Box ScoreThe Augustana football team had its 6-game winning streak snapped in a 59-28 setback at No. 17 Nebraska-Omaha Saturday night at Caniglia Field in Omaha.
Augustana fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the North Central Conference, while UNO improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in the NCC.
The host Mavericks took advantage of good field position in the first half as they scored on 5 of 6 first-half possessions en route to a 31-7 halftime lead.
Nebraska-Omaha grabbed the early momentum on the opening kickoff. Kyle Kasperbauer returned the kick 52 yards to the Augustana 46. An illegal block penalty against the Vikings moved the ball to the Augie 31. Four players later, Kasperbauer scored on an 11-yard run to give UNO a 7-0 lead.
The Mavericks scored 2 more touchdowns in the first quarter following a Viking turnover and a 3 and out. Zach Miller scored on a 9-yard run and Kasperbauer added a 7-yard run to make the score 21-0 after one quarter.
UNO increased its lead to 28-0 before the Vikings got on the scoreboard. Following a UNO turnover, Augustana went on a 7-play, 55-yard drive that was capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass from
Tommy Flyger to
Ryan Rothenberger to make the score 28-7 with 2:51 left in the half.
It appeared that would be the halftime score until Reed Taylor intercepted a Flyger pass and returned it to the Viking 33. However, the Vikings were flagged for a personal foul that moved the ball to the Augie 18 with 11 seconds left in the half.
UNO attempted a pass to the end zone, but the Vikings were called for pass interference, moving the ball to the Viking 3. Andrew McCawley then booted a 20-yard field goal to give UNO a 31-7 lead at intermission.
But the Vikings rallied in the third quarter. Flyger tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to
Tommy Ellingworth and a 61-yard scoring strike to
Chris Pomerleau to cut the lead to 38-21 with just over 7 minutes to play in the quarter.
Augustana got the ball back after a successful onside kick and began to drive again. A pass interference call against UNO gave the Vikings a first-and-goal at the UNO 3, but Augie could not get into the end zone, turning the ball over on downs with 2:52 remaining in the quarter.
Miller helped UNO put the game out of reach when he capped a 3-play, 63-yard drive with an 8-yard scoring run to make the score 45-21 with 10:40 to play in the game.
Flyger completed 15 of 26 passes for 206 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he was intercepted 3 times. Pomerleau had 3 catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown, while Rothenberger had 4 catches for 62 yards and 2 scores. Ellingworth also had 4 receptions for 52 yards and a TD.
Jordan Nordquist led the Viking ground game with 49 yards, while Rothenberger and Flyger each had 32 yards.
UNO meanwhile, was led by Kasperbauer and Miller. Kasperbauer rushed for 195 yards and 3 TD's, while Miller tallied 154 yards and 3 scores.
Defensively,
Dustin Rice recorded 9 tackles, while
Nick Ovenden had 7 tackles and a forced fumble.
Craig Bosch and
Riley Garrigan each added 6 tackles, while
Clint Bresee had 4 stops and an interception.
The Viings return home next Saturday to face North Dakota in a 1 p.m. game at Howard Wood Field.
