Box Score
Behind a career-best passing day by quarterback
Luke Butler, Augustana defeated Upper Iowa 41-21 Saturday afternoon before a Viking Days crowd of 5,315.
Augustana improved to 6-2 overall and remained in a tie for second place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 5-2 league mark. Upper Iowa slipped to 2-6 overall and 1-6 in the NSIC.
Butler, a senior from Pocatello, Idaho, completed 26 of 31 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was his first career 300-yard passing day. He even capped the day with a 5-yard touchdown reception, the first catch of his football career, regardless of level.
Butler's passing allowed the Vikings to roll up 516 total yards, their second-largest offensive output of the season, including a season-high 310 yards through the air.
Augustana had no problems moving the ball in the first half, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and marched 55 yards in 10 plays before
Joe Clark scampered into the end zone on a 4-yard run, the first of 3 touchdowns on the day, giving Augustana a 7-0 lead with 10:46 left in the period.
The Vikings made it 14-0 with 1:31 left in the period when Butler found Clark for a 4-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 51-yard drive .
Augustana appeared ready to put the game away early in the second quarter. After taking over at their own 7-yard line, the Vikings drove 93 yards in 9 plays. Butler connected with
Sam Holsen for a 34-yard scoring strike to put the Vikings in front 21-0 with 10:05 left in the first half.
However, Upper Iowa answered with its first scoring drive of the day on the ensuing possession. Mike Moser capped a 9-play, 73-yard drive with a 4-yard run with 7:02 left in the half.
The Peacocks seized momentum of the game on the kickoff when Augustana's
Jordan Marshall fumbled on the return. UIU recovered the ball on the Viking 39 and 5 plays later, Moser plunged in from 1 yard out to make the score 21-14 with 5:52 left in the half.
Augustana regained control of the game right before halftime. Following an 8-yard punt by UIU's Gus Preuss, the Vikings took over at the Peacock 47 with 51 seconds left before intermission.
Aided by a pass interference call against the Peacocks, the Vikings drove to the UIU 8. Butler then found Clark in the right corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score with 32 seconds left in the half, allowing Augie to take a 28-14 lead into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Augustana again capitalized by a short punt. Taking over at the UIU 44, Butler led the Vikings on a 4-play scoring drive. He completed 3 passes on the drive, including a 20-yard strike to Holsen to make the score 35-14 with 4:15 left in the third period.
After the Augustana defense forced a 3-and-out, the Vikings were in business again. This time, Butler was on the receiving end of a scoring pass as he hauled in a 5-yard pass from
Tyler Schulte in the back of the end zone to cap a 6-play, 62-yard drive. The PAT was blocked, leaving Augustana with a 41-14 lead with 42 seconds left in the period.
While Butler had the career day throwing the football, he had plenty of help as 8 Vikings caught passes. Holsen led the receiving corps with a career-high 6 catches for 91 yards and 2 scores. Schulte and
Joe Klumper each had 5 receptions for 76 and 55 yards.
Augustana also spread the ball around on the ground. Clark carried the ball 15 times for 51 yards, but
Adam Diamond gained a career-high 45 yards and
Nate Mahone added 41 yards as the Vikings rushed for 206 yards.
Defensively,
Mike Vanasek recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including 7 solo stops and 2 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Linebackers
Andrew Keel and
Chris Janisch each had 10 tackles. Janisch, who also had a 7-yard sack, eclipsed 200 career tackles in the game. He now has 203, while Keel has 194.
Ben Curran led Upper Iowa with 259 yards passing after completing 23 of 37 passes. Jessie Hubbard caught 8 passes for 122 yards, including a 42-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Augustana hits the road for the final time this regular season when the Vikings travel to Wayne, Neb., to take on No. 24 Wayne State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
