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SMSU FOOTBALL: WSU uses scoring spurt in fourth quarter to beat Mustangs

Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications Mustang quarterback Blake Gimbel gets ready to deliver a pass during Saturday’s NSIC matchup with Winona State. The Warriors won the game 38-26.

WINONA – Winona State broke open a 16-16 tie with 22 points in the final 12 minutes to earn a 38-26 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday afternoon at Altra Federal Credit Stadium.

WSU, which improves to 6-3 overall, 3-2 NSIC South, keeps the “Battle of the Sledge” trophy, presented by BIG Athletics/Adidas for the third straight season. With the setback, SMSU drops to 4-5 overall, 1-4 NSIC South.

SMSU finished the game with 377 yards of offense and 19 first downs. Blake Gimbel completed 19 of 33 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs. It was his 12th career 300-yard passing game moving into sole possession of second in team history.

Daniel Davis caught four passes for 130 yards, including a 66-yard reception in the fourth quarter. It’s his fifth 100-yard game in the last six weeks and he now has 954 yards on the season. He is 46 yards shy of becoming the eighth player in team history to reach 1,000 yards in a single-season.

Gabe Galamue had two receptions for 50 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown, while Aaron Murphy also had two receptions for 36 yards.

SMSU’s Hudson Walton rushed for a team-high 40 yards on nine carries and one touchdown.

Shane Ratkovich, who was named SMSU’s most valuable player in the game, finished with a team-high 10 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. Alex Ney added eight tackles with 1.5 for loss.

A strong WSU defense sacked Gimbel seven times in the game.

WSU quarterback Owen Burke, who was sacked six times, completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Isaiah Fradsen was Burke’s top target with six receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

WSU kicker Paul Ortiz had had huge game, connecting on four field goals, including a 49 and 50 yarder in the opening half.

The Warriors opened the game’s scoring on their opening drive as Burke found Jaylen Schleicher for an 18-yard touchdown with 13:07 left in the first quarter.

Following two Ortiz field goals, including one with 58 seconds left in the half, the WSU defense stripped Gimbel at the SMSU 21-yard line with 48 seconds remaining. Ortiz closed the half with his third field goal of the game to make it 16-0.

SMSU rallied early in the third quarter to tie the game. After receiving the second half kickoff, the Mustangs moved 73 yards on seven plays with Gimbel connecting on a 32-yard touchdown to Galamue with 11:13 on the clock in the third quarter. A two-point pass to Carter Kirk cut the deficit to 16-8.

The SMSU defense made a big play moments later as Tahjee Smith recovered a fumble on WSU’s first offensive play of the half at the Warriors’ 32-yard line.

SMSU quickly answered as Gimbel completed a 30-yard pass to Murphy down to the WSU 2-yard line. Walton then plowed across the goal line with a 2-yard touchdown with 10:27 remaining. Gimbel then scored on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 16.

Both defensive units were strong the remainder of the quarter to keep the game tied at 16 through three quarters.

SMSU had the ball at the WSU 44-yard line early in the fourth, but a sack on third-and-three forced the Mustangs to punt.

WSU answered with the go-ahead points as Ortiz booted a 38-yard field with 11:36 left in the game.

SMSU went three-and-out on its next drive and a big 38-yard punt return by Isaiah Hall set up the Warriors at the SMSU 24-yard line. Following a false start, Burke connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Frandsen with 9:52 remaining to push the lead to 25-16 following a missed PAT.

The Mustangs answered on its next drive with a big 33-yard field goal by Skyler Crew midway through the fourth quarter to trim the WSU lead to 25-19. The key play of the drive was the 66-yard completion to Davis from the SMSU 17-yard line.

WSU added to the lead on its next possession, added by a personal foul on SMSU deep in Mustang territory. Frandsen closed the drive with an 11-yard touchdown with 5:19 left to make the score 31-19, following a failed two-point conversion.

The Warriors were then able to seal the win as Hall intercepted Gimbel and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 38-19.

SMSU closed the scoring on the ensuing drive with Gimbel connecting on a 33-yard pass to Nelson to make the score final margin at 38-26.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home for its final two games of the season starting next Saturday, Nov. 3, facing Concordia-St. Paul (4-5, 2-3 NSIC South) with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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