FAYETTE, Iowa – Augustana turned the ball over seven times, including six interceptions, in a 31-25 loss to Upper Iowa on Saturday night in Fayette. The win for Upper Iowa (5-0, 1-0 NSIC South) marks its first ever over Augustana (3-2, 0-1 NSIC South) as the Vikings had won all seven of the previous meetings between the two teams. Both teams received votes in last week's AFCA Top 25 poll.
 
Augustana had not thrown an interception all season long prior to tonight's game. The Vikings ended the game with a season-high seven turnovers.
 
The Vikings led 25-16 with 14:01 remaining in the game after Chad Curry returned a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown but the Peacocks scored just four plays later to cut the lead to two at 25-23.
 
Three possessions later, Upper Iowa recovered a fumble at the Augustana 12 yard line and punched in another score with 5:06 to play and converted a two-point conversion to go in front 31-25.
 
Augustana quickly moved into Upper Iowa territory after a 61-yard kickoff return by Jason Greenway but ended up missing a 50-yard field goal. The Vikings got another chance in Upper Iowa territory after Chase Marso hit Charlie Hayes for a 50-yard pass that set the Vikings up with a first down at the Peacock 13 yard line with less than two minutes to play.
 
A holding penalty set the Vikings back and the Peacocks picked-off their seventh pass of the night on 4th and 17 to hold on for the victory.
 
CJ Ham led the Vikings offensively with 67 yards rushing and 48 receiving. He scored two touchdowns in the game, one on the ground and one through the air. Chase Marso, making his first collegiate start for an injured Trey Heid, finished the game 24 of 41 for 337 yards and a touchdown and six interceptions.
 
Matt Gerry led the Vikings with a career-high 95 receiving yards while Grant Gebhardt caught six passes for 79 yards. Augustana finished the game with 425 yards of total offense, including 337 through the air and 88 on the ground. Jason Greenway returned four kickoffs for 172 yards, including a career-long 61-yard return and had a 100 yard return called back on a holding penalty.
 
Upper Iowa finished with 442 yards of total offense, including 286 passing and 156 rushing. Chris Smith rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Cole Jaeschke passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns for the Peacocks.
 
The Vikings led 18-10 at halftime on two CJ Ham touchdowns and a 32-yard Lucas Wainman field goal. The Peacocks got within two at 18-16 on a 13-yard touchdown reception by Lucas Hefty with 10:47 to play in the third quarter and that is where the score would stay headed into the fourth.
 
Curry's 47-yard fumble return for a touchdown looked to give the Vikings the momentum but two quick strikes by Upper Iowa stopped Augustana from going 4-1.   
 
Nate Kirby led Augustana defensively with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Brandon Mohr added nine tackles and Jordan Johnson recorded a career-high seven.
 
Augustana returns to Sioux Falls next Saturday to host USF in the "Key to the City" game which is set for 1 p.m. at Kirkeby-Over stadium.