Wayne, Neb. — Senior quarterback Nick Bohn fired four touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score to sophomore Kendrick Watkins-Hogue with 3:43 to play, leading Wayne State to a rare Northern Sun Conference football victory at Winona State Saturday afternoon 28-21. The 3-1 Wildcats, 2-1 in the NSIC, snapped a six-game losing streak in Winona to the Warriors and won at Winona for the first time since 2009 (48-25). Winona State is now 1-2 and 1-1 in the league.
WSC took the opening drive of the game and marched down the field for a touchdown, highlighted by going 4 for 4 on third-down conversions. The ‘Cats covered 77 yards on 14 plays with Bohn firing a 26-yard scoring pass to sophomore running back Latravious Boyd to put Wayne State ahead 7-0 at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter.
After the Wildcat defense started the game with a pair of three and outs against the Winona State offense, the Warriors drove to the WSC 15 early in the second quarter and attempted a 32-yard field goal that was blocked by Wildcat defensive lineman Drake Peed.
Later in the quarter, Winona State was able to get on the scoreboard and tie the game at 7-7 as Warrior quarterback Cole Stenstrom delivered a 40-yard scoring strike to Cayden Holcomb with 7:05 to play in the first half.
Wayne State’s defense created a turnover later in the quarter that set up a Wildcat score as sophomore Brayden Chaney intercepted a Warrior pass at the WSU 20. One play later, Bohn found Hogue on a 20-yard touchdown pass giving the Wildcats a 14-7 lead with 4:28 to play in the first half to close opening half scoring.
The lone score of the third quarter came on Wayne State’s first series as the ‘Cats marched 64 yards on eight plays with Bohn throwing a 33-yard scoring pass to Keaten Bonderson giving WSC a 21-7 lead at the 10:20 mark of the third quarter.
Winona State scored on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter to tie the contest at 21-21. The first score came on a Stenstrom to Holcomb connection for the second time in the game – this time from 38 yards out – making the score 21-14 with 11:09 to play.
Following a Wayne State punt, Winona State drove 56 yards on nine plays with Stenstrom finding James Durst on a 15-yard pass play knotting the score at 21-21 with 5:53 left in the game.
Wayne State needed just four plays and 80 yards and 1:59 to regain the lead as Bohn found Watkins-Hogue on a 52-yard scoring play putting the ‘Cats back in front 28-21 with 3:43 to go.
Winona State had one last chance with the ball, starting from their own 25 and marching down to the WSC 25, but the ‘Cats got a nine-yard sack from Carter Sitzman on third down and forced an incomplete pass to end the drive and the Wildcats ended with a 28-21 win.
Wayne State was outgained in the contest by Winona State 356-247. The ‘Cats had 39 yards rushing and 208 passing compared to Winona’s 146 yards rushing and 210 passing.
Bohn completed 17 of 30 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns. Watkins-Hogue hauled in seven catches for 103 yards and two scores, his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. Freshman Akeem Knox was the top WSC rusher with 32 yards on 11 carries.
Senior linebacker Dexter Larsen had a game-high eight tackles for the Wildcat defense. Senior Alex Kowalczyk added seven stops with Chaney adding six along with an interception, his second of the season. Carter Sitzman added five tackles with a forced fumble, one sack and two tackles for loss.
Wayne State is idle next weekend and returns to play on Saturday, October 5th hosting Minot State in the annual Homecoming Game at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
