WINONA, Minn. - Minnesota Duluth might not have its best football team.
The jury is still out on that.
But the Bulldogs certainly don’t have a group of quitters. Tonight was further evidence of that.
No. 4 UMD trailed most of the game but found a way to pull out another Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory, rallying to beat No. 20 Winona State 28-21 before 4,575 at Warrior Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer connected with freshman Nate Ricci from 15 yards out to give UMD its first lead of the game with 7:22 to play. That’s how it would stay as the Bulldogs’ defense forced the Warriors to turn the ball over on downs with 3:49 to play. UMD then ran the clock out, with senior Austin Sikorski breaking a 29-yarder to all but seal the team's fourth victory in four games this season. Sikorski got up pumping his fists, knowing that about finished it.
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Sikorski and backfield mate Logan Lauters were a 1-2 combination, helping the Bulldogs rush for nearly 300 yards.
The second half was an entertaining seesaw affair, just about the opposite of the first two quarters.
The first half was a defensive struggle that found the Bulldogs trailing 7-3 despite outgaining the Warriors 213 to 61.
The key play occurred when UMD punter Shawn Magee moved to his right, possibly to attempt a rugby-style kick. Instead, he was met by a hoard of purple jerseys. Winona State (3-1) took over at the UMD 32 and scored on its first play, with quarterback Jack Nelson finding Josh Mikes in stride for a touchdown reception.
UMD managed an Andrew Brees field goal in the first half but that was it as Bauer was intercepted once and the Brees had a 42-yard field goal attempt bounce off the right upright.
