Box ScoreIn what was the final meeting between Augustana and South Dakota as North Central Conference opponents, the Vikings could not carry out some inspired first half play as they fell to the visiting Coyotes 38-17 Saturday at Howard Wood Field.
The Vikings, who fell to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the NCC, traded punches with South Dakota (5-3, 4-1 NCC) in the first half.
Redshirt freshman
Tyler Schulte ignited the Viking offense. Making his first career start at quarterback after playing wide receiver all year, Schulte helped Augie take the opening kickoff 66 yards in 4 plays for a touchdown. He scampered 44 yards for a TD with 13:25 left in the quarter.
But USD answered quickly as Amos Allen raced 63 yards on the second play from scrimmage to tie the game at 7-7 with just over 2 minutes elapsed.
Things then got wild as the teams combined for 5 turnovers and a blocked punt in the quarter. USD converted the blocked punt into a Frank Leibfarth 33-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead.
Following an Augie turnover, USD struck again as Allen scored on a 23-yard run that made the score 17-7 with 4:33 left in the period.
The Coyotes intercepted Schulte again at their own 46, but
Jason Donnelly quickly got the ball back for the Vikings as he intercepted Noah Shepard and returned the ball 66 yards to the USD 7.
But Augustana couldn't capitalize as on second down, USD's Byron Bullock intercepted a Schulte pass in the end zone.
Donnelly picked off another Shepard pass moments later at the Augie 47. This time, the Vikings marched 53 yards in 11 plays.
Jordan Nordquist bulled his way into the end zone from 1 yard out to make the score 17-14 with 12:57 left in the second quarter.
Allen added a third touchdown to make the score 24-14 with 6:58 left in the half. USD then recovered an Augie fumble at the Viking 25 with 22 seconds left before halftime. The Coyotes settled for a 22-yard field goal with 2 seconds on the clock to take a 27-14 lead into the locker room.
The Coyotes then went to their running game in the second half as they controlled the ball for 21:49.
With the time of possession advantage, the Coyotes outgained the Vikings by a 542-291 margin. Schulte rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown while passing for an additional 77 yards. Nordquist added 50 yards rushing, while
Ryan Rank had a team-high 33 yards receiving on just 2 catches.
Tommy Ellingworth had 4 receptions for 24 yards and
Jeremy Huber caught 3 balls for 21 yards.
Allen finished with 260 yards rushing for USD, while Shepard added 80 yards on the ground and 145 through the air.
Defensively,
Brandon McMichael collected a career-high 14 tackles, including 7 solo stops and 1 sack that resulted in a fumble.
Riley Garrigan contributed 11 tackles, while
Matt Lien had 8 stops and an interception. Donnelly added 6 tackles to go with his 2 interceptions.
Augustana will go on the road for the final time in 2007 next week when the Vikings travel to Ellensburg, Wash., to face Central Washington.
