WINONA, Minn. – Turnovers play an important role in nearly every football game.

But, at times, it is where they happen and what you do with those turnovers that loom larger than the miscues themselves.

Minot State lost the turnover battle 5-3, but two happened in the red zone and Winona State turned the five turnovers into 18 points to pull away from MSU 38-7 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football Saturday at Altra Stadium.

"Turnovers are a critical part of any football game," said MSU head coach Tyler Hughes. "But, where they happen and when they happen can make them even more critical. We were in the red zone and moved the ball at times, but turning it over down there wasn't good."

After a long pass on the first play from scrimmage, the MSU defense dug in and played a solid first half. The Beavers (0-2 overall, 0-2 NSIC) held Winona State to field goal on the first series.

But a huge turn of events changed the complexity of the first half as the Beavers fumbled on a 3rd-and-goal from the 2 and Winona scooped up the loose ball, returning it to the MSU 12. Two plays later, JackNelson hit Cameron Johnson for an 11-yard TD, effectively making it a 14-point turnaround to give WSU a 10-0 lead six seconds into the second quarter.

"We talked about it after this one, there were plenty of opportunities that we need to seize and were not doing that," Hughes said. "We have to recognize those when they are in front of us and take advantage of them. We are working hard, the effort is there and the attitude is good, but you have to recognize the moment and take advantage. Until we do that, we are going to have results like we did today."

After the WSU touchdown, Minot State put together its best drive of the day, going 75 yards on 14 plays to cut the lead to 10-7 on a Jarvis Mustipher (Jr., RB, Melbourne, Fla.) 1-yard run. The Beavers converted three third down conversions on the drive, including the TD run.

"We moved the ball well at times. I thought we had a decent time running the ball, again, at times," Hughes said. "It was the turnovers that disrupted the offense."

After the Warriors (1-1, 1-1) pushed the lead to 17-7, MSU had a great opportunity as Randel Barber (Sr., DB, Maricopa, Ariz.) caused a fumble and Thomas Bryson (Sr., DL, Layton, Utah) fell on it to give MSU the ball at the Warrior 40. But the Beavers went 3-and-out. While the defense caused three turnovers, MSU came away with no points on the Warriors' miscues.

"The defense collectively was pretty good today," Hughes said. "We gave up the big play early, but after that, we did a decent job. We won first down a number of times, we were in good down and distance scenarios for the most part and caused a couple turnovers. We got a little tired late and our legs were a little gassed in the fourth, but I thought we did a decent job on defense despite the score."

Winona took a 20-7 lead into the break as Carter McCauley crushed a 53-yard field goal just before halftime, setting a WSU record that he would break later in the game with a 54-yarder.
Minot State had two more chances in the second half to put together drives to get back into the game. After Maurice Talley (Sr., DB, Elk Grove, Calif.) recorded his first interception in a Beaver uniform, MSU marched to the WSU 18. But an interception at the goal line thwarted that drive.

One play later, Isaiah Steinwand (Sr., DB, Minot, N.D.) made an athletic, one-handed pick in traffic to five the Beavers the ball back at the MSU 42. However, two plays after that, the Beavers fumbled away the opportunity. This time WSU didn't give it back as they scored on the ensuing drive to make it 28-7 late in the third quarter.

Winona State tacked on two more scores in the fourth using time-consuming drives of 14 plays and 11 plays to wear down the Beavers' defense.

WSU outgained Minot State 400-215 mainly through the air, out-passing the Beavers 303-127. Nelson finished with 303 yards on 19 of 33 passing with three TDs and two interceptions. He was sacked twice as well.

MSU's Lucas Romanski (Jr., QB, San Ramon, Calif.) went 12 of 31 for 127 yards and three interceptions. He found Porter Sturm three times for 55 yards. Mustipher led the Beavers with 65 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Darrel Milburn (Jr., RB, Baltimore, Md.) added 48 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Marcel Brinson (Sr., DB, Gilroy, Calif.) paced the defense with nine tackles .Aaron James (Sr., LB, Oklahoma City, Okla.) added seven stops and Steinwand and Trevin Swensen (Jr., LB, Shelley, Idaho) had six each. Steinwand finished with the interception and tipped the ball that Talley picked off in the second half. Bryson finished with two sacks, two tackles and a fumble recovery for the Beavers.

Minot State returns home to celebrate Homecoming 2015 Saturday, entertaining Concordia-St. Paul at 2:30 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.