BISMARCK, N.D. - For the second time in three weeks, Gunnar Hensley found Cody Oswald in the rain for a game-winning touchdown to lift the Augustana football team to victory. This afternoon, Oswald fought through contact for a 19-yard grab with 17 seconds remaining to boost the No. 11-ranked Vikings (3-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC) to a 21-20 win over UMary (1-2, 0-2) on Saturday afternoon at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.

Oswald finished the day with 94 yards on four receptions, including 59 yards on a pair of catches on the final drive, while Klayton Sattler had six catches for 60 yards and his first career touchdown. Isaiah Huber added 59 receiving yards on six catches while Gunnar Hensley threw for 251 yards, 156 in the final quarter, on 21 of 35 passing with a pair of touchdowns. 

Logan Leonard led all defenders with eight tackles, seven solo, and recovered a fumble. Quinton Adams flew around the field, racking up seven tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Jack Detert tallied his first career sack while Kael Ryan had seven tackles. 

UMary struck first in the closing minutes of the first quarter, finishing a seven play, 87-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown strike to take a 7-0 lead. After an AU punt, the Marauders opened the second quarter with a 73-yard touchdown drive to take a 14-0 advantage. With 3:25 remaining in the first half, UMary split the uprights from 28 yards out to grow its lead to 17-0. 

In the final stages of the first half, the Vikings settled for another punt to give the Marauders the ball back with 2:28 to play. The tide looked to turn on third down when Gradee Sherman was blocked to the flat, putting him in perfect position for an interception to set the Vikings up at the UMary 30 with 1:48 remaining. Five plays later, Gunnar Hensley found Klayton Sattler for his first career touchdown reception, cutting the deficit to 17-7 at halftime. 

 The Marauders moved right down the field to open the second half, going 46 yards in 10 plays before a crushing hit from Adams popped the ball loose. Leonard came up with the recovery and gave the Vikings the ball back at their own 6 yard line.  

The Vikings would go 28 yards on the ensuing possession before a bobbled snap on a punt attempt allowed UMary to take over at the AU 34. The defense bent but didn't break, forcing a field goal to go down 20-7 with 1:20 left in the third quarter. 

Four consecutive punts made the chances of a comeback look grim as the Vikings took over on their own 33 with 6:21 to play trailing 20-7. On third and 10, Hensley connected with Sattler for 22 yards before a facemask penalty gave AU the ball at the UMary 30. He then found Oswald for 26 yards and Ryan Kenny plowed into the end zone two plays later to make it 20-14 with 4:32 to play. 

UMary took over and got all the way to the Viking 41 yard line while bleeding 3:37 off the clock but an Isaak Sipple tackle on third and 10 stopped the Marauders short of a first down and forced a punt. The punt gave AU the ball at their own 16 yard line with 55 seconds left. 

Hensley surgically brought the Vikings down the field, starting with a 14 yard completion on a tunnel screen to Huber before another connection between the two got AU out of bounds at their own 41. Hensley moved the pocket on the next play, firing downfield for a 40-yard connection to Oswald before clocking the ball with 22 seconds to go. On the next play, Hensley found Oswald for the game winning touchdown, completed on a Jake Pecina extra point, to keep the Vikings undefeated. 

The Vikings continue their road slate next Saturday, Sept. 20, traveling to Bemidji State for a 1 p.m. kickoff.