Box ScoreAugustana's 2007 home opener started promising but ended disappointing as Concordia-St. Paul upended the Vikings 20-19 Saturday afternoon at Howard Wood Field.
The Vikings (1-1) got off to a great start, taking a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, but with 4:37 to play in the game, the Vikings trailed 20-19 and were starting a potential game-winning drive at the 1-yard line.
Augustana steadily moved the ball downfield, eventually getting to the Golden Bear 23. But on second down, CU sacked Augie quarterback
Daniel Millus for a 10-yard loss to the 33. Following a run by
Jeremy Huber to the CU 32,
Ryan Grossman came on to attempt a 49-yard field goal as the clock was winding down.
However, the snap was low and holder
Joe Nordin couldn't handle the ball. He was then tackled to end the game.
The day started much better for Augustana. The Vikings took the opening kickoff 66 yards in 6 plays as Millus connected with
Tommy Ellingworth for a 30-yard touchdown with 11:54 left in the first quarter.
Augustana extended the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter as Grossman booted a 44-yard field goal with 12:58 to play in the second quarter.
The Vikings then got a big play from its special teams on Concordia-St. Paul's next drive.
Mike Vanasek blocked a punt and recovered the ball at the CU 6.
But Augustana could not punch the ball into the end zone and settled for a 24-yard field goal, making the score 13-0 with 9:19 left in the first half.
The Viking defense then came up big late in the half. Concordia-St. Paul drove the ball to the Viking 3, but the Vikings held the Golden Bears on downs with 3:29 remaining in the half.
Augustana moved the ball out of the shadow of its goal posts to the 19, but the CU defense then made back-to-back big plays. The Golden Bears sacked Millus at the Augie 7 and on the next play, Dalton Outlaw intercepted a Millus pass and returned it 9 yards for a touchdown with 53 seconds left before intermission.
Concordia-St. Paul took its first lead in the third quarter when Kole Goodchild found Tyrone Ruffin for a 15-yard touchdown pass, giving CU a 14-13 lead with 8:32 to play in the stanza.
Augustana regained the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Vikings capped a 7-play, 60-yard drive when receiver
Tyler Schulte took a backward pass from Millus and then tossed a 24-yard scoring strike to Ellingworth. Augie went for 2, but the attempt failed, giving the hosts a 19-14 edge.
The Golden Bears answered on their next drive as Goodchild and Ruffin hooked up for a 27-yard touchdown with 9:21 to play in the game. Goodchild's 2-point rush attempt was stopped, leaving the visitors with the 20-19 lead.
Millus finished the afternoon with 277 yards passing after completing 21 of 30 attempts. Ellingworth matched his career high with 10 catches for 144 yards and 2 scores.
The Vikings gained 82 yards rushing, but 7 sacks and 8 other tackles for loss left the Vikings with -12 yards net rushing.
Goodchild completed 11 of 18 passes for 144 yards. Ruffin was on the receiving end 5 times for 113 yards. Eric Clinton added 125 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Defensively, Augustana sacked Goodchild 5 times.
Brandon McMichael and
Nick Bentele each had 2 sacks, while
Austin Parks added 1. McMichael had 10 tackles, including 9 solo stops, and finished with 3 tackles for loss. Bentele had 5 tackles, including 3 for loss and an interception.
The Vikings conclude non-conference play next week when they travel to Aberdeen, S.D., to take on instate rival Northern State. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Swisher Field.
