WINONA – Winona State built a 13-0 halftime lead and held off a Southwest Minnesota State second half rally to earn a 26-14 victory in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday afternoon at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.

The victory keeps the ‘Battle for the Sledge’ trophy, presented by BIG Athletics and Adidas, in Winona for the fifth straight season.

SMSU, which dropped its second straight game, falls to 2-5 overall, 1-2 NSIC South. The Mustangs had numerous chances to cut into the Warriors second half advantage, starting drives at the WSU 38-, 40- and 33-yardlines, but failed to score each time. SMSU also started a drive in the second quarter at the WSU 44-yard line but turned the ball over via fumble one play later.

WSU snapped its two-game losing streak and improves to 4-3 overall, 1-1 NSIC South.

Andrew Haidet completed 23 of 42 pass attempts for 183 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Mustangs, while completing passes to 11 different receivers. Jesse Sherwood rushed for a game-high 97 yards on 11 carries, which included a 67-yard run setting up SMSU’s first touchdown of the game. Peter Osman caught a team-high four passes for 22 yards with Carter Damlo adding three receptions for 31 yards.

SMSU cornerback Marshawn Reese registered a team-high eight tackles including four solo stops and was named the Mustangs’ Battle for the Sledge game MVP. Onte Burns and Adihia Bell each registered six tackles with Ken Truitt adding three tackles and his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter.

Owen Burke earned WSU’s game MVP award after completing 17 of 31 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

WSU closed the game with 353 yards of offense with 20 first downs, while SMSU finished with 271 yards and 15 first downs.

WSU took the opening kickoff and moved to the SMSU 10-yard line, but the Mustang defense held strong and forced WSU to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Jacob Scott. WSU converted a pair of big third-down conversions to keep the drive alive.

SMSU would register four first downs on its opening drive of the game moving the ball inside the WSU 30-yard, but the WSU defense forced the first of three turnovers in the game recovering a Haidet fumble to end the drive.

WSU would use a big 38-yard run Javian Roebuck setting up first-and-goal from the four-yard line, but once again the SMSU defense stiffened, and Scott had to come on and boot a 27-yard field goal to make the score 6-0 early in the second quarter.

Following a Mustang punt, the Warriors struck again moving the lead to 13-0 as Burke found Jake Balliu on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 left in the first half.

Neither team was able to muster much offense the remainder of the half with SMSU turning the ball over twice. SMSU faced first down at the WSU 44-yard line but a bad snap was recovered by the Warriors. The Mustang defense would stop the Warriors on downs on the ensuing drive, but moments later Haidet was intercepted at the WSU 36-yard line to stop another SMSU drive.

WSU had one last chance to add to the lead late in the first half, but back-to-back sacks by Anthony Sola and Avery Johnson kept the deficit to 13-0 at halftime.

SMSU was finally able to break through on the scoreboard on its first drive of the second half. Sherwood highlighted the drive with a 67-yard run down to the two-yard line. One play later, Duce Reynolds busted over the goal line to make the score 13-7 following Carter Dicker’s PAT.

WSU had a big answer on its first drive of the second half with Sawyer Maly catching a 28-yard touchdown pass from Burke to make the score 20-7 at the 10:22 mark of the third quarter.

SMSU countered with its own impressive drive moving 61 yards on 12 plays to score another touchdown. Haidet completed a big 16-yard pass to Eli Jefferson on third-and-10 and would later connect with Keilan Smith on a 12-yard pass on fourth-and-eight to keep the drive going. Haidet capped the drive with another third-down strike, this time completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Pampel with 4:06 left to cut the WSU advantage to 20-14. It was the first collegiate touchdown in Pampel’s career.

WSU extended the lead late in the third quarter with Dominik Landon scoring on a 27-yard touchdown run. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 16-yard first down reception on third-and-eight from the SMSU 41-yard linen. The PAT was missed following the touchdown as WSU held a 26-14 advantage after three quarters.

SMSU had several chances to make it a one-score game in the final 15 minutes, but the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the WSU 20-, 26- and 19-yard lines in three of their final four possessions.

Southwest Minnesota State will return home next Saturday facing Wayne State College (5-2, 2-1 NSIC South) for ‘Senior Appreciation Day’ with kickoff set for 5 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications