ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Looking to stay undefeated on the road in 2018, the Augustana football team used a balanced attack on both sides of the ball to grind out a 42-21 win over Northern State on Saturday. Tied at 14 at halftime, the Vikings scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to finish the game strong. Kyle Saddler finished the game with a career-high 460 yards and five touchdowns, Junior Nickel Meyers added a career-best 12 catches for 218 yards, and the defense limited Northern to just 254 yards of total offense and two turnovers. The victory moves the Vikings to 4-3 (2-2 NSIC South) and drops the Wolves to 2-5 (1-3 NSIC North).

Augustana head coach Jerry Olszewski is happy to get the win, and very proud of how his program finished. "The big thing this week and this year has been to finish," Olszewski said, "and I thought in the 4th quarter our kids did that. They took over and led us to the win."


In cold and windy conditions at Swisher Field, the Vikings won the toss, deferred to the second half and Northern State started with the ball. The Wolves drove into the red zone, but the Augie defense flexed, forcing a 27-yard field goal that sailed wide right. The Vikings first offensive drive saw a first down, but a Drew Jurgens punt was blocked, scooped and returned by Brayden McNeary for an 18-yard touchdown. Northern moved ahead 7-0 midway through the 1st quarter. 

The Vikings offensive line allowed just one sack on the day and now have given up only seven sacks in seven games. With help up front, by the Vikings second possession the team started to find a rhythm. Kyle Saddler hit Nickel Meyers on back-to-back throws including a 26-yard slant over the middle, and then a 32-yard touchdown pass in front of the end zone to tie the game up at 7-7. It's the third straight week Saddler and Meyers have connected for a touchdown. The Saddler-Meyers connection went on to finish with 8 grabs for 152 yards in the first half alone, which was a season-high for a Vikings receiver. 

Moving into the second quarter, the Augustana defense continued to step up. On a 3rd and 5, Kirby Hora broke up the middle and strip-sacked quarterback Hunter Trautman. Joey Newman recovered as the Vikings took over possession. Hora now has forced two fumbles, which ranks among the top in the NSIC. Newman also had a big day himself, finishing with a season-high 3.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. 

With the wind gusting at more than 30 MPH, neither team could move the ball with much consistency. Late in the second half, after starting with a short field, Trautman hit Dakota Larson for a five-yard touchdown. With 3:12 left in the half, Northern State moved ahead 14-7.  

Moving to a hurry-up offense, the Vikings looked to answer before the half. Saddler hit Brett Shepley over the middle, and the junior found the sideline for a 69-yard reception. That pass and catch mark the longest completion of the season for Augustana, and the Viking's first completion of over 60 yards since Nov. 2016 (Trey Hied, 76 yards). On the next snap, Saddler once again hit Meyers for a touchdown, this time a five-yard slant on the right side. Meyers finished the half with two touchdowns, and now has five in the last three games. After 30 minutes, the teams went into the locker room tied at 14 all. 

The Vikings started the second half with a 47-yard kick return from Luke Fritsch. Looking to get the run game and Rudolh Sinflorant in the mix, the Vikings first play from scrimmage saw Sinflorant rack up 10 yards right up the middle. Although the drive stalled, the Vikings next possession was one of their best of the afternoon. The 14-play 82-yard drive featured a mix a run and pass, including a 16-yard completion to Connor Jackson and another completion to Meyers, which put him at 200 yards for the day. Nickel becomes the first Vikings receiver to go over 200 yards since Charlie Hays had 214 (Oct. 2016). Augustana finished the drive with points as Saddler hit Brett Shepley on a two-yard slant, and the Vikings took a 21-14 lead. 

Northern State was able to respond on their next possession, driving 80-yards over 15 plays and finishing with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Zech Culbreath. The two sides headed into the 4th quarter tied at 21.  

The story of the game was the 4th quarter and the Vikings ability to finish. On the second possession of the 4th, Saddler put the offense on his back. He drove the team across the 50, hit Meyers for another big gain, and then found Drew Reinschmidt for his biggest catch of the year. Reinschmidt adjusted mid-air and hauled in a 22-yard touchdown reception - the junior's first of the year - and the Vikings took a 28-21 lead with less than 7 minutes to go. But Augustana's biggest focus this week was finishing, and on their next possession, they did just that. On 3rd and 1, Saddler hit Chet Peerenboom on a play-action pass, and the senior took it to the house for a 47-yard touchdown. 


Needing just a few more stops, the Vikings defense slammed the door as Michael Kloza intercepted his 4th pass on the year. Moments later, Sinflorant put the game on ice with a 1-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 42-21 lead. Overall, the Vikings defense allowed just 48 rushing yards and 206 passing yards. Cody Kujawa racked up a game-high 9 tackles and one sack. The Vikings offense finished with 506 yards (460 pass / 46 rush) in the win. 

The Vikings will now return home for Saturday's Homecoming game versus the University of Mary. The annual 'Vikings Days' starts on Friday with both Soccer and Volleyball and continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Kirkeby-Over Stadium. 

Game Notes:
 

• The 42-21 win marks the Vikings 12th straight win against the Wolves, and six straight at Aberdeen's Swisher Field.
• The Vikings offensive line allowed just one sack today. The big men upfront have only allowed seven sacks in seven games, which ranks among the best in the NSIC.
• Kyle Saddler threw for a career-best 460 yards and five touchdowns. It's the second time this year he has thrown for more than 400 yards (vs. Minnesota State) and five touchdowns (at. Minnesota Crookston).
• Nickel Meyers finished with a career-best 12 grabs for 218 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Meyers becomes the first Vikings to have more than 200 receiving yards since Charlie Hayes finished with 214 yards vs. Minnesota State (10/2015). 
• Brett Shepley's 69-yard reception is the longest completion of the season for Augustana, and the Viking's first completion of over 60 yards since Nov. 2016 (Trey Hied, 76 yards).
• Drew Reinschmidt hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass, marking the first score of the year for the junior. 
• Augustana's defense limited Northern State to just 254 yards of offense. It's the time this year the Viking have held a team to less than 260 yards of offense (at Minnesota Crookston). 
• The Vikings finished with a season-high 10 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
• Cody Kujawa led the team with 9 tackles and one sack. He also finished with two tackles for loss.
• Joey Newman has a season-best 3.5 tackles for a loss.
• The Vikings allowed less than 50 rushing yards for the first time since Nov. 1 2017 (32 vs. Concordia St. Paul)
• Augustana is now 4-0 on the road in 2018. 
• Last Saturday, the Vikings defense racked up a season-high 42 solo tackles, this week they topped that with 45.
• Coming into Saturday, sophomore Luke Fritsch led the NSIC at 30.9 yards per kick return. He had 2 returns for 59 yards on Saturday. 
• The Vikings are 35-28 all-time under head coach Jerry Olszewski, with coach 'OJ' earning his first ever win as a Viking at MSU Moorhead in the 2013 season-opener, 41-28.