By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Sioux Falls football team (5-3, 5-2 NSIC) hits the road this weekend for an NSIC matchup against Winona State (3-5, 3-4 NSIC). The Cougars enter the contest riding a two-game winning streak following a commanding 49-29 victory over Minot State, while the Warriors are coming off a 34-27 road victory over Concordia-St. Paul. Saturday's matchup will mark the 13th all-time meeting between the programs, with Sioux Falls looking to even the series and secure its second consecutive victory over Winona State.
Sioux Falls enters the weekend averaging 29.0 points and 374.0 yards of total offense per game, while holding opponents to 24.3 points and 342.5 yards per contest. Winona State is averaging 20.6 points and 345.9 yards offensively while allowing 21.8 points and 359.1 yards per game. The matchup features a Cougar offense that has scored 77 points over its last two games against a Warrior defense that has given up 61 points over their last two contests.
Inside the Series
OVERALL: 13th Meeting - Winona State leads 7-5
CURRENT STREAK: Sioux Falls, Won 1
LAST MEETING: Nov. 1, 2025 - USF 49, WSU 24 (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Series History
The Sioux Falls and Winona State series dates back to Oct. 6, 2012, with the Warriors holding a 7-5 all-time advantage. The series has remained competitive throughout its history, with the teams splitting their last 10 meetings at five wins apiece. USF is 3-4 at home and 2-3 on the road against Winona State, while averaging 29.6 points per contest.
The Cougars enjoyed their longest winning streak in the series from 2014 through 2016, capturing three consecutive victories, including road wins of 41-28 in 2014, a 51-30 win in 2015 and a 41-30 win in 2016. Winona State responded with a three-game winning streak from 2021 through 2023, winning those contests by a combined 14 points. The Warriors have won the last two meetings played in Winona, including a 20-17 decision in 2022 and a 16-15 victory in 2018. USF will be seeking its first road victory in the series since 2016.
The programs last met on Nov. 1, 2025, when Sioux Falls earned a 49-24 victory at Bob Young Field, marking the Cougars' largest margin of victory in series history. After trailing 14-6 at the end of the first quarter, USF outscored Winona State 36-3 over the next two periods, including a 21-point third quarter that broke the game open. The Cougars held the Warriors scoreless in the third quarter and added a fourth-quarter touchdown to secure the 25-point victory, snapping a three-game losing streak in the series.
The Cougar File
Sioux Falls enters Saturday's matchup with a 5-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in NSIC play after defeating Minot State 49-29 on Oct. 24. The victory marked the Cougars' second consecutive conference win and their highest-scoring performance of the season. USF has now scored 77 points over its last two contests, including a 28-14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Oct. 10. Through eight games, the Cougars are averaging 29.0 points and 374.0 yards of total offense per contest, including 231.5 passing yards and 142.5 rushing yards.
The Cougar offense has continued to develop throughout the season, totaling 2,992 yards and 31 touchdowns through eight games. USF has thrown for 1,852 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 1,140 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground. The Cougars have converted 42.7 percent of their third-down opportunities and 60.0 percent of their fourth-down attempts. Inside the red zone, Sioux Falls has scored on 25-of-29 opportunities, including 20 touchdowns leading the NSIC and sitting 23rd in the NCAA for Red Zone Offense.
Under center,
Bennett Brueck and
Tate Schafer have combined to lead the Cougar passing attack. Brueck has completed 77-of-136 passes for 1,003 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 266 rushing yards and three scores. Schafer has completed 63-of-112 attempts for 841 yards and six touchdowns, giving the quarterback duo a combined 1,844 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. The Cougars are averaging 13.0 yards per reception, with 17 passing touchdowns against just five interceptions.
Bubba Tann III has emerged as the Cougars' leading rusher and scorer, totaling 529 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 92 carries while averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Tann has also added 10 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to nine touchdowns and 640 all-purpose yards. Brueck follows with 266 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while
Daevion Simonsen has contributed 177 yards and a score. USF has averaged 4.2 yards per carry through eight games.
