Box Score
Matched against one of the top-ranked offenses in the nation, Augustana showed everyone that it has some offensive firepower as well as the Vikings earned a big 27-24 win at No. 22 Wayne State Saturday afternoon in Wayne, Neb.
The Vikings improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while Wayne State slipped to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in the conference. It is the first time the Vikings have been 7-2 since 1992. The win puts Augustana alone in third place in the NSIC standings and gives a boost to its NCAA Division II playoff chances.
Augustana rolled up 426 yards of total offense behind career days from quarterback
Luke Butler and wide receiver
Sam Holsen. Butler was near perfect directing the Viking offense. He completed 21 of 30 passes for a career-high 333 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was his second consecutive 300-yard plus performance after throwing for 305 yards last week against Upper Iowa.
Holsen was the beneficiary of several of Butler's passes, hauling in 11 receptions for an Augustana single-game record 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was the second-highest single-game receiving total in NSIC history. Billy Beckwith of Minnesota-Morris had 289 yards against Winona State in 1999.
Almost all of Holsen's catches were big plays as 8 of his receptions gained more than 10 yards. His first big play came early in the second quarter. After Andrew Behrens gave Augustana a 3-0 lead with a 21-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game, Holsen caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from Butler with 14:49 to play in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 10-0 lead.
After Wayne State scored a touchdown to make the score 10-7, Holsen and Butler connected again on the Vikings' next drive. This time the duo hooked up for a 28-yard strike to cap a 7-play, 63-yard drive to give Augie a 17-7 lead with 1:06 to play in the half.
But Wayne State answered quickly. Silas Fluellen, the NSIC's career all-purpose yardage leader, tossed a 50-yard pass to Frederick Bruno down to the Augie 5, setting up Nick Pulscher's 5-yard scoring run with 30 seconds left in the half to make the score 17-14 at the break.
Behrens extended the Viking lead to 20-14 with a 24-yard field goal on Augustana's first drive of the third quarter. A 64-yard pass from Butler to Holsen set up the score. But the lead didn't last long. WSC took the lead on the ensuing possession, as Fluellen tossed a 15-yard scoring pass to Sir Lawrence Davis with 2:48 left in the quarter to put the Wildcats in front 21-20.
Nick Hope gave Wayne State a 24-20 lead with a 36-yard field goal with 12:15 left in the game.
Wayne State had a chance to make it a two possession game but a false start penalty negated a big gain. Then the Viking defense made its biggest play of the contest. On 4th and 8 from the Viking 36, Augie's
Chris Janisch put enough pressure on Fluellen to force an incomplete pass, giving the Vikings the ball at the 36 with 8:05 to play.
Butler steadily drove the Vikings down the field. He completed 4 of 5 passes on the drive for 51 yards. Augustana faced its own fourth down conversion during the drive. On 4th and 8 from the WSC 32, Butler found
Eric Ellingworth for a 9-yard gain to the WSC 23. Two plays later Butler connected again with Ellingworth, this time for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:38 remaining in the game. Behrens made the PAT to give Augustana a 27-24 lead.
The Viking defense then forced a three-and-out, and the offense was able to convert a first down and run out the clock.
While Augustana amassed a season-high 333 yards in the air, the ground game generated 93 yards.
Joe Clark led the way by gaining 60 yards on 22 carries.
Wayne State, meanwhile, gained 153 yards on the ground and 318 via the air for 471 total yards. Fluellen completed 22 of 36 passes, including 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He also led WSC in rushing with 42 yards. Bruno caught 8 balls for 137 yards.
Defensively, Augustana was led by
Brandon McMichael, who recorded 9 tackles and 1 sack, which helped set up WSC's failed fourth down attempt. In addition,
Dan O'Keefe and
Andrew Keel each had 8 tackles. Keel now has 202 career tackles.
The Vikings also won the turnover and penalty battles. Augustana did not commit a turnover, while forcing 1 WSC turnover. In addition, Augie was flagged just twice for 10 yards, while the Wildcats had 40 yards on 5 penalties.
Augustana concludes the regular season by playing its final two games at home. Winona State visits Kirkeby-Over Stadium next Saturday, October 31, for a 1 p.m. game. The Vikings are 4-0 at home this year.
