SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It's the 'Key to the City' game as the Augustana football team takes the short trek to Bob Young Field to take on Sioux Falls.
 
Complete action can be followed at GoAugie.com/Live and on the GoAugie App, presented by CellOnly. The app can be downloaded in the app store or on Google Play.
 
The Game
The opening kick from the USF field located four miles from the Augustana campus is slated for 1 p.m. Augustana is riding the NSIC's longest in-conference winning streak at 10 games. Sioux Falls comes into the contest having dropped its last game this past week at Northern State.
 
Each school will have an honorary captain as the friendly battle between the Sioux Falls Fire Department and Sioux Falls Police Department both have an interest in the contest. The Sioux Falls Fire Chief, Matt McAreavey, is an Augustana alum, while the Police Chief, Jonathan Thum, is a graduate of USF. Each will be on their alma mater's respective sidelines for the coin flip while serving as honorary captains.
 
The Cougars
Sioux Falls enters Saturday with a 2-2 record, after losing to Northern State 41-10 last week. Prior to last week, the Cougars had a loss to Bemidji State and wins over Minot State and Concordia-St. Paul. The Cougars currently sit in seventh place of the overall NSIC standings.
 
Junior running back Thuro Reisdorfer has been off to the races his third season as he leads the NSIC with over 127 rushing yards per game and his 5 rushing touchdowns rank him tied for first in the conference. USF's 243 yards rushing per game average ranks it second in the NSIC. Dominic Pegley is the Cougars' top receiver, ranking eighth in the NSIC in receptions with 21.
 
Defensively, the Cougars give up 347.5 yards per game and give up 22.3 points per game. They rank second in the conference, behind only Augustana, with 70.5 yards rushing per game allowed.
 
The Vikings
Augustana, the only undefeated team remaining in the NSIC, is 4-0 and ranked No. 14 in the AFCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll. The Vikings also have a No. 12 ranking in the D2Football.com Top-25. Augustana, who has scored at least 43 points in every game this season, ranks second in the nation with 46.8 points scored per game. Its defense? 13^th in the nation allowing just 15.2 points per game.
 
Quarterback Kyle Saddler had arguably his best game as a Viking last week in the win at Bemidji and was honored as the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. Saddler tossed for six touchdowns and ran in for a seventh while throwing for over 300 yards.
 
Jarod Epperson ranks 24^th in the nation with his 145.75 all-purpose yards per game. Defensively, Peyton Buckley ranks third in the nation with just under an interception per game, a mark that leads the NSIC.
 
Who to Watch For
We've saved the best to talk about for last as far as the Vikings go. The defensive, more specifically the defensive line, is the best in the country at stopping the opponents' rushing attack. The Vikings give up just 19.8 yards per game, the best in the country and easily the best in the NSIC. The second in the conference at stopping the rushing attack? That's Saturday's opponent USF at more than 72 yards allowed per game.
 
One Last Thing
Augustana play-by-play announcer Jeff Fylling will be calling his 400^th Viking football game. He started his football-calling career for then Augustana College in 1984, giving Saturday's 2021 contest his 400^th game called. Fans can tune into KXRB 100.1 FM to hear Fylling call the action.