Box Score
Augustana used a bruising running game and a physical defense to pull away from Missouri Western State and capture a 37-16 win in the 43rd Annual Mineral Water Bowl Saturday in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
With the win, the Vikings ended the year with a three-game winning streak to finish the season at 8-4. It is the most wins in a season since the 1992 team went 8-3. The victory also helped the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference snap a seven-game skid against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the Mineral Water Bowl.
“This is an exciting win for us,” head coach Brad Salem said. “This was our first postseason game since 1989. I thought we played a very physical ball game on both sides of the ball. This is a great win for us and what it means for our program next season.”
Augustana controlled the game throughout the contest, but the Vikings flexed their muscle in the second half. The teams were tied 16-16 at halftime, but Augustana used three second-half touchdowns to pull away for the win.
The Vikings dominated the second half from the second-half kickoff. Augustana's defense quickly got a stop and gave the offense the ball at the Augie 27. The Vikings then drove 73 yards on 10 plays. Luke Butler plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out to give Augie a 23-16 with 8:16 to play in the third quarter.
While the Augustana defense kept MWSU from crossing midfield, the Viking offense went back to work early in the fourth period. Taking over at their own 43, the Vikings began a 9-play scoring drive. Tyler Schulte zig zagged for 22 yards to the Griffon 1 before scoring on the next play to put the Vikings in front 30-16 with 12:01 left in the game.
After another three-and-out by the Griffons, Augustana tried to add to its lead. The Vikings drove to the MWSU 17, but Ryan Grossman's 34-yard field goal sailed wide left.
But again, the defense came up with another big play. On Missouri Western's next play from scrimmage, Augie's Jason Donnelly intercepted a Drew Newhart pass at the MWSU 35 and returned it to the Griffon 7. After a loss of 1 on the first play of the ensuing drive, Joe Clark burst into the end zone from 8 yards out to give the Vikings a 37-16 lead with 6:23 to play.
The touchdown was a perfect ending to a record-setting season for Clark. Clark was named the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player after he rushed for 122 yards on 23 carries and 2 touchdowns. In the process, he set the Augustana single-season rushing record. Entering the game with 992 yards, Clark ended the year with 1,114 yards, eclipsing Chris San Agustin's record of 1,109 set in 1990.
The Vikings were able to move the ball effectively all afternoon, amassing 381 total yards. Meanwhile, Augustana's defense held Missouri Western State to 285 yards, but just 108 yards after halftime.
The defense set the tone of the game early. Missouri Western State took the opening kickoff but failed to get a first down. Punting into the wind, MWSU's Jamie Hanson's punt was partially blocked by Ben Wardell and went just 6 yards, giving Augie the ball at the Griffon 37.
Augustana needed just 6 plays to cross the goal line as Schulte scampered 6 yards for the opening score of the game. Grossman's PAT gave Augie a 7-0 lead with 11:17 to play in the quarter.
Missouri Western State responded with a 73-yard drive to the Augie 7, but the Vikings stopped Thomas Hodges on fourth-and-one.
When Augustana was unable to get a first down, the Vikings were forced to punt. Cedric Houston fielded Grossman's punt and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. However, Brady MacIver blocked the extra point to preserve Augustana's lead at 7-6 with 4:28 left in the quarter.
Each team added field goals to make the score 10-9 midway through the second quarter. Clark then gave Augustana a 16-9 lead when he scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 8-play, 76-yard drive with 5:51 left in the half.
Missouri Western State proceeded to march the ball down the field but the Viking defense stiffened at the 14 and the Griffons lined up for a field goal. However, Eric Anderson, the holder, pulled up and tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Alvaro Prado with just 4 seconds left before intermission.
Andrew Keel spearheaded the Viking defensive effort. He collected a team-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack as he was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Brian Baumgartner and Chris Janisch each had 8 tackles and a sack.
Offensively, Jeremy Huber rushed for 70 yards and had 44 yards receiving. Schulte had a big afternoon as well. He had 30 yards receiving, 45 yards rushing and 38 yards passing and 2 scores. As a team, the Vikings rushed for 281 yards and held the ball for 32:26.
Hodges led MWSU with 97 yards rushing, while Drew Newhart passed for 151 yards.