Adonis Hutchinson continues to lead the Sioux Falls receiving corps with 44 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 97.4 receiving yards per game and 15.5 yards per catch.
Hank Brown Jr. has added 25 receptions for 324 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns, while
Todd Benedict has contributed 174 yards on 12 catches.
Dahlton Wood follows with 139 yards and a touchdown, giving the Cougars multiple receiving threats as they prepare for the Warriors.
Defensively, Sioux Falls is allowing 342.5 yards and 24.3 points per game, including 153.5 rushing yards and 189.0 passing yards. The Cougars have recorded 37 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and nine interceptions while recovering five fumbles. USF has forced 14 turnovers through eight games and has limited opposing quarterbacks to seven touchdown passes against nine interceptions. The defense has also generated 31 pass breakups and 10 forced fumbles.
Owen McCloud leads the Cougar defense with 56 tackles, adding an interception and a fumble recovery.
Andy Henson and
Garret Hoffman follow with 42 tackles apiece, while
Beau Giblin has contributed 41 stops. Henson has recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles, while Hoffman and Giblin lead the team with two interceptions each.
Denim Blackstad leads the defensive front with 6.5 tackles for loss, followed by
James Woodward with five and Henson with 4.5.
Cam Enright has also contributed an interception, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Special teams remain a strength for Sioux Falls as they sit 16th in NCAA DII in Kickoff Return Defense and 1st in Punt Returns, with the Cougars averaging 21.5 yards per punt return and 19.8 yards per kickoff return.
Cade Morse has totaled 52 yards on two punt returns, while
Isaac Rudningen has recorded a 23-yard punt return touchdown.
Mark-hel Joinville leads the kickoff return unit with 280 yards on 12 attempts, averaging 23.3 yards per return.
Scott Dickson is averaging 37.7 yards on 33 punts, including five punts of 50-plus yards and 10 placed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Scouting the Opponent
Winona State enters Saturday's matchup with a 3-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in NSIC play following a 34-27 victory over Concordia-St. Paul. The Warriors are averaging 20.6 points and 345.9 yards of total offense per game, including 184.3 passing yards and 161.6 rushing yards. Winona State has scored 19 touchdowns through eight games and has converted 32.7 percent of its third-down opportunities while scoring on 20-of-25 trips inside the red zone.
Offensively, quarterback Jacob Sampson has completed 91-of-149 passes for 901 yards and six touchdowns while adding 180 rushing yards and a score. Jackson Flottmeyer has contributed 573 passing yards and five touchdowns. Jahmani Muhammad leads the rushing attack with 497 yards and three touchdowns, followed by AJ Moore with 301 yards and four scores. Jake Schultz leads the receiving corps with 43 receptions for 447 yards, while Nolan Ginskey has added 303 yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns.
Defensively, Winona State is allowing 359.1 yards and 21.8 points per game while recording 42 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two interceptions. Blake Schraufnagel leads the Warriors with 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Brent Jeske follows with 52 tackles and a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss. Ethan Doucette has contributed 47 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, while Patrick Curtin has added 46 stops. The Warriors have been particularly effective on third down, holding opponents to a 27.9 percent conversion rate.
Winona State Head Coach Brian Curtin
Brian Curtin enters his second season as head coach of Winona State. A longtime member of the Warrior coaching staff, Curtin joined the program in 1997 and has served in numerous roles, primarily as defensive coordinator, while also coaching wide receivers and coordinating special teams. Throughout his tenure, Curtin has helped Winona State capture eight NSIC Championships, three NSIC South Division titles and seven NCAA Division II Playoff appearances. Known for developing strong defensive units, Curtin has coached multiple All-Americans and NSIC Defensive Players of the Year while helping the Warriors record six seasons with 10 or more victories. A former Winona State football player and member of the 1993 NSIC Championship team, Curtin earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from WSU.
Broadcast Information
