WINONA, Minn. – The final game of the 2017 season got off to an ominous start, as No. 17 ranked Winona State returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and even though the Vikings answered with a quick touchdown, the Warriors capitalized on their opportunities throughout the game to secure a 52-21 win.
 
With the loss, the Vikings end the season with a 4-7 record while the Warriors look forward to the playoffs with a 10-1 mark, with their only loss coming at the hands of the current top-ranked team in Division II, Minnesota State.
 
Down 7-0 before either team ran a play from scrimmage, the Vikings quickly answered with a four-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a Kyle Saddler to Trever DeSchepper 45-yard completion and capped by a 3-yard Caden Quintanilla touchdown run to tie the score at 7-7.
 
Avram Tynes snagged his first interception of the season on the ensuing Winona State drive, but the Warriors got it right back, as Nick Pridgeon benefitted from a tipped Saddler pass and returned it 78 yards for the score, giving the Warriors a 14-7 lead that they would not relinquish.  
 
The Warriors led 42-7 at half before they added a score in the third quarter, but the Vikings kept battling, and added a 16-yard Colton Steer touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which capped a four-play, 46-yard drive to cut the Winona State to 49-14 with 12 minutes, 16 seconds left in the game.
 
Following a three-and-out by the Augie defense, the Vikings offense, namely Steer, struck again, as the junior tied a bow on a 10-play, 73-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown scamper to cut the Warriors lead to 49-21 with just over five minutes left in the contest.
 
Winona State added a field goal late to set the final score.
 
Steer led the Vikings offense with a career-high 76 yards to go along with his career-high two touchdowns, while Kirby Hora led the defense with eight tackles.
 
NOTES: Augustana leads the all-time series with Winona State 9-5 … the Vikings played three ranked opponents this season, all of them on the road … Kirby Hora added eight tackles to his NSIC-leading total to 129 … Steer topped his previous career-high of 56 yards rushing, set at Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 5, 2016