Winona State University defeated Upper Iowa in Fayette on Homecoming Saturday 27-13 on the back of special teams play and three Peacock turnovers inside the Warrior's 25-yard line.  Upper Iowa blocked a pair of field goals and forced a fumble at the goal line, but fell to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 against the NSIC South.  WSU improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC South with the win.
 
The Peacock defense allowed 20 points and 388 yards of total offense to the Warriors both well below their season averages despite a slew of injuries that shook up the middle line of defense for UIU.  Nick Corley led the team in tackles with 8, forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass.  Fellow defensive back Marcus McCoy registered 7 tackles, while Zach Ries, Isaac Freese and Eric Munoz each made 6 stops.  Ries and Joe Busch each blocked field goals for the home team, and Ries jumped on the fumble at the goal line prior to halftime.
 
Winona State scored the first points of the game on their opening drive of the second quarter when Jack Nelson found Cameron Johnson for a 33-yard touchdown.  Upper Iowa was quick to answer with a touchdown of their own, but the extra point was blocked by the Warriors.  The Peacocks pulled within one, 7-6, thanks to 6-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off when a scrambling Dimitri Morales found Jarred Edmonds from 2 yards away. The Warriors looked ready to take a lead going into the halftime break, but Corley forced a fumble at the pylon and Ries jumped on it.
 
The Warriors jumped out to a 21-6 lead just minutes into the third quarter when Nelson found Johnson again from 23 yards away and Andrew Spencer shot through the middle and blocked a Nate Skare punt which was recovered and returned for a score by Elliot Cox.
 
On UIU's next possession, Morales threw a beautiful touch pass over a Warrior defender into the hands of a streaking Skyler Lehman.  The redshirt freshman tight end did the rest thanks to a downfield block by David Esswein.  Lehman used a final stiff arm to reach pay dirt and pull UIU within eight, 21-13, after the 68-yard catch and run.
 
Winona State added a pair of field goals from 28 and 42 yards to end their scoring by the second minute of the fourth quarter taking a 27-13 lead. 
 
The Peacocks threatened with possible scoring drives on two occasions in the fourth quarter getting inside the WSU 25-yard line.  On the first drive, UIU had a first and goal from the 1-yard line, but a mistake on the snap left them with second and goal from the 15.  Morales got out of the pocket and threw late across his body into the arms of Travis Frank to end the threat. 
 
UIU's defense didn't let the Warriors convert the turnover into points though blocking their second field goal of the game.  Upper Iowa quickly returned to Winona State's side of the field and got to the 25-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth down.
 
For the game, UIU's offense outgained their guests 428 to 388, but Winona State's return specialist Jake Balliu tallied 164 yards on 3 punt returns and 2 kick returns with longs of 40 on a punt and 66 on a kick.
 
Morales threw for 271 yards and 2 scores to go with his three interceptions.  Derrick Portis had 85 yards on 15 carries, while Ryan Parmely added 71 yards on 18 rushes.  Lehman had 4 grabs for 119 yards and a score, while Jalen Amis and Trey MacTaggart also had four catches and Edmonds had three with a touchdown.
 
Upper Iowa will head to Concordia University, St. Paul next Saturday for a 12 p.m. kickoff with the Golden Bears in St. Paul, Minn.