BROOKINGS, S.D. - A total of 19,376 fans watched the Augustana Viking football team prove that they can compete with the best after falling 24-3 against back-to-back defending FCS National Champion South Dakota State. The attendance was the second largest crowd in the history of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, S.D.

Defenses stood tall for two of the top defenses at their respective levels. The Vikings picked off a pair of passes, one by Logan Leonard and one by Peyton Buckley, from reigning FCS Player of the Year Mark Gronowski while bottling him up throughout the night. The difference came in the run game as the Jackrabbits outgained the Vikings 236-24 on the ground.

The Vikings opened the game with a bang as Jack Detert laid the lumber on the opening kickoff, forcing a fumble that would be recovered by Kael Ryan to set AU up in the red zone. Four plays later, Jake Pecina split the uprights to take a 3-0 lead within the first two minutes of action.

The Jackrabbits followed with a six-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-3 lead. After a Viking punt, Leonard snatched possession back with an interception on a deep ball to give AU some life. The first quarter continued with a punt fest that included an interception mixed in, keeping that score into the second quarter.

Early in the second, SDSU punched in a score from a yard out to extend their lead to 14-3. The Vikings countered with a march inside the 15-yard line behind big runs and facemask penalties from Jarod Epperson and Rashad Lampkin but a tough spot and a bad snap concluded the drive without points.

An SDSU punt led to another long drive from AU but a pass on 4th and 3 fell incomplete inside the Jackrabbit 40-yard line resulting in a turnover on downs. SDSU followed with a field goal on their final possession of the half to take a 17-3 lead into the locker room.

A three-and-out from the Vikings opened the second half led to a Jackrabbit drive that made it to the AU 21-yard line. On 4th and 2, Haden Wallace stonewalled SDSU to force a turnover on downs, keeping the Vikings in the game.

The Vikings would go three-and-out and the Jackrabbits marched back down the field before punching in a touchdown to grow their lead to 24-3.

Evan Bearth entered the game for his collegiate debut in the third quarter. After a slow start, he completed six straight passes over the course of two possessions for 84 yards to move the Vikings into field goal range, but a missed kick kept the score at 24-3 with 8:08 to play.

In an effort to milk the clock, SDSU ran 10 plays over the course of six minutes but Buckley put an end to it, picking off Gronowski and returning it 39 yards to the 50 yard line to give the Vikings the ball for their final drive.

Leonard led all players with 10 tackles including seven solo. Buckley added eight and Wallace totaled seven. JayVian Farr had three tackles and the only tackle for loss. TJ Murray recorded a pass breakup while Will Davis and Ty Polson each had a QB hurry.

Isaiah Huber led the receiving corps with five catches for 53 yards. Canyon Bauer added five catches for 37 yards and Max Minor had a pair of catches for 26 yards. Two Vikings threw multiple passes as Bearth finished with 92 yards on 8 of 17 passing and Thomas Scholten went 12 for 18 with 55 yards as the starter.

The Vikings return to NSIC play on Saturday, September 21 when they open their home slate against Northern State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.