Prior to Saturday, the No. 19 University of Minnesota Duluth football team had not lost to Winona State University since it rejoined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2008. On an overcast day at James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minn., the Bulldogs made sure that historic winning streak was extended.

 

UMD defeated the Warriors 38-14 to move to 5-0 on the season and 4-0 in NSIC games – the third time in Bulldog head coach Curt Wiese's coaching career that his teams have started off 5-0. It also marks the 14th time in program history UMD has strung together five triumphs out of the starting blocks.

 

The Bulldogs compiled 420 yards of total offense with four passing touchdowns, while the defense held WSU to -28 rushing yards and sacked Warrior quarterback Cole Strenstrom eight times – tying a season-high.

 

UMD went to the air in the first half to score, and the first touchdown of the game came after a nine-play, 85 yard drive that ended with a 18-yard TD toss by redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Walljasper to senior running back Daniel Mitchell. The touchdown, Mitchell's second of the season and first from the air, along with a Curtis Cox point after completion, gave UMD a 7-0 lead at 7:39 of the first quarter.

 

The Bulldogs defense smothered the Warriors early, highlighted by back-to-back sacks from redshirt senior linebacker Drew Hennessey that forced WSU to punt with 11:18 left in the quarter. Just 1:14 later, UMD showcased some offensive trickery when Walljasper ran to his left, quickly pitched the ball back to redshirt sophomore wide receiver DaShaun Ames, who then rolled to his right on WSU's 25 yardline and hit a wide open Sam Pitz. Pitz walked in from 10 yards out for the touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead at 10:04 of the second.

 

After UMD's defense again kept WSU away from the endzone, Walljasper and Co. needed just 2:11 to take a 21-0 lead. Walljasper hit Pitz right up the middle for a 37 yard touchdown pass, and a Marcus Glodowski interception on UMD's 22-yd line secured the commanding 21-0 advantage at halftime.

 

Ames, who already had thrown for one TD on the day, opened up the third quarter with another. The wide receiver ran back the opening kick of the half 93 yards for UMD first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2016 to put the Bulldogs up 28-0.

 

The Warriors finally got on board – snapping the Bulldogs opponent scoreless streak at six quarters – at 10:19 of the third quarter, but UMD again stretched out its lead with a 11-play, 73 yard march down the field punctuated by the Walljasper to Pitz connection for a third time on the afternoon. Walljasper hit Pitz in the end zone for a 14-yd TD at 4:02 of the third, also giving the QB his third passing touchdown on the day.

 

Winona was credited for a second touchdown at 2:42 of the third quarter, though it appeared that the ball came out of Sylvere Campbell's hand before he crossed the goal line. Campbell's 49-yd TD reception made it a 35-14 score line, but UMD's defense denied the Warriors any further offensive points.

 

In fact, the only points of the final quarter came off the foot of placekicker Curtis Cox, who hit a 35 yd FG at 12:35 to make it a 38-14 contest. The Bulldogs defense did the rest, highlighted by consecutive sacks around the 10 minute mark courtesy of Ethan Beffert and Hennessey. At the nine minute mark, UMD added another sack by Zach Wallace and Landon Carter before Andrew Klopp picked off Stenstrom at 6:31, defusing the Warriors attempt to add to the scoreboard.

 

In all, UMD recorded eight sacks behind 3.5 from Hennessey, and two picks from Klopp and Glodowski. The Bulldogs held the Warriors to -28 rushing yards – the second time in as many games UMD opponents have been held to negative rushing yards. Both Hennessey and Jacob Mogensen led the defense with six tackles on the day.

 

UMD rolled up 420 total yards of offense, the third time this season the Bulldogs have been at 420 or more in a game. Walljasper, who did not play the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, racked up 122 yards on the ground, while Jimmy Durocher had 93 yards and a team-best six receptions. All told, UMD had 198 yards on the ground and 222 in the air. Pitz paced the Bulldogs with three TDS – a career best effort, while Walljasper had three touchdown passes.

 

The Bulldogs will again take to the road next weekend to face Wayne State University in Wayne, Neb. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD has now won 10-straight games against the Warriors, dating back to the 2008 season, and is 37-10 all-time vs WSU ... DaShaun Ames' kickoff return for a touchdown was the first one by a Bulldog since Jason Baltz's ran a 90 yard kick back on Nov. 19, 2016 ... Sam Pitz's three TDs was a career high – the tight end has now posted three multiple touchdown games over his career … Pitz has a team-high six TD receptions on the season … Drew Hennessey's 3.5 sacks in a game was also a career-best for the linebacker … Hennessey currently has seven on the season.