State turnovers and used 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns by Paul Preston to earn a 42-27 victory in NSIC football at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday.
 
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak by WSU (7-3, 4-2 NSIC South) in the series versus SMSU and earned the Warriors the "Battle of the Sledge" traveling trophy.
 
Max Simmons was named SMSU's most valuable player, while Preston earned WSU's most valuable player award in the second annual trophy game sponsored by BIG Athletics and adidas.
 
SMSU (5-5, 2-4 NSIC South) closes the regular season next Saturday hosting Augustana University and will look to record back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 1991-92 seasons.
 
Simmons rushed for a career-high 162 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. It was his second four touchdown game of the season, tying a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game. He now has 18 touchdowns, one shy of the single-season team record of 19 set by Tyler Tonderum in 2013. 
 
SMSU's Blake Gimbel completed 19 of 31 pass attempts for 170 yards. It was the first time in 21 starts that Gimbel failed to throw a touchdowns pass. Nate Huot was Gimbel's top target with seven receptions for 61 yards. Raphael Lawson-Gayle finished with four catches for 67 yards.
 
SMSU closed the game with 408 yards on offense with 170 coming on the ground.
 
WSU's Jack Nelson finished the game passing for 270 yards and in the process became the NSIC's all-time leader in passing yards. He now has amassed 11,781 yards passing in his four-year career.
 
WSU finished the game with 510 yards of total offense with 27 first downs.
 
The Mustang defense was paced by Caleb Leichtnam and Michael Everett, who both finished with 11 tackles. Tyler Flud had seven tackles and now has 292 in his career ranking sixth in team history.
 
WSU struck quickly to open the game set up by a 49 yard kickoff return by Preston. Just three plays later Nelson connected with Cameron Johnson on a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 13 minutes and 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
 
SMSU answered with an impressive 15-play, 77-yard drive to tie the score. SMSU picked up a pair of first downs converting on third down and also converted a pair of fourth down plays on the drive. Simmons closed off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-7 with 9:03 remaining in the first.
 
WSU regained the lead just four plays later with Preston breaking free on a 24-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7 midway through the first quarter.
 
WSU added to the lead in the second quarter taking advantage of an SMSU turnover. Simmons fumbled near midfield and the WSU offense used the short field and moved the ball to the SMSU 18-yard line. The SMSU defense forced WSU to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Carter McCauley to push the lead to 17-7.
 
On the ensuing SMSU drive, Simmons cut the deficit to 17-14, ripping off a 77-yard touchdown run. It was the longest play by SMSU this season and the first 70-yard-plus run by an SMSU player since Tyler Tonderum had a 78-yard touchdown versus Pittsburg State (Kan.) in 2013.  
 
WSU once again had an answer and pushed the lead to 24-14 with another touchdown drive. Nelson found Johnson open once again for a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors a 10-point lead at the 8:32 mark.
 
SMSU had a golden chance to cut into the lead on its next drive, but another turnover ended the threat. On the kickoff, SMSU used a revers with Michael Rivera handing off to Lawson-Gayle at the 13-yard line and the senior returned it 76 yards down to the WSU 11-yard line. But on the Mustangs' first play from scrimmage, Simmons was stripped and the Warriors were able to come up with the ball and hold onto the 24-14 lead into halftime.
 
SMSU cut into the deficit on its opening drive of the second half as Simmons busted through with a 16-yard touchdown run to make the score 24-20, following a blocked PAT.
 
WSU didn't wait long to respond, using a long pass and then a 35-yard touchdown run by Preston, to push the lead to 30-20 after a missed PAT.
 
The Warriors added to the lead later in the quarter, taking advantage of a 33-yard run on a fake punt, as McCauley booted a 38-yard field goal to make the score 33-20 at the 4:36 mark of the third. 
 
Just two plays into SMSU's next drive, disaster struck again as Gabe Galamue was stripped at the SMSU 36-yard line and WSU picked up the loose ball and returned it to the 14-yard line. Four plays later a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Kos pushed the margin to 39-20.
 
WSU would later add a field goal, before SMSU finished off the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Simmons.
 
Saturday's game versus Augustana University (7-3, 4-2 NSIC South) at the Schwan Regional Event Center starts at 1 p.m.