SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana College football team treated its homecoming crowd of 5,621 fans to a 52-0 "Viking Days" victory over the University of Mary on Saturday afternoon at Kirkeby-Over Stadium. The Viking defense held U-Mary (2-2) to just 261 yards of total offense and Trey Heid led the offense going 14 of 19 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Augustana improved to 3-1 on the season after recording its second shutout of the year. The Vikings have recorded a shutout at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in three straight seasons after Saturday's win over U-Mary.
 
The Viking defense swarmed to the ball from the first snap of the game and finished the game with seven tackles for loss, including three sacks. Steven Miller led the Vikings with nine tackles and recovered a fumble. Ben Skelly added six tackles (five solo), including a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Augustana forced U-Mary into three turnovers, getting two fumble recoveries and an interception.
 
The Vikings used a balanced attack on offense to wear down the Marauder defense. The scoring spree started on a 61-yard touchdown pass from Heid to Matt Gerry with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter.  The 61-yard pass and catch marked a career-long completion for Heid and career-long reception for Gerry. The long touchdown pass came on the first play of Augustana's second drive of the afternoon and the Vikings connected on their third one-play scoring drive of the season.  
 
Gerry finished the day with 72 receiving yards on two catches while Matt Heller and Charlie Hayes each added receiving touchdowns. Hayes finished the game with 56 receiving yards on five catches, including his first career touchdown reception, and Heller grabbed six passes for 79 yards and a score for his team-leading fourth touchdown reception of the season.
 
Dajon Newell delivered his second straight 100-yard rushing performance in the win for the Vikings. Newell finished the day with 100 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. CJ Ham rumbled for 69 yards and two touchdowns, recording his third career game with two rushing scores.
 
Redshirt freshman Jackie Davis picked up his first career rushing touchdown for the Vikings going for 66 yards on 10 carries. Chase Marso stepped in at quarterback in the third quarter and was 9 for 9 for 98 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings. Marso has seen time in three games for the Vikings this season and is a perfect 15 for 15 through the air.
 
After Augustana took a 7-0 lead on the 61-yard Heid to Gerry connection, the Vikings forced U-Mary to punt and the offense took over with a numbing drive that lasted over five minutes and ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Ham early in the second quarter that gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead.
 
The Vikings scored on their next two drives, including a 32-yard field goal by Lucas Wainman and a 34-yard receiving touchdown by Heller that gave Augustana a 24-0 halftime lead.
 
Augustana got the ball to start the second half and quickly drove the length of the field after U-Mary attempted an on-side kick and the Vikings started at their own 46 yard line. The drive ended seven plays later on Ham's second score of the day, a 29-yard rushing touchdown, that gave Augustana a 31-0 lead.
 
On U-Mary's next drive, Skelly stripped Dariouse Gravely in the middle of a 15-yard gain and Justin Brown recovered giving the Vikings great field position. Eight plays and just under four minutes later Newell plunged into the end zone on a six yard touchdown to push the lead to 38-0.
 
Augustana forced another three-and-out and Marso marched onto the field and led the Vikings on two scoring drives as the Vikings went on to down the Marauders 52-0.
 
Augustana will now turn its attention to the South Division as the Vikings travel to Fayette, Iowa next Saturday to take on the Peacocks of Upper Iowa at 6 p.m. at Eischeid Stadium.