WINONA, Minn. – Coaches charged into the Winona State University bleachers to break up a shouting match involving three Minot State players who had been ejected from the game and went into the stands to get even with heckling fans. A Winona State player, who also had been ejected, was in the commotion and exchange of  “fighting words.” Things didn’t degenerate into physical blows — just jaw-jacking. Even so, police were called but things had mellowed by then. Police said a full-fledged fight seemed imminent. No arrests were made. The disruption occurred late in the fourth quarter. The Warriors won 13-7. The Minot State Beavers then boarded their buses for the 600-mile trip back to North Dakota.

Encore bad manners

Winona State has had limited success in toning down bad behavior at football games. No longer is rowdy tailgate partying encouraged. Administrators redubbed pre-game activities as “Game Day Experiences” to moderate public impressions. Even so, fans threw beer cans at the visiting Augustana team en route to the field on at homecoming weekend, which was marked by bad behavour both on campus and in the downtown bar district.

Northern Sun league standings

Augustana: 10-1 overall, 9-1 conference

UM-Duluth: 9-2 overall, 8-2 conference

MSU-Mankato: 9-2 overall, 802 conference

Bemidji State: 7-2 overall, 7-2 conference

Wayne State of Nebraska: 8-3 overall, 7-3 conference

MSU-Moorhead: 7-4 overall, 6-4 conference

Winona State: 5-6 overall, 5-5 conference

Northern State of South Dakota: 5-6 overall, 4-6 conference

Sioux Falls: 3-8 overall, 3-7 conference

Concordia of St. Paul: 3-8 overall, 2-8 conference

Mary: 2-8 overall, 9-1 conference 2-7

Southwest Minnesota State: 2-8 overall, 2-8 conference

Minot State: 1-10 overall, 1-9 conference