SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second-straight season, the Augustana football team opened its year with a shutout victory. In 2021, it was a 49-0 win over Minot State behind 544 yards of total offense and a dominating defense that held Minot to just 34 yards rushing and 164 yards total.
 
Augustana won its seventh-straight game inside Kirkeby-Over Stadium, a streak that entered the weekend as the seventh-longest in NCAA Division II.
 
The NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year, Kyle Saddler, threw for 301 yards through the air while AU recorded 243 yards on the ground. Jarod Epperson totaled 97 of those yards while David Addo had 71 yards. Kyle Graham rounded out the bulk of the rushing with 55 yards as all three recorded a touchdown.
 
Although the offense was firing on all cylinders, it did take a full quarter to get into gear. The first touchdown of the game came with 11:51 to go in the second quarter as Sean Engel concluded a six-play, 66-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown reception. Prior to that pass, Addo put the offense on his legs and carried the ball on five-straight plays including a 27-yard gain on his fourth carry.
 
On the ensuing possession after stopping Minot, Saddler rushed in from five yards out to make it 14-0. The Saddler rush was set up by Epperson as he took a 49-yard reception to the 5-yard line.
 
Augustana scored on its third-straight drive in the second quarter as Addo rushed in from two-yards out and the 21-0 lead with 1:00 on the clock. That would be the halftime score with all 21 points coming in the second quarter.
 
Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Vikings continued to dominate offensively, going 75 yards over 10 plays to take a 28-0 lead. The score this time was a 39-yard touchdown reception by Devon Jones. Jones created separation inside the five-yard line, made the catch and lowered his shoulder into the end zone.
 
In what was the fifth-consecutive drive to score on, Saddler connected with Jacob Cleveringa to cap a three-play, 45-yard drive. Cleveringa's reception was a 15-yard pass from Saddler and a 35-0 score. The two other plays on the efficient drive were a 14-yard reception by Jones and 16-yard rush from Addo.
 
The Vikings tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, first a 31-yard rushing touchdown by Epperson with the final score being a Kyle Graham one-yard rush for the final score of 49-0.
 
With the offense on full gas, the defense, playing its first game under defensive coordinator Mark Sipple, shutout the Beavers while limiting them to just 164 total yards. The AU defense recorded an interception, held Minot to a 0-for-2 on fourth-down conversions and kept the Beavers to a 4-for-18 on third-down conversions.
 
The interception was courtesy of Sydney Capers as leaped for a ball tipped by Peyton Buckley and corralled it while falling in the end zone.
 
Augustana kept the pressure on the Minot quarterback, recording three sacks for 22 yards. Jacob Ludwig, Andrew Henrich and Joel DeHaai all recorded a sack on the day as AU totaled eight tackles for loss. T.J. Liggett was the defensive leader with six tackles, five of them marked solo. Buckley recorded five solo tackles while Luke Fritsch and Seth Baker each totaled four tackles.

The Vikings travel to Bismarck, North Dakota, for a Saturday contest with UMary in Week Two. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. Action can be found at GoAugie.com/Live or on the GoAugie app, presented by CellOnly, found in the app store and Google Play.