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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minnesota Duluth recorded a defensive touchdown and Brian Lucas rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown as the top-ranked Bulldogs charged to a 20-12 non-conference victory over No. 8 Augustana Saturday afternoon in both teams' season openers at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls.
The loss for the Vikings is just the second at Kirkeby-Over Stadium and the first since Oct. 31, 2009. It is also the first season-opening loss for Augustana since the 2005 season.
For the Bulldogs, the defending national champions, it was their 16th straight win.
Lucas rushed 19 times en route to his 100-yard performance. Chase Volger completed 12 passes for 114 yards.
Augustana got a 23-of-33, 235 yard effort through the air from
Josh Hanson, who found
Sam Holsen and
Jordan Marshall for touchdowns.
Nick Andreas led the Viking defense, tying a career high with 15 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.
Neither team mounted monstrous offensive attacks; the Bulldogs held a 272-244 advantage in the total-offense category
The Vikings didn't help their cause with a handful of miscues. Hanson threw an interception in the fourth quarter that Kenny Chowda returned 39 yards for a score. Augustana botched two extra-point attempts and had two faulty snaps that backed its offense up considerably in the second and third quarters. The Vikings also fumbled three times, losing one.
UMD also stuffed Augustana on fourth down on the Vikings' final drive of the game, stalling what could have been a game-tying effort had Augustana scored and punched in a two-point conversion.
The Bulldog defense was paced by Colby Ring and Cody Eich, who each collected nine tackles.
UMD's offense clicked first. Lucas tore of a 67-yard run early in the first quarter to put his Bulldogs up 7-0.
The Vikings countered three minutes later when Hanson found Holsen for an 18-yard strike. A sloppy snap forced Behrens to push the point after, and Augustana found itself trailing 7-6.
Jordan Marshall extended the Augustana lead to 12-7 when he corralled a 3-yard lob from Hanson with 9:23 to go before the break. Holsen set up the score with a spectacular, 22-yard catch that put the Vikings at the 5-yard line. His snag was part of a 10 play, 52-yard drive. Behrens missed the point after.
The Bulldogs responded by taking the ball 41-yards on their ensuing drive before David Nadeau booted a 41-yard field goal just before the half to cut the deficit to 12-10.
Hanson logged 154 yards through the air through the first half, with 51 of those going to Holsen.
Lucas recorded 82 yards on the ground to pace the Bulldogs in the first half.
After an Augustana three and out to open the second half, Nadeau hit another field goal with 6:37 on the clock to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-12. The surge saw UMD get three first downs.
The Vikings wouldn't score in the third, even after recovering a fumble on a punt attempt deep in Bulldog territory. Instead, UMD used the fourth quarter and Chowa to move ahead 20-12 on his interception return.
The Vikings punted on their next possession, and, after forcing UMD to do the same on its next drive, Augustana was silenced on its final drive.
Augustana netted just 9 yards on the ground in the loss, largely due to both bad snaps.
Nate Mahone ran for 55 yards for the Vikings
Augustana will host Bemidji State next Saturday at 1 p.m. to open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season.
