SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It wasn't the outcome the Augustana football team was looking for Saturday as the 14^th-ranked Vikings fell 28-26 in the 'Key to the City' game against Sioux Falls at Bob Young Field.
 
The Vikings garnered more yards (373-256), more first downs (20-18), held the time of possession (32:16-27:44), but ultimately fell for the first time in 2021. Augustana's record is now 4-1 while USF is 3-2.
 
Vikings running back Jarod Epperson recorded 148 yards rushing and two touchdowns while carrying the ball 20 times. The 148 yards give him the rushing lead in the NSIC in 2021 as he has accumulated 578 yards on the ground over five games, an average of 115 per outing.
 
The Augustana defense did what it does again, and only allowed five yards rushing. The Vikings entered the game leading the nation by allowing just 19 yards per game.
 
Trailing 7-0, Augustana embarked on a 16-play, 75-yard drive to knot the game at 7-7. On a 2^nd-and-10, Jarod Epperson rambled off a 25-yard run into the end zone untouched with 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
 
Sioux Falls took advantage of field possession in the second quarter after a mishap on a punt for AU. The Cougars took over at the Vikings' 11-yard line and ran three plays to take a 14-7 lead.
 
With time running out in the opening half, Epperson again broke free, this time for 42 yards to cap a 3-play, 42-yard drive with 1:33 remaining in the half. However, Sioux Falls ran off a 75-yard drive to enter halftime leading 21-14.
 
After a mostly defensive battle of a third quarter, Augustana knotted the game at 21-all as Kyle Saddler went to the left and carried in a one-yard touchdown. That AU drive was 13 plays over 60 yards and chewed up 5:22 of game action.
 
After forcing a 3-and-out from USF, Augustana was again on the march, this time culminating in a Ben Limburg 41-yard field goal. The career-long for Limburg was the finale of a 7-play, 48-yard drive to give Augustana the 24-21 lead.
 
With time running down, Sioux Falls mustered one last drive to take a 28-24 lead with 2:53 on the clock. The scoring play was a 26-yard pass reception by Dominic Pegley as the Cougars traveled 63 yards over five plays.
 
After an Augustana turnover, while trying to run a two-minute drill, the Cougars were forced to punt with seven seconds left. The punter ran into the end zone to take a safety to help run the clock out for the final score of 28-26.
 
Saddler concluded the game with 212 yards passing with 100 of those yards going to Logan Uttecht. Sean Engel was on the receiving end of 72 yards.
 
Eli Weber led with a game-high 11 tackles, tying a career-high. T.J. Liggett totaled 10 tackles with three tackles for a loss. Grayson Diepenbrock also had a strong game defensively with three of his four tackles going for a loss. On back-to-back plays, Jake Polson broke up what was sure to be a touchdown pass, then sacked the USF quarterback.
 
Augustana returns to Kirkeby-Over Stadium on Saturday for the Viking Days contest with Upper Iowa. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.