Box Score
The Augustana football team won its fourth straight game Saturday, defeating Upper Iowa, 40-7, in Fayette, Iowa. The Vikings have scored 39+ points in all four wins, and in five of eight games this season.
Augustana retains first place in the NSIC South, and moves to 6-2 overall on the season and 6-1 in the NSIC. Upper Iowa falls to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in conference play.
The Vikings wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. After punting on its opening possession, Augustana scored on its next five drives to open up a 33-0 lead that it would not relinquish. In the first half, the Vikings accumulated 313 yards of offense, and held the Peacocks to 46 yards.
Luke Butler, who went 10-of-20 for 163 yards in one half of play, completed a 48-yard touchdown pass to
Sam Holsen to put Augie on the board, 6-0, at 10:17 in the first quarter. A short field gave the Vikings another quick opportunity to score, when
Jason Donnelly kicked a 29-yard field goal to push the lead to 9-0.
The Vikings had a balanced offensive attack, finishing with 227 rushing yards and 202 passing yards.
Joe Clark and
Jeremy Huber split most of the rushing duties. Clark rushed 16 times for 89 yards and two 1-yard touchdown runs, his first coming with 1:03 remaining in the opening quarter to push the lead to 16-0, and then again in the second to push the lead to 30. Huber carried 11 times for 96 yards, and scored from 31 yards out late in the third quarter for the final touchdown of the game.
The Viking defense played havoc on Upper Iowa all afternoon. The Vikings sacked Upper Iowa quarterback Ben Curren five times, including three by
Mike Vanasek, who also had a career-high eight tackles and two forced fumbles.
Andrew Keel led the Vikings with a career-high 15 tackles, with one fumble forced and one recovered.
Eric Johnson recovered and returned a fumble 11 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter, giving Augie a 23-0 lead.
The Vikings return home next Saturday for their home finale against Wayne State. The game is at Howard Wood Field and kicks off at 1 p.m.