DULUTH — Since opening in 2018, Twin Cities Orthopedic (TCO) Stadium has played host to a long list of prep football games as part of its Prep Spotlight series, showcasing the top high school teams across the state.
A new tradition could be born this Thursday when Minnesota Duluth and Winona State clash in the very first collegiate football game played at the state-of-the-art venue attached to the Minnesota Vikings' headquarters at TCO Performance Center.
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“Guys have a lot of family coming to the game, and so they’re super excited,” said running back Derrick Johnson of the nonconference matchup.
college men play football
Derrick Johnson (4) of Minnesota Duluth carries the ball against Marco Cavallaro (99) of Bemidji State during the Minnesota Duluth spring football game on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Malosky Stadium in Duluth.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
“Most importantly, it’s still football at the end of the day, whether you have 1,000 fans or zero," he added. "So (we’re) just keeping a level head and just (focusing on) playing football."
The tougher Week 1 opponent marks a drastic change for the Bulldogs after previously having their nonconference schedule come back to bite them, with a blowout victory over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doormat Northern Michigan costing them an NCAA tournament bid in 2023. The Wildcats went 0-11 in both seasons they played UMD.
The stronger opponent could be the difference in a playoff berth come season’s end.
“Schedule’s an important piece of a playoff (run) down the stretch, and playing an opponent like Winona State is only going to help you out,” said head coach Curt Wiese of the nonconference matchup.
Last year’s meeting between the two teams was a shootout of epic proportions, as they combined for over 900 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns in a down-to-the-wire classic.
The 42-38 slugfest in Week 9, sealed by a goal-line plunge from quarterback Kyle Walljasper with 20 seconds remaining, marked UMD’s 11th straight win over WSU dating back to 2008.
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The Warriors will not only have a new head coach on the sidelines in longtime former assistant Brian Curtin, but a new quarterback under center, with 6-foot-5 sophomore Jackson Flottmeyer talking over for last year’s starter Cole Stenstrom, who completed 19-of-31 passes for 223 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns in last year’s meeting.
Flottmeyer, a native of La Crosse, appeared in eight games last season, throwing for 469 yards and four touchdowns on 38-of-67 pass attempts.
“There's going to be new wrinkles within Winona State, there’s going to be new wrinkles for us,” said Wiese. “We have an idea of what we’re looking for, but it’s going to be about adjustments this week.”
WSU will have a new-look backfield as well after losing second team All-NSIC running back Cair’ron Hendred to Michigan Tech through the transfer portal this offseason. Hendred led the Warriors with 70 yards on five carries and a pair of touchdowns against the Bulldogs last season.
college men play football
Ben Vallafskey (6) of Minnesota Duluth carries the ball against Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Malosky Stadium in Duluth.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
Former UMD running back Ben Vallafskey may be on the shortlist of running backs looking to fill the void left by Hendred.
The ground game figures to be an area that the UMD offense can look to exploit after rushing for a season-high 322 yards and five touchdowns against the Warriors last season. Walljasper accounted for 236 yards and all five touchdowns in a career day for the now-redshirt senior.
The explosive rushing performance was far from an anomaly, as the team averaged 213.2 yards rushing per game last season — second in the league behind only Minot State. Defensively, WSU surrendered the eighth-most rushing yards per game (169.7) last season.
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college men play football
Minnesota Duluth quarterback Kyle Walljasper (12) runs the ball against Sioux Falls for a touchdown on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Malosky Stadium in Duluth.
Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
MINNESOTA DULUTH VS. WINONA STATE
What: Nonconference football game
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota
Records: UMD 0-0, Winona State 0-0
Forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 73 and 8 mph wind
Internet: nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs
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Radio: KDAL 610 AM & 103.9 FM
[ Jake Przytarski](https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/Jake Przytarski)
By [Jake Przytarski](https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/Jake Przytarski)
Jake Przytarski is a sports reporter for the Duluth News Tribune covering a mix of local prep and collegiate teams.