Box Score
Jeremy Huber tallied a season high 125 yards rushing as the Augustana football team defeated Northern State, 43-7, Saturday in Aberdeen, S.D. Augie has now won 5 straight against NSU.
The win moves the Vikings to 7-4 overall and 7-3 in the NSIC, and drops Northern State to 1-10 overall and 1-9 in NSIC play. Seven wins is the most for the Vikings since 2002, when they finished 7-4. The victory keeps Augustana in potential contention for an NCAA playoff berth or a spot in the Mineral Water Bowl held December 6 in Excelsior Springs, Kansas.
In wintery conditions, the Vikings used a solid rushing game and NSU turnovers to turn a 13-7 halftime lead into a rout. Augustana ran the ball on 48 of their 51 plays on the day, while accumulating 35 points off of NSU turnovers.
The Vikings outgained the Wolves 246 yards to 181, despite the Wolves running 70 plays to Augie's 51 and controlling the ball for 35:10 versus the Vikings 24:50.
Ten minutes into a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings scored their first points of the game after an NSU wind-blocked 7 yard punt gave the Vikings the ball at the NSU 15. Four plays later,
Joe Clark, who rushed 28 times for 78 yards on the day, ran it in for his only score from 2 yards out to give Augie a 7-0 lead.
Jason Donnelly intercepted an NSU pass on the following Wolves possession, and six plays later, Huber ran it in from 6 yards out for the 13-0 lead. NSU scored right before the half on a one-yard run by quarterback Eric Ellingson, and the Vikings went to halftime leading 13-7.
NSU continued to keep it close until midway through the third quarter, when NSU's Ellingson fumbled through his own end zone to give Augustana the safety and an eight point lead, 15-7.
Huber would add a one-yard touchdown run on the next possession, and after
Zac Kallas intercepted an NSU pass in NSU territory, Huber again rumbled in from 19 yards out to give Augie the 29-7 lead.
On the following kickoff, NSU fumbled on the kickoff, and this time it was
Luke Butler scoring from one-yard out for the 36-7 lead. On the next NSU possession,
Nick Andreas forced an Ellingson fumble and returned it 60 yards for the final score of 43-7.
Andrew Keel led all defenders with 16 tackles, including 2 for loss.
Brian Baumgartner and
Chris Janisch each added 10 tackles.
