SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Jarod Epperson became the all-time career rushing yards leader while head coach Jerry Olszewski moved into a tie with Jim Heinitz atop the all-time wins list as Augustana shut out Winona State 31-0 on Saturday afternoon at Kirkeby-Over Stadium. 

The Vikings closed the day 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC while the Warriors fell to 3-4, 3-3. 

Epperson finished the day with 118 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to pass Joe Clark atop the all-time rushing list. The most remarkable part of the record is he was able to do so on 130 less carries than Clark, bringing his career yards per carry to 5.9 over the course of 46 games. 

Also etching his name into the record books was Jake Pecina. The sophomore kicker from Forney, Texas booted a 54-yard field goal with no time left in the first half, tying him with Lucas Wainman for longest field goal in program history. On Olszewski, he is one of three coaches to win at least 75 games and is now tied with Heinitz with 79 Augustana victories. His .648 win percentage already ranks atop the record books. 

The defense pitched its first shutout of the season as they collected six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four sacks and an interception in a team effort. Kade Lynott led the way with 10 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss while Haden Wallace had eight tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Logan Leonard had the lone interception while Peyton Buckley swarmed the field yet again with five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. 

In the early going, the defense set the tone. After allowing a first down on the second play from scrimmage, Lynott got a stop at the line of scrimmage and Buckley followed with a sack to help stall the WSU offense and forcing a punt. The offense cranked it up from there as Epperson totaled 48 yards in a seven-play, 62-yard touchdown drive that ended with him finding the end zone and putting the Vikings ahead 7-0 with 8:03 to play in the first quarter. 

The Warriors were able to move the ball on their second drive, taking 6:51 of game clock to get to the AU 29 before a missed field goal kept them off the board. After a pair of punts to open the second quarter, WSU looked to be in prime position after a blocked punt gave them the ball at the Viking 28. Three plays later, Isaiah Ryan got his hand on a pass that found the arms of Leonard at the AU 2 to switch possession. 

After an incomplete pass opened the drive, Gunnar Hensley found Isaiah Huber for five yards to give the Vikings some space for a third and five. The field flipped on the next play when Hensley and Jack Fisher connected for an 85-yard catch-and-run to set AU up inside the 10. Epperson finished it there, setting AU up at the two before a bruising two-yard run broke the goal line and doubled the Viking lead at 14-0. 

The teams exchanged punts before the Warriors took the last 1:51 of game time to set themselves up for a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Vikings put an end to the threat as Zach Richardson got a mitt on it and set up a block return. 

Ryan picked it up at the Viking 7 before taking it 22 yards. He was able to get a pitch off to Buckley, who got all the way to the WSU 47 with no time left. With laundry on the field, the refs announced a facemask drawn by Ryan that gave the Vikings an untimed down at the Warrior 32. A delay of game moved the try back five yards before Pecina's record-tying kick sent AU into the locker room with a 17-0 lead. 

The Vikings received the second half kickoff and went right back to work. After a short gain by Hensley, Epperson rewrote the record books with a 35-yard carry that set the Vikings up on WSU's side of the field. On third and seven from the WSU 42 two plays later, Huber took a Hensley pass 27 yards to keep the sticks moving and get the Vikings inside the red zone. After a two-yard run and a sack gave AU a third and 20, Austin Johnston got open over the middle of the field and Hensley found him to increase the lead to 24-0. 

A pair of punts and a Warrior missed field goal gave the Vikings the ball with 4:46 left in the third quarter and set up the final scoring drive of the game. Huber started with an eight yard rush before Epperson strung together runs of five, four and eight for a pair of first downs. Hensley followed with a 22 yard run and Huber added a run of 15 to gash the defense. After the six consecutive runs, Jacob Remmert streaked down the right sideline and Hensley found him for an 18-yard touchdown, the first in Remmert's career, to bring the game to its final score.

The Vikings now look towards a battle of the league's best, taking on Minnesota State on Oct. 26 in Mankato, Minn. Kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.