Winona State built a 26-7 halftime lead at Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday and held on for a 34-27 NSIC South Division win at Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul.
The Warriors did their damage on the ground, rushing for 298 yards on 37 carries. AJ Moore ran 14 times for 142 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, and Jahmani Muhammad added 121 yards on 12 carries with a 64-yard score, both in the second quarter. Quarterback Jacob Sampson completed 16 of 29 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, finding Nolan Ginskey seven times for 106 yards and a score.
Concordia's defense tightened after halftime, holding Winona State to 133 second-half yards while the Golden Bears' offense put together three long scoring drives. Joel Lacy's 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal pulled Concordia within 26-20 with 8:51 remaining.
Winona State answered with the drive that decided the game: 14 plays and 75 yards, using 6 minutes and 50 seconds, and ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal.
Concordia quarterback Lincoln Graf led one last 9-play, 75-yard drive and hit Carter Zezulka for a 6-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left. Graf finished 17-of-26 for 190 yards and two touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown. Winona State tight end James Durst recovered the onside kick that followed, ending the comeback.
Winona State improves to 3-5 overall, 3-4 in the NSIC and 2-2 in the South Division. Concordia-St. Paul falls to 3-5 overall, 2-5 in the NSIC and 0-3 in the South, and travels to No. 22 Wayne State next Saturday.
