SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Less than a week after closing the home schedule with a 28-13 win over Concordia-St. Paul on Senior Day, Augustana returns to the road this week to face off against No. 17 ranked Winona State on Thursday at 7:05 p.m., in a game that can be seen live on Midco SN.
 
The Vikings play their third ranked opponent of the season, and just like the previous two, they play the game on the road. The first two trips to ranked opponents; 42-21 loss at No. 5 Minnesota State and a 21-14 loss at No. 14 Sioux Falls did not fall Augustana's favor, but the Vikings hope to turn that tide on Thursday by building on a home win in the home finale.
 
Career days from quarterback Kyle Saddler, receiver Jake Welsheimer and running back Ryan Berry paved the way for a the Vikings victory over Concordia-St. Paul Saturday. Saddler, a true freshman, completed a career-high 24 passes on 40 attempts for a career-high 302 yards and three touchdowns, which ties a career high. 
 
Welsheimer hauled in eight catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, setting career marks in receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns, while Bradberry rushed for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
 
Defensively, three different Vikings intercepted a pass, including Gabe Garcia, who picked off his first-career pass and also recovered a fumble. As usual, Kirby Hora led Augie with 11 tackles, and remains atop the league standings with 121 tackles, which also puts him atop the national rankings for total tackles.
 
Week 11 Quick Hits
• The 2017 season marked the ninth season with Kirkeby-Over Stadium as the Vikings home venue
• The Vikings outscored their opponents in all nine seasons at Kirkeby-Over Stadium
• Augustana gave up 400 total yards just once this season, and gained 400 total yards four times
• Of the three team currently ranked in the NSIC, Augustana played or plays, all three on the road
• The Vikings defense surrendered 300 passing yards last week for the first time this season
• Kirby Hora leads the NSIC with 121 tackles overall, and with an average of 12.1 per game
• Hora posted double-digit tackles against Concordia-St. Paul for the seventh time this season, he finished with 11
• Matt Wagner ranks third in the NSIC with 82 tackles overall, and with an average of 10.3 per game
• Gabe Garcia grabbed his first-career interception on Saturday vs. Concordia-St. Paul
• Trevor Naasz leads the Vikings with four interceptions on the season
• The Vikings got a 300 yard passer (Saddler), 100 yard receiver (Welscheimer) and a 100 yard rusher (Braderry) vs. Concordia St. Paul for the first time since Nov. 15, 2014 at SMSU
• Saddler posted his first-career 300 yard passing game (302) vs. Concordia-St. Paul
• Welscheimer became the first Vikings 100 yard receiver since Matt Heller (108) vs. Winona State on Oct. 29, 2016
• Bradberry's 145 yards rushing vs. Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday marked a new career-high
 
The Series vs. Winona State
Series Notes: Thursday's game marks the 12th Meeting between the two teams, with the Vikings leading the all-time series 7-4. Augustana won each of the last three meetings. Of the five previous games in Winona, Augie won three of them.  
 
First Meeting: 1973 Season –– W, 48-3
 
Last Meeting; Oct. 29, 2016: Kirkeby-Over Stadium - Augustana's Matt Heller caught a touchdown pass with 18 seconds left to get the Vikings within one at 20-19. The Vikings played for the tie lining up for an extra point but Winona State was called for a personal foul for leaping and Augustana changed its mind and went for two. Trey Heid didn't like what he saw to his right and ran around the left side of the line to convert giving Augustana a 21-20 lead.
 
Winona State got two plays before time expired and a Hail Mary pass fell incomplete giving Augustana a 21-20 win over the Warriors who entered the game ranked 10th in the NCAA Central Region rankings.
 
Augustana improved to 6-3 on the season with the win, including 3-2 in NSIC South Division play. With the loss, Winona State dropped to 6-3 (3-2 NSIC South).