WINONA, Minn. (AP) -- North Dakota played the role of spoiler on
Saturday, drubbing Winona State 51-6 to put a damper on the
Warriors' 100th anniversary of football celebration.
Fourth-ranked North Dakota (3-0) got four touchdown passes from
quarterback Chris Belmore -- three to Weston Dressler -- in snapping
the Warriors' 26-game home winning streak. It marked the fourth
time that Belmore threw four touchdown passes in a game.
Dressler had four catches for 109 yards, including scoring
receptions of 21, 69 and 8 yards. He also had a 31-yard kickoff
return and was UND's leading rusher with five carries for 52 yards.
Belmore was 10-for-12 for 176 yards.
Winona (1-2) brought a number of former players back to
celebrate the school's 100th anniversary of football and dedicate a
new stadium. The Warriors led 3-0 after Mike Salerno's 26-yard
field goal less than two minutes into the game.
That's where the celebration ended as North Dakota scored the
next 38 points.
"We got everything we wanted. We got the people back. We got
the alumni back," Winona coach Tom Sawyer said. "The setback was
that we didn't perform. If we play well and get beat by 25, that's
not a problem. But to play that poor and get blown out, that's no
fun."
Sawyer even told North Dakota coach Dale Lennon he was sorry his
team didn't give the Sioux a better game.
Trent Christensen caught a 3-yard touchdown pass for UND,
followed by a Jeff Glas 39-yard field goal. Glas added field goals
of 37 and 20 yards in the second half.
Brent Brannan had one of three North Dakota interceptions,
returning it 48 yards to put the Sioux on top 17-3.
Dressler followed with three straight touchdown catches to put
the game out of reach.
Chris Beatty added 51 yards on 16 carries for the Fighting
Sioux.
Winona quarterback Drew Aber was 16-for-34 for 157 yards, but
backup Aaron Boettcher completed just six of 15 passes and was
intercepted three times. Brian Hynes caught seven passes for 113
yards.