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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana defense set up two late touchdowns deep in St. Cloud State territory to lead the Vikings to a 32-23 season-opening victory over the Huskies Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Kirekby-Over Stadium.
Mike Aldrich becomes the fifth head coach in Augustana football history to win his first game.
The Viking defense came up with two big plays late in the game--both which gave and extended the Augustana lead. Trailing 23-17, Augustana capitalized on a bad snap on a SCSU punt, taking over on the 2-yard line with 5:18 remaining. That set up a
Joe Clark touchdown. On the Huskies' next series, a Dan O'Keefe interception set up another Clark score and made it a two-possession game at 32-23.
Ryan Isaacson led the tenacious defensive unit for the Vikings, finishing with a career-high 13 tackles and recording his first career sack late in the game on SCSU's final drive.
O'Keefe's 11 tackles was a career high for the senior. His interception with just over two minutes left in the game set up the score that would put the Vikings up by a decisive nine points.
Sophomore quarterback
Josh Hanson put together a solid outing in his second career start. He connected on 9 of 19 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyler Schulte was his favorite target, snagging six balls for 196 yards and both touchdowns.
Clark rushed 22 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
The Huskies opened up scoring on their first drive of the game after Brandon Geiss found paydirt from two yards out. The score capped a six-play, 80-yard drive that spanned 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Augustana wouldn't get on the board until until the second quarter and having to wait for its fourth offensive series of the game. It was the Hanson-Schulte connection that keyed the drive; the duo hooked up for 50 yards of the 69-yard drive. A Schulte slant through the middle that covered 34 yards knotted the contest at 7 apiece.
The Vikings extended that lead to 14-7 heading into halftime after Hanson found Schulte on an 87-yard strike with 45 seconds left before the break. Schulte had 143 yards receiving by halftime.
Augustana had a chance to extend its lead on the first series of the second half, but a 34-yard field goal from
Drew Behrens drifted right.
An 80-yard drive on the ensuing SCU possession resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run for Giess, but it was the Viking defense who again came up with a big play, swatting Tyler Aldridge's point after attempt.
But Aldridge was responsible for giving his squad its first lead of the second half after he hit a 37-yard field goal one minute into the fourth quarter.
After forcing a Viking punt on the next possession, the Huskies marched 67-yards in just three plays to extend their lead to 23-17. Fred Williams, who set an SCSU school record with 236 yards receiving, hauled in a 60-yard pass to finish the drive.
Behrens redeemed his earlier missed field goal on Augustana's next offensive series, drilling a 38-yarder to make it a six-point game.
From there, it was the Augustana defense who went to work, turning the bad snap into a Viking score and setting up another touchdown with O'Keefe's interception.
The knock-out punch was delivered by Schulte after Augustana's final touchdown. Leading
31-23, Schulte took a less-than-perfect snap on the point after attempt and turned into two points to put the Vikings up by nine points and effectively making it a two-possession game.
SCSU's Phillip Kaphake had a strong outing for the Huskies, throwing for 319 yards and one touchdown. He also led the Huskies with 41 yards rushing.
The Vikings open conference play on Sept. 11 when they travel to Bemidji State for a 1 p.m. contest.
