The Warriors set a school record for victories with 11, advanced to postseason play for the fourth straight year and reached the quarter finals of the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in the program's history. Only last-second heroics by the University of North Dakota kept the Warriors from advancing to the national semifinals.

The season was dominated by the experience of 23 seniors, plus the passing and receiving of underclassmen, which helped the Warriors gain a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title for the third time in the last four years. This was the seventh time in the last 11 years Winona State owned or shared the league crown.

Senior Kevin Curtin (Midlothian, Ill.) concluded his career as a Warrior by rewriting the record book. He became the Warriors' all-time leading rusher (3,864) with a career record 6.019 yards per carry and amassed a school career record 7,834 all-purpose yards, a figure that leaves Curtin in the top 25 for all-purpose yards in all NCAA division categories.

The Warriors captured their first ever NCAA playoff victory with a thrilling win against Emporia State, Kansas, the first time WSU's Maxwell Field hosted an NCAA playoff game. Much of the win was due to the play of junior quarterback Brian Wrobel (DeSoto, Wis.) and junior wide receiver Chris Samp (Green Bay, Wis.).

Samp put his stamp on WSU's record book as the all-career leader for receiving yards (2,883). He reached that level by setting a single-season mark for receiving yards (1,321) and in the process became the all-time leader for career touchdown receptions (31) by tying the single-season mark for TD catches with 17. Part of those records came from Samp's efforts in two monumental games. He set the single-game record for receiving yards (281) in a road win against Truman State University, Missouri, and set the mark for single-game touchdown receptions (4) against Northern State University. The single-game TD mark was aided by the single-game touchdown passes record set by Wrobel, who threw for six against the NSU Wolves.

The Warriors finished the year with an 11-2 mark and kept their consecutive game streak of not being shutout alive at 128 games. At season's end, six Warrior players were named to All-America teams. Curtin closed out his career by being named to an All-America team for the fourth straight season. He was joined in the All-America ranks by senior linebacker Deric Sieck (North Fayette, Iowa), senior defensive lineman Ty Breitlow (Wauwatosa, Wis.) and senior cornerback Steven Koehler (Cresco, Iowa). As could be expected, Samp and Wrobel garnered All-America honors for their exploits.

Eleven other Warriors received district, regional or conference recognition. Those included seniors David Blaskowski (offensive lineman, Schofield, Wis.), Matt Brown (offensive lineman, Prior Lake, Minn.), Ed Gilreath (offensive lineman, Vernon, Ill.), Alan Hartung (tight end, Menomonie, Wis.), Nick Jaeger (safety, Lake Geneva, Wis.), Curtis Jepsen (running back, Rochester, Minn.), Mike Madsen (linebacker, Johnsburg, Ill.), Steve Opgenorth (place kicker, Green Bay, Wis.), and Matt Wayne (defensive lineman, Menomonie, Wis.), junior Jim Stanek (defensive tackle, Kendall, Wis.), and sophomore Luke Lokanc (safety, New Lenox, Ill.).

The Warriors also showed prowess in the classroom. Blaskowski led the academic efforts and was named to the CoSIDA Second Team All-District V team and was joined on the NSIC All-Academic team by senior Nate Cody (linebacker, Menomonie, Wis.), juniors David Cruz (running back, Menomonie, Wis.) and Ben Sheehan (offensive lineman, Rochester, Minn.), and sophomores Chad Sloden (running back, Green Bay, Wis.) and Jay Fogelson (linebacker, Byron, Minn.).

Last Modified: Thursday, December 09, 2004 13:21 by