Second half surge sends Augustana past MN State

MANKATO, MN (AUGUSTANA) — Jerry Olszewski became the winningest coach in Augustana history where his coaching career began as the No. 25 Augustana Vikings routed No. 13 Minnesota State 34-16 on Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium.

Olszewski, who spent a pair of stints with the Mavericks from 1993-1997 (Linebackers, Quarterbacks, Running Backs) and 1999-02 (Assistant Head Coach), moved to 80-43 as the head coach of the Vikings to pass Jim Heinitz on the program’s all-time wins list.

With the win, Augustana moves into sole possession of first place in the NSIC at 6-2 overall and 6-1 in conference action. The loss moves MSU to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC.

The Vikings were steady offensively, passing for 263 yards and running for 135. Gunnar Hensley was solid, going 24 of 34 for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Jarod Epperson carried the load on the ground, taking 15 carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Eight different receivers caught passes for AU, led by 108 yards on six catches for Jack Fisher .

A stifling defensive effort held down the fort as the Mavericks were held to 21 rushing yards on 23 attempts, including -9 yards on 12 second half carries. Kade Lynott was the leader of the No Name Defense, recording nine tackles, seven solo, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and an interception. Haden Wallace followed with nine tackles, seven solo, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.

The Vikings made a strong impression to open the game as a Gradee Sherman deflection on third down forced an MSU three and out. The offense followed with a statement drive, marching down the field for a 10-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that saw a pair of third down conversions and was capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hensley to Isaiah Huber to give AU a 7-0 lead with 9:35 to play in the first quarter.

A counter attempt by the Mavericks was foiled when a fumble on fourth and one kept them behind the sticks and set the Vikings up on their own 46. The AU offense ran 11 more plays, getting down inside the MSU 10 but would miss a field goal to keep the game at 7-0 with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Each team would punt on their next drive before a 7-play, 70-yard strike in 3:20 of game time put the Mavericks on the board, but a failed two-point play kept AU in front 7-6 with 7:26 left in the first half. The Vikings marched down to the MSU six-yard line but an interception ended the drive and gave the Mavericks a chance to score before halftime. MSU followed with 40 yards in eight plays to kick a field goal and take a 9-7 lead to the break.

To open the second half, Augustana got the ball and kept its foot on the gas the rest of the way. Hensley opened with a 12-yard run before connecting with Canyon Bauer for 20 to bring the ball past midfield.

Epperson picked up another first down with a 10-yard rush before Huber and Max Minor caught passes for six and seven yards to move the chains again. Austin Johnston caught a six yard pass but the Vikings would lose a yard on the next to plays and settle for a Jake Pecina 33-yard field goal to reclaim the lead at 10-9 with 10:20 left in the third.

A quick change of possession came three plays into the ensuing MSU drive when Isaiah Ryan undercut a route for his first interception of the season at the MSU 39. AU struck fast as Hensley connected with Fisher for 21 yards and Bauer got outside the defense and scored from 23 yards out to help grow the Viking lead to 17-9. With 8:02 left in the third quarter.

The next possession would end the same as the last for MSU as Lynott picked off a pass on fourth and three and took it 50 yards to the MSU 30. The tide continued to turn from there as the Vikings needed five plays for Epperson to find the end zone on a 10 yard run to balloon the lead to 24-9 with 2:21 left in the quarter.

If that wasn’t the dagger, the defense provided it on the next drive. MSU looked to cut into the deficit with a 14-play, 63-yard drive that took them as close to the AU 2. Wallace collected a one yard TFL on first down and Myles Taylor had one for a three yard loss to set up third and goal from the six. After a third down pass fell incomplete, Wallace made another impactful play, this time getting his hands on the fourth down pass to force an incompletion and turnover on downs.

AU would go three-and-out before forcing a three-and-out of their own on defense. The difference came with special teams as an errant snap allowed the Vikings to pounce and force a 30-yard loss to get the ball inside the red zone. Another five-play scoring drive ended with an Epperson touchdown, this time from two yards out, to put the game away.

The finishing touches came on a 30-yard field goal from Jake Pecina with 3:31 to play to bring AU to its final score. MSU went and scored a touchdown with the game no longer in the balance to finish the scoring at the 2:03 mark in the fourth.

Augustana returns home for a date with Concordia-St. Paul Saturday, November 2. Kickoff from Kirkeby-Over Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.

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