SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana football finished 6-5 in 2014, marking its first winning season since 2011, but the Vikings were just one snap, one play, possibly even one drive away from a 9-2 or an 8-3 finish. The Vikings lost three games by six or fewer points, including an overtime loss to North Division power Minnesota Duluth.

A 14-point fourth quarter allowed Augustana to put a scare into the No. 1 team in the country and 2014 national runner-up in Minnesota State on Oct. 25 last season. The Vikings came up short in a shootout in Fayette, Iowa and lost to Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 8 before rebounding to win the season finale by a large margin against Southwest Minnesota State on the road.

In just his second season, Jerry Olszewski led the Vikings to a drastic improvement in 2014 after a 4-7 finish in 2013. Augustana found itself in postseason projections, making a bid for the Mineral Water Bowl, as the postseason neared but fell just short.

Augustana returns 18 starters and 41 letterwinners from a team that set a single-season record for total offense with 5,124 yards. The Vikings return over half of the offensive production from last season, which includes points scored, receiving and rushing yards and all of its quarterback production.

"We've been able to build our roster to provide depth at all positions," Olszewski said. "We were young last year too, but our kids know they can play with anybody. I'm extremely excited about this season because we have an identity, our kids know who we are and how we play and now we just need to finish."

Another important piece to the puzzle for the Vikings is the schedule. Augustana will play six home games, and will play in Sioux Falls three straight weeks from Oct. 17-31.

"I'm excited about our schedule," Olszewski said. "It doesn't matter, you're going to play tough teams at home and on the road in this league. Granted we play the two teams ranked above us in the preseason poll on the road, I think it's a good schedule for us."

Augustana has 12 seniors on its roster, but with 41 returning letterwinners, Olszewski feels he has the experience and leadership that will lead to future success.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks
Trey Heid enters his third season as Augustana's signal caller and is coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign. Heid, an All-NSIC South Division Second Team selection last season, tossed 25 touchdown passes (third in the NSIC) while throwing just four interceptions on the year. Heid threw the fewest amount of interceptions of all quarterbacks in the conference and put the offense on his shoulders throughout his stellar season.

Heid completed nearly 60 percent of his passes last season (185 of 331) and compiled a 143.5 efficiency rating while racking up 2,564 passing yards.

"Trey Heid is a tremendous competitor," Olszewski said. "That really bleeds into the offense. He doesn't like to lose in anything and he wants to be the best at what he does and that is contagious. What I'm most proud about Trey from last season is the learning of the game that he mastered."

Heid threw two or more touchdown passes in 8 of his 10 games played last season, including six against Wayne State on Oct. 18 which tied a single game record at Augustana. Heid also tied an NCAA record for touchdown passes in a quarter in that game, throwing five of his six touchdown passes in the second quarter alone.

A true dual-threat with his speed and athleticism, Heid rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns in 2014 while becoming more dangerous in the pocket and learning to make his reads and find the open receiver before deciding to run. In his first season under center, Heid rushed for 339 yards and five touchdowns.

"He's your true dual-threat quarterback," Olszewski said. "We didn't run with him as much as we could last season, but he's certainly capable of being one of the fastest kids on the field when he decides to go. He becomes even more of a threat if the play breaks down, he can beat you with his feet."

Backing up Heid for the second straight season will be sophomore Chase Marso who appeared in six games last season, including one start. Marso completed 45 passes for 625 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 69 percent of his passes and compiled a 143.7 efficiency rating. He averaged over 100 passing yards per game and completed 24 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown in his lone start at Upper Iowa on Oct. 4.

Marso played in four of the first five games of the season and completed 16 consecutive passes before throwing his first incompletion.

"I was really proud of Chase and his development," Olszewski said. "I truly believe that he would start for a lot of other programs right now. We are really blessed to have the depth we do at the quarterback position. We're really fortunate to have a kid like Chase Marso in our program."

Running backs

CJ Ham spent the first three seasons of his career splitting carries with Dajon Newell, who finished his career with 3,246 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. Ham has increased his production every season with his battering ram style out of the backfield. He rushed for 404 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2012 before rushing for 387 yards and four touchdowns in 2013. Last season, Ham saw increased touches and finished the year with 774 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Ham is primed for a shot to be the feature back for the Vikings in 2015, setting up what could be a memorable senior season for the Duluth, Minn. native.

"He's very hungry to prove himself," Olszewski said. "He started around half of our games last year so he understands what that feels like. But now that he's the senior captain in the backfield, opponents will be preparing for CJ Ham. I think he's excited for the challenge and he wants the opportunity and he wants to lead this football team."

Ham led the team in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns last season averaging 5.2 yards per carry and 70.4 yards per game. He rushed for 100-plus yards in a game twice, including a career-high 146 at Minnesota Crookston in the 2014 season opener. Ham is also a threat in the passing game having caught 30 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns last season. He averaged 10.9 yards per reception and 29.6 receiving yards per game.

"What makes CJ exceptional is who he is," Olszewski said. "The way he runs, with such a physical demeanor, his pad level needs to get lower but he knows that. He's got one of the best dead-leg moves that I've seen in 24 years. He does such a great job with the hard pound and direction change for a big man, he has some explosiveness too."

Olszewski will have numerous weapons out of the backfield in 2015 with senior Justin Greenway, sophomore Jackie Davis and redshirt freshman Caden Quintanilla all expected to fight for carries this season. Justin Greenway rushed 20 times for 108 yards and a touchdown last season but was also used heavily on special teams. He returned 16 kickoffs for 360 yards (22.5 per game) and broke-off a 50-yard return.

With depth at the running back position, Olszewski will have multiple options and styles of runners to choose from. Olszewski said that with the depth at running back, they should be able to stay healthy and that all of the backs will get carries.

Justin Greenway is an explosive, fast and very physical runner that can go the distance on any play according to Olszewski.

Davis broke onto the scene during his redshirt freshman campaign last season in the 52-0 win over the University of Mary. Davis finished the season with 66 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. At 5-foot-7 164 pounds, Davis can get lost behind the offensive line and burst into the defensive secondary. Coach Olszewski also says that like Ham, Davis will not shy away from contact.
 

"Jackie's running style is what people would call a "slasher", Olszewski said. "But he's got a physical demeanor to him as well. He really understands the zone run game extremely well. He can go b-gap to b-gap on the drop of a dime and that's what makes him really effective."

Sioux Falls native and 2013 Gatorade South Dakota Player of the Year, Quintanilla is set to make his collegiate debut in 2015. Quintanilla, described as "lightning in a bottle" by Olszewski, led Lincoln High School to the 11AAA State Championship in 2013 and was named the MVP of the championship game. He rushed for 1,893 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season and was named the Argus Leader Elite 45 Team Captain.

"Caden's got a lot of shake to him," Olszewski said. "Our defensive players would be the first to tell you that he's just so hard to get a square shot on because he's so shifty and can change direction with explosiveness."

Check back on Tuesday for a preview of the wide receivers, tight ends and the offensive line. 

Third-year head coach Jerry Olszewski will welcome 102 players to fall camp on Friday, Aug. 14. The Vikings will hold their first practice on Saturday, Aug. 15 and are set to open the season on the road at Bemidji State on Saturday, Sept. 5. Augustana's home opener is set for Sept. 12 against St. Cloud State.