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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Bemidji State's Lance Rongstad found Brent Kondziolka on a 5-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lift the Beavers to a 30-27 win over No. 16 Augustana Saturday afternoon in both teams' Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference openers at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls.
BSU improves to 2-0 (1-0 NSIC), while Augustana drops to 0-2 (0-1 NSIC).
The loss marks the first 0-2 start for Augustana since the 1991 season.
Augustana managed a field goal in its overtime possession. The extended game was the result of a blocked Beaver field goal and quick Viking score that wound down regulation.
The Vikings trailed 24-17 with 2:06 left in regulation when
Zac Kallas blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by BSU's Zach Pulkinen. In the remaining time, the Vikings used nine plays to go 65 yards, and
Josh Hanson connected with
Sam Holsen on a 9-yard score to even the game at 24.
BSU took a knee to let the clock expire, and, after winning the coin toss, gave the Vikings the ball first for overtime.
After a 26-yard field goal by
Drew Behrens, the Beavers need just three plays for Rongstad to hit Kondziolka for the win.
Rongstad, who netted 64 yards on the ground, threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while Brian Leonhardt caught six balls for 129 yards and a score.
Hanson went 23 of 42 for 301 yards and one touchdown. Holsen caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
It was the first overtime game in the history of Kirkeby-Over Stadium and the first for the Vikings since 2008 when they beat Minnesota State 41-38 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
The Viking defense accounted for the only Augustana score in the first half. The offense accumulated 104 yards of total offense.
BSU took advantage of a Viking fumble to open scoring, stripping Hanson and taking over on the Auguatana 35. Two plays later, Rongstad found Leonhardt on a 34-yard pass to make it 7-0.
Augustana punted on its next drive, but O'Keefe scooped up a fumble by Beaver runningback Dustin Kroeplin on their possession and returned it 45 yards to even the contest at 7-7.
The Vikings had an opportunity to take the lead two drives later, but Behrens' 40-yard field goal fell short.
BSU turned its resulting possession into three points on a 17-play, 73 drive that culminated with a 21-yard field goal from Zach Pulkinen. The Beavers took a 10-7 lead into the break.
Rongstad tallied 123 yards through the air in the first half, finding Leonhardt for 56 of those yards.
Hanson countered with 73 yards passing. He also led the Vikings with 25 yards on the ground.
The Vikings managed to turn their opening drive of the second half into a game-tying effort. Behrens' 20-yard field goal capped an 11-play, 64 yard drive and knotted the game at 10.
The game would sit at 10 apiece until the fourth quarter. But the Vikings were in the midst of go-ahead drive that was sparked by a
Grant Gebhardt 64-yard reception that put Augustana deep into BSU territory.
Nate Mahone found paydirt from 2-yards out to give the Vikings a 17-10 advantage.
The Beavers proceeded to tie the game on their ensuing drive when Brandon Miles finished off a 69-yard drive with a 9-yard rushing score.
After forcing a Viking punt, BSU went ahead 24-17 on a seven play, 72-yard surge that saw Rongstad plunge in from 1-yard out with less than four minutes left.
The Vikings couldn't convert on their drive, and BSU took over to set up for its field goal with 1:58 remaining.
But Kallas swatted the attempt, and the Vikings drove the field in two minutes to again tie the game before BSU mounted its game-winning performance in overtime.
Both teams revved their offenses in the conference opener, each going off for more than 360 yards. The Beavers, though, ate up massive amounts of clock, holding on to the ball for more than 46 minutes in the game.
While Augustana's offense moved the ball, it struggled on big downs, converting just six of 16 third downs.
Cory Crosby led BSU with seven tackles, including one sack.
Austin Luecke set a career high with 15 tackles, recording 2.5 for loss and forcing a fumble.
Nick Andreas logged 14 tackles and an interception.
The Vikings will travel to U-Mary next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
