MOORHEAD, Minn. – MSU Moorhead's Adam Jiskra caught his third touchdown pass of the game with 1:20 left that would help lift the Dragons (3-0) to a 35-34 victory over Augustana University (2-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings took their first lead of the game on a 44-yard field goal by Lucas Wainman and extended it to 32-28 with a 25-yard field goal with 4:03 to play, but a late interception by the Dragons would seal the deal.
 
The Vikings got the ball back with 1:20 to play and drove into MSUM territory before the Dragons intercepted their fourth pass of the game with 21 seconds remaining in the game to end the Vikings threat. Augustana had all three timeouts and would force MSUM to punt on the final drive of the game but the Dragons ran the ball out of the back of the end zone as time expired for a safety to make the final tally 35-24.
 
CJ Ham led the Viking offense with 138 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 25 carries. Ham recorded his sixth-career multi-rushing touchdown game. The Vikings passing game was held quietly on the afternoon as the Vikings passed for just 125 yards while throwing four interceptions.
 
Charlie Hayes finished the game with 49 yards on four catches. The Vikings were led defensively by Steven Miller and Brandon Mohr who each had nine tackles and a fumble recovery. Bryson Hamilton added seven tackles, including a sack while Jamal Samaha finished with five tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal.
 
The Dragons jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half leading the Vikings 21-3 before Ham found the end zone for the first time on the day to cut the score to 21-10.
 
Augustana started to chip away at the MSUM lead in the third quarter when Zach Richter came up with a sack on Dragon quarterback Demetrius Carr in the end zone for a safety to make the score 21-12. Jason Greenway returned the ensuing free kick for a touchdown but it was called back for holding.
 
The Vikings would be forced to start from the 50-yard line instead of kicking off trailing by two points, but it wouldn't matter as 10 plays later Ham plunged into the end zone for his second score of the game to make the score 21-19.
 
On their next drive, MSUM would extend the lead back to two scores after going 75 yards on seven plays ending with a 21-yard touchdown reception by Damon Gibson that put the Dragons in front 28-19.
 
The Vikings quickly got into MSUM territory on its next drive after a 22-yard kick return by Justin Greenway set the offense up with the ball at midfield. The Dragons were then called for an unsportsmanlike penalty that moved Augustana to the Dragons 35-yard line and after carries of 31 and four yards by Ham the Vikings were within two points at 28-26.
 
Augustana's defense quickly got the offense back on the field when Lance Briard forced a fumble that Mohr recovered at the Dragons' 26-yard line. The Vikings weren't able to move the ball towards the end zone but Wainman was able to connect on a 44-yard field goal to give Augustana its first lead of the day at 29-28.
 
That is where the score would stay headed into the fourth quarter until Wainman drilled a 25-yard field goal that gave Augustana a 32-28 lead with 4:03 remaining in the game. MSUM drove the field in just under three minutes and regained the lead at 35-32 after a 24-yard touchdown catch by Jiskra.
 
Augustana was able to quickly move into MSUM territory on its final possession of the game but the Dragons intercepted a Trey Heid pass for the fourth time on the afternoon to seal the victory.
 
Augustana will play at home for two straight weeks starting next Saturday. The Vikings will host Minot State on Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. before welcoming Southwest Minnesota State in the South Division opener on Oct. 3.