MINOT, N.D. - Jarod Epperson collected 224 total yards and inched closer to the program's all-time rushing record as the Augustana football team pushed past Minot State 20-7 on Saturday afternoon at Herb Parker Stadium. 

The win moves the Vikings to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC while the Beavers move to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the NSIC. 

Epperson took 22 carries for 151 yards on the ground and caught three passes for 64 yards in the victory. He now has 3,544 rushing yards in his career, moving within 79 of the leading mark. Today also marked his 16th game of 100-plus rushing yards. 

The run game was stellar for the Vikings as they totaled 256 total yards on 28 carries. Rashad Lampkin took 10 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown while Gunnar Hensley added 50 yards on four carries and a score. Hensley also finished 9 of 17 for 93 yards in the passing game. 

The defense was stellar, holding the Beavers to a season-low 190 yards on the ground. Haden Wallace led all defenders with 14 tackles, including 10 solo and a tackle for loss. Peyton Buckley had another all-around performance, racking up 10 tackles and a pair of tackles for loss. Gradee Sherman also recovered a fumble.

Minot State took the first drive of the game to their own 45-yard line but Payton Buckley sent them back a yard on a fourth and two to set up the first Viking drive of the day. It only took three plays to cash it in as an Epperson six-yard rush and six-yard completion to Matt Francis gave the Vikings a first down before Hensley catapulted for a 32-yard touchdown run to give AU a 7-0 lead. 

The defense was able to keep the Beavers out of the end zone on the next drive, forcing a 34-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the quarter that would get left short and set the Vikings up at their own 20-yard line. 

It only took the Vikings eight plays to double their lead. After Hensley stepped up and gained a yard while avoiding a sack, Epperson took two of the next three plays for 20 rushing yards and a pair of first downs. After a holding penalty, Henlsey ran for 12 yards and Epperson ran for 46 yards to get the Vikings inside the six before Lampkin plowed ahead to close the drive with 1:50 left in the quarter to give AU a 14-0 lead. 

After six consecutive punts, The Beavers got inside the AU 23 before a fumble on second down was recovered by Sherman and flipped possession just before half. The Vikings went 37 yards in the final 1:21 of the half but a third and 10 pass to the end zone fell incomplete to keep the score at 14-0. 

To open the second half, Augustana muscled their way for a 12-yard 75-yard field goal drive. The Vikings threw one pass that was wiped away by penalty while running through the teeth of the defense before a 29-yarder from Pecina extended the Viking lead to 17-0. The Beavers scored a touchdown late in the third to cut their deficit to 17-7 into the fourth quarter. 

The Vikings completed their final scoring drive of the day to open the fourth quarter, going 64 yards on 10 plays before a Pecina 28-yard field goal brought the game to its final score. 

Augustana returns home next Saturday for a matchup with Winona State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.