Posted: Sep 04, 2024
Game 1: Saginaw Valley State at Winona State
Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. ET
Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium at Maxwell Field | Winona, Minn.
2024 Game Notes: at Winona State
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Video - https://nsicnetwork.com/winonastatewarriors/
Live Stats - https://winonastatewarriors.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
WSGW Broadcast - https://www.alphamediaplayer.com/wsgwsports
KICK-OFF
The Saginaw Valley State University Football team opens the 2024 season with a non-conference showdown against Winona State University. This is the second meeting between the two programs as the Cardinals began 2023 against the Warriors at home for the annual Red Feather Game, winning 34-24 in the first-ever meeting.
SVSU finished 2023 with a 6-5 record and a two-game winning streak after victories over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponents Northern Michigan (W, 62-17) and Michigan Tech (W, 38-21).
WSU completed 2023 with a 5-6 mark, ending the year with a 13-7 win over conference foe Minot State.
The Cardinals return several key pieces on the offensive side of the ball, including GLIAC Freshman of the Year Terrance Brown Jr. Brown compiled 733 rushing yards with six touchdowns in 2023. He will be joined by Arron Foulkes at wideout, who had the team's second-highest reception amount with 25 grabs for 287 yards and two scores.
The Saginaw Valley defense will be led by senior linebacker and 2023 All-America selection Micah Cretsinger. Cretsinger highlighted the year for Saginaw Valley after tying the NCAA Division II record with four interceptions returned for a touchdown. He was the first player in the GLIAC to achieve that feat, and only the fifth player in DII history to meet that mark (the last occurrence came in 2011). He led the team in tackles with 100 and had 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. His eight interceptions were tied for the most in the GLIAC and ranked second in all of NCAA DII, half his picks came against Northern Michigan in the home finale where he broke a 17-year-old school record for interceptions in a single game.
QUICK HITS
• Saginaw Valley State defeated Winona State 34-24 in the 2023 season opener inside Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium, it was the first meeting between the Cardinals and Warriors.
• SVSU finished fourth in the GLIAC standings after a 3-3 mark in conference play a season ago.
• The Cardinals were chosen fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches poll.
• Saginaw Valley State is 6-4 in the last 10 season-opening contests and currently has a six-game winning streak in week one of the season.
• The 2024 schedule features four home games and seven road contests. SVSU begins the year with two road games (at Winona State and Northwood) before the home-opening contest on Sept. 21 against Truman State. The Cardinals were 2-3 on the road a year ago and 4-2 at home.
• Senior All-American linebacker Micah Cretsinger was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 and the D2 Elite 100 watch lists. Junior linebacker Brandon Rawls joined Cretsinger on the D2 Elite 100 list.
• Saginaw Valley faces three ranked opponents this season: at (#16/16) Indianapolis on September 28, (#4/4) Grand Valley State on October 19, and at (#3/9) Ferris State on November 9.
• SVSU returns seven starters on offense including running back Terrance Brown Jr., wideouts Eric Craft and Arron Foulkes, and offensive linemen Connor Cracchiolo-Evans, Ryan Whitely, and Joe Botello. The defense returns eight players including the linebacker trio of All-American Micah Cretsinger, senior Alfred Dailey Jr., and junior Brandon Rawls. Safety Eli Gordon returns along with fellow safety Jasper Beeler. Corners Jacoby Sanders, Christian Ellison, and DJ Voltz also return after significant playing time in 2023.
