Sioux Falls, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (6-3, 5-3 NSIC) delivered a complete, four-quarter performance on Saturday afternoon at Bob Young Field, powering past Winona State 49–24 to secure the program's 100th win as a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The victory was also the Cougars' first over the Warriors since 2019.

First Half Surge

After Winona State jumped out to a 14–0 lead midway through the opening quarter, USF immediately flipped momentum with explosive plays through the air. Redshirt-Freshman quarterback Tate Schafer sparked the comeback on a 44-yard strike to Christian Janis to get the Cougars on the board late in the first quarter. From there, the offense settled into rhythm and began stacking efficient drives. Schafer's trust in his tight end group paid off just minutes before halftime — connecting with Noah Robertson on back-to-back second quarter touchdown receptions (16 yards and 2 yards) to swing the score from 14–6 to a 21–17 Cougar lead at the break. Robertson's pair of touchdowns marked his first multi-TD game of the season and helped set the tone for what was coming in the second half.

Dominant Second Half

The Cougars took full control coming out of the locker room expanding on a 42-3 scoring run. USF opened the third quarter with three consecutive touchdown drives, featuring a bruising 21-yard touchdown run from Bubba Tann III, along with red-zone scores from Jordan Smith and Christian Nash — showcasing the depth of the Cougar running back room and their ability to finish drives in plus territory. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Schafer added a rushing touchdown of his own to cap a 12-play march, putting the game out of reach and securing another statement win at Bob Young Field. The offensive line paved the way for 7.7 yards per play and allowed USF to control tempo, possession, and the pace of the second half.

Offensive Efficiency

USF produced 506 yards of total offense, stacking explosive plays while also staying operational and efficient on third down (8-of-12). Schafer put together his most complete performance to date — finishing 20-for-25 for 391 yards and three touchdowns through the air along with a rushing score. Hank Brown Jr. was a matchup nightmare all afternoon, posting 136 yards on eight receptions, while Janis and Robertson combined for 79 yards and three touchdowns. Isaiah Emanuel tacked on 97 yards across three receptions averaging 32.3 yards a catch. The Cougars were also highly productive in the red zone, scoring on five of six opportunities and balancing the attack with 115 rushing yards against a physical Winona front.

Defense Closes It Out

While the offense posted season-high numbers, the defense played a pivotal role in the turnaround as well — limiting Winona State to just 10 points over the final three quarters and just seven in the second half. USF forced two interceptions, including a momentum-shifting picks from Cade Morse and Cain McWilliams and added three sacks to stall drives before they could build. London Kolb led the defensive unit with nine tackles, while Jordan Medrano, Max Elrod, and DaShawn Rohlik each contributed impactful pressures in the backfield. As Winona State tried to rally, USF tightened coverage, broke up three passes, and forced the Warriors into eight drives of five plays or fewer.

By the Numbers

• Total Offense: USF 506 – WSU 371

• Passing Yards: USF 391 - WSU 184

• Rushing Yards: USF 115 - WSU 187

• First Downs: USF 28 - WSU 18

• Time of Possession: USF 35:46 - WSU 24:14

Up Next

USF now turns the page to a pivotal Week 10 matchup as the Cougars host Wayne State next Sunday, November 8th at 1pm for their annual senior day recognition. Fans are encouraged to help us "White Out" Bob Young Field during next weekends matchup.

Follow USF Football by downloading the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Be the first to know what's going on inside USF Athletics by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter!