SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 12 University of Sioux Falls (5-0, 1-0 NSIC South) scored 21 straight points to start the game and held off No. 25 Augustana University (3-2, 0-1 NSIC South) to reclaim the Key to the City by a score of 35-20 on Saturday in front of 7,115 fans at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.
 
The loss snapped an eight-game home winning streak by Augustana. The Vikings had not lost at Kirkeby-Over Stadium since Oct. 25, 2014.
 
Augustana finished the game with 402 yards of offense, including 293 yards through the air. Trey Heid finished 24 of 44 passing for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Charlie Hayes, who had been out of the lineup with a broken finger since week one, led Augustana with 99 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.
 
Nathan Merriman hauled in four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown and Trevor DeSchepper caught four passes for 50 yards.
 
Caden Quintanilla rushed for a team-high 44 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings finished the game with 109 yards on the ground.
 
USF put up 562 yards of offense, including 282 rushing yards and 280 through the air. Max Mickey rushed 20 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Papilion completed 22 of 30 passes for 280 yards and two scores while rushing for 41 yards and touchdown.  
 
Augustana was led defensively by Kirby Hora who finished with 13 tackles, his third game with 13 or more this season. Bryson Hamilton added nine tackles, including four solo while Matt Wagner and Michael Kloza each added eight.
 
USF roared out to a 21-0 lead scoring twice in the first quarter. The Cougars went in front 21-0 after an 18-yard touchdown run by Mickey with 11:39 to play in the second quarter.
 
The Vikings answered on their next drive going 75 yards on 14 plays ending with a seven-yard touchdown catch by Hayes. Heid completed three passes to Hayes on the drive and hit him in the right corner of the end zone to get the Vikings on the board. The extra point attempt missed wide right but the Vikings made the score 21-6 with seven minutes to play in the half.
 
Augustana's defense followed the score with a big stop and got great field position after Sam Plucker blocked a punt and recovered it at the USF 17-yard line. Four plays later, Heid found Nathan Merriman with a fade in the corner of the end zone and after the extra point Augustana was within eight at 21-13 with 3:27 left in the half.
 
The defense put the offense back on the field quickly forcing the Cougars to go three and out. Augustana drove into USF territory but was stuffed on back-to-back plays on third and fourth down and short turning the ball over with 54 seconds left. Time ran out on the half and USF carried a 21-13 lead into the break.
 
Augustana finished the first half with 182 yards of offense, including 137 through the air. Hayes hauled in five passes for a team-high 58 yards and a touchdown.
 
Jackie Davis led the Vikings on the ground with 25 yards on four carries. Heid was 14 of 24 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
 
USF finished the half with 274 yards of offense, including 165 through the air and 109 on the ground.
 
The two teams slugged it out throughout the third quarter and the Vikings moved into USF territory looking to get within a score. Heid moved the offense into Cougar territory picking up 21 yards with his feet on the drive. He picked up a first down to the USF eight-yard line with his feet but on the next play, his pass intended for DeSchepper was intercepted in the end zone.
 
The Cougars responded with a 10-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown catch by Josh Angulo that put USF in front 28-13 with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
 
Augustana's offense continued to move the football on its next drive getting into USF territory quickly. The Cougars' kickoff traveled out of bounds and the offense would start at the 35-yard line.
 
The Vikings picked up a first down on an eight-yard catch by Jake Welsheimer and moved closer to the end zone after USF was called for targeting. The Cougars followed that with a big play on defense, forcing Augustana back 13 yards with a sack. On fourth down and 16 from the 23, Heid threw a pass into the end zone that was intercepted and the Cougars got the ball back with 12:27 to play.
 
Eight plays later, USF extended its lead to 35-13 when Mickey went 42 yards for a score with 8:25 remaining in the game.
 
Augustana was able to answer after a pair of big plays by Quintanilla. Quintanilla went for a 50-yard gain on first down and 20 on a screen play moving the offense into USF territory before running one in from 11 yards out to get Augustana within 15 at 35-20 with 5:33 to play.
 
Augustana attempted an onside kick that was recovered by USF and the Cougars were able to run the clock down to just 55 seconds remaining before turning the ball over on downs.
 
The Vikings will head back out on the road next weekend traveling to Wayne, Nebraska to take on Wayne State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.