SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It's the "Key to the City" game as the Augustana football team travels to Bob Young Field to face the Cougars of Sioux Falls Thursday night at 6 p.m.
 
The Game
Augustana plays its second road game of the season in a key NSIC South Division matchup. Both teams enter with identical 2-1 records as four teams in the south division have 2-1 records looking for separation.
 
The "Key to the City" game marks the 26^th contest between the two schools that are separated by two blocks. Augustana leads the all-time series 19-6.
 
The Cougars
After falling 41-17 in its season opener, Sioux Falls has outscored its opponents 85-19 to hold a 2-1 record. The wins have come against Winona State (34-12) and at Southwest Minnesota State (51-7). The offense is controlled by Caden Walters through the air, averaging 199.3 yards per game and completing 58.5 percent of his pass attempts.
 
On the ground, Thuro Reisdorfer has six touchdowns on the year while averaging 95.6 yards per game. Defensively, Sioux Falls is led by Brody Grantham with 23 tackles, or 7.6 per game. Ryan Nieman has picked off two passes and is second on the team with 5.6 tackles per game.
 
The Vikings
Kyle Saddler leads the Viking offensive attack with 260.7 yards per game and has tossed five touchdowns. His top target by catches is Sean Engel with 14 receptions this year, averaging 53.3 yards per game. His top target by yardage is Brett Shepley at 84.7 yards per game and three touchdowns. Nickel Meyers, last season's NSIC leader in touchdown receptions, averages four receptions and 33 yards per game. On the ground, it is Rudolh Sinflorant with 53 yards per game while Jarod Epperson averages 41.5 yards per game. Defensively, T.J. Liggett leads the team with 22 tackles, followed closely by Michael Kloza with 20.
 
Liggett earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors after totaling nine tackles, seven solo, and forced two fumbles in the victory over Wayne State. He is part of a defense that ranks third in the nation with 11 turnovers gained. Seven of those turnovers came from interceptions while four are from fumble recoveries.
 
Who to Watch For
Kicker Luis Guarita certainly had the credentials to earn NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week after tallying 14 points off four field goals and two point-after attempts in the 26-13 win over Wayne State. He notched field goals from 34, 30, 25 and 21 yards. He leads the NSIC in field goals per game at 1.67.
 
One Last Thing
The key trophy in the "Key to the City" game is a four-foot-tall key that was carved from an Aspen tree from the family farm of Arne Bortnem, a 1965 Augustana graduate. The traveling trophy is one of seven active trophies played for in NSIC rivalries, joining such traditions as the "Training Kit" from St. Cloud State and Minnesota State, "Battle for the Paddle" between UMary and MSU Moorhead and the "Battle for the Sledge" by Winona State and Southwest Minnesota State.