WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University offense proved to be too much for the University of Minnesota Crookston football team as they dropped their 2016 opener 68-0 at Altra Credit Union Stadium in Winona, Minn. The Warriors amassed over 500 yards of offense including 304 on the ground and 209 through the air. On the other side of the ball, UMC was limited to just 91 yards of offense as they drop to 0-1 on the season.

Winona State limited the effectiveness of UMC's top two players with their two 2015 All-NSIC North Second Team picks, Andre Person (Sr., RB, Detroit, Mich.) and Adam Connette (Jr., WR, Corona, Calif.) combining for just 39 yards of offense. Person had 16 carries for 33 yards, while Connette had just two catches for six.

Nathan Cole (Sr., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.) would go 12-of-21 for 77 yards at quarterback for the Golden Eagles.

UMC was able to pressure the quarterback a few times on the day as they had two sacks on the game and forced one turnover. Casey Kraska (R-Jr., DL, Stephen, Minn.) led the way with one sack. Ali Alkhatib (R-So., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) led the defense with seven tackles with two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Trevor Long, Jr. (R-Fr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) would add seven tackles.

The Winona State offense was led by a three-pronged attack. Quarterback Jack Nelson would go 12-of-17 for 209 yards and three touchdowns. His top target was Cameron Johnson, who had a big day with six grabs for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Paul Preston also had a big day for the Warriors with 13 touches for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

The Warrior defense looked to Austin Opfer, who had two sacks. Four players would lead the way with five tackles.

The Golden Eagle defense would come up with a big play on the first drive of the game. After the Warriors had moved the ball down to the UMC 31, Bubba Cook (So., DL, Surprise, Ariz.) and Logan Huso (Fr., DL, Eagan, Minn.) would come up with a big sack on third down and Winona State would throw an incompletion on fourth down to give the Golden Eagles the ball.

UMC would move the ball down the field led by a 19-yard pass from Cole to Rod Stewart (So., WR, Fort Worth, Texas). However, Winona State would stop the Golden Eagles at the Warrior 26. Mike Maw (Sr., K, White Bear Lake, Minn.) would come on for a 43-yard attempt. His kick would be blocked by Jarrett Wood.

The Golden Eagles would look to have a stop on the second Winona State drive after stopping a third down. However, a 24-yard pass from Nelson to Joel Hinke would give the Warriors a first down at the 15. Winona State would go in for their first score on a 1-yard rush from Paul Preston. Carter McCauley would miss the extra point to keep the score at 6-0.

After a quick stop, Winona State would get the ball back. This time Preston would go in from 39 yards out, his second touchdown of the game. A missed two-point conversion would keep the score at 12-0.

The Warriors would score quickly on their next drive as they put it in the end zone on their first play of the drive. Nelson would hit Cameron Johnson for a 52-yard strike to make it 19-0.

 Winona State would start out the second quarter with another score as Nelson found his tight end Nick Margiotta from nine yards out to make it 26-0.

A fumble deep in the end zone recovered by Cole in the end zone would give Winona State a safety to extend the Warrior lead to 28-0.

Winona State would get the ball back after the free kick and would go in quickly as Nelson found Johnson for the second time on the game to make it 35-0.

The Warriors would put the lead out to 42-0 later in the second as Eric Birth went in on a seven-yard rush.

Minnesota Crookston was limited to just 39 yards of offense in the first half, compared to 389 yards of offense for the Warriors. UMC's leader offensively was Stewart, who had one catch for 19 yards. Defensively, Alkhatib led the way with five tackles. Long also had five tackles in the first half.

The Warriors were led by Nelson, who went 10-of-15 for 198 yards with three touchdowns. Johnson led all receivers in the first half with five grabs for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Preston led the running game with 10 rushes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

Winona State would get two more quick points as the second half opened. After a defensive stop, a snap over the head of Stephen Day (R-So., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) would go out of the back of the end zone to extend the Warrior lead to 44-0.

The Warriors would get their first touchdown of the second half as Birth went in from three yards out for his second touchdown of the game to make it 51-0.

Winona State would make it 58-0 as Jake Balliu ran back a punt 82 yards.

The Golden Eagles would come away with a big play in the second half as Alkhatib would strip the ball from Patrick Baumann, which would be recovered by Garrett Mead (R-Fr., DL, Santee, Calif.) at the UMC 43. UMC would move the ball down to the Winona State 23 but would come up just short on fourth down.

The Warriors would add a score in the fourth quarter as Baumann went in from 39 yards out to make it 65-0.

Winona State would add to their lead later in the quarter as McCauley hit a 25-yard field goal to make it 68-0. That score would prove to be the final one.

The Golden Eagles will return to action Sat., Sept. 10 as they have their home opener at Ed Widseth Field at 1 p.m. against Concordia University-St. Paul.