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Things couldn’t be more comfortable.
WSU opens conference play at 1 p.m. today at Maxwell Field against Northern State and will be looking to continue some long winning streaks.
The most impressive is the 30 consecutive wins at home in conference games, a streak that stretches back to 1999.
The Warriors also have won their past 13 games at Maxwell Field, 12 consecutive NSIC games and have an eight-game winning streak against Northern State.
Interestingly, the Wolves were the last league team to beat WSU at home, a 37-34 victory Oct. 30, 1999.
“We love being at home,” said senior offensive tackle Nick Urban, a preseason All-American. “There’s something about this place that brings out the best in us. This place has a special atmosphere, especially for big games, and the first game of the year is always exciting.”
WSU has dropped its first road game each of the past four season but has not lost at home since falling to North Dakota in 2005.
That is one of only two home losses of any kind since the loss to Northern State in 1999. Grand Valley State (Mich.) beat the Warriors 16-13 in a home playoff games in 2004.
“Everybody generally plays better at home,” WSU coach Tom Sawyer said. “It’s comfort. It’s sleeping in your own beds, being around your family and friends.
“We just got on a streak here and it’s been going on a long time here. They also take pride in that. They want to keep it alive and not be the guys who snap it.”
The Warriors certainly don’t want to see that happen today in what has become an important game.
Senior linebacker Brent Yule said it was a must-win game following the season-opening loss at Michigan Tech.
Today’s game also begins a stretch of three consecutive home games for the Warriors, who play just one home game in each of October and November.
“We faltered a little bit last week and didn’t play our best game,” Yule said. “We’re all itching to get back on the field to prove to ourselves and everybody else that we’re a lot better team than we played like (against Michigan Tech).”
The Huskies killed WSU with a short passing game, something it will see again this week.
Northern State quarterback Eric Ellingson completed 30 of 41 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns in the Wolves’ opening loss to Missouri Western State.
Michigan Tech’s Steve Short was 24 of 28 for 236 yards and three scores against WSU.
Offensively, the Warriors had a strong second quarter but a poor second half. They failed to capitalize on a turnover early in the second half and the Huskies were able to stop them on a goal-line stand.
WSU’s only points scored in the second half came with 1:29 left in the game.
As a whole, the Warriors simply expect more from themselves.
“If anyone was at the game, you could really see our lack of emotion and intensity,” Yule said. “Even when we made plays, we just went back to the huddle. Usually we play with more enthusiasm and intensity. We were missing that.”
