posted a career-best rushing effort as the Augustana football team posted a Viking Days victory over Minnesota State University, Mankato, defeating the Mavericks 41-38 in overtime Saturday at Howard Wood Field.
With the victory, Augustana improved to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. In addition, the Vikings take over the lead of the NSIC South Division with a 2-0 mark. Minnesota State fell to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC overall standings. In the South Division, MSU fell to 2-1.
One week after posting a personal best 144 yards rushing, Clark bested it again, toting the ball 29 times for 208 yards on the ground, including 173 yards in the first half. He also caught two passes for 22 yards for 230 yards of total offense on the day.
The Vikings outgained the Mavericks in yardage, 489-302, but were plagued by mistakes on special teams. Minnesota State blocked four Augustana kicks, including two field goal attempts.
The Vikings came out of the gates red hot. After holding MSU on its first drive, the Vikings drove 72 yards in 11 plays, 50 of which were accumulated by Clark on the ground, including a 3-yard run to put Augie up 7-0. A 20-yard punt on the next MSU drive gave Augie a short field, and the Vikings took advantage on the first play when
Luke Butler tossed a backwards lateral to
Tyler Schulte, who hit a streaking
Eric Ellingworth for a 33-yard touchdown. Two plays later,
Jason Donnelly intercepted MSU quarterback Ryan Fick and returned it 22 yards to put Augie up 21-0, 10 minutes into the game.
MSU scored its first touchdown midway through the second quarter, but Augie answered when Clark turned a near tackle-for-loss into a 46-yard touchdown scamper to give the Vikings a 28-7 lead. Clark scored again from 24 yards out, and the Vikings found themselves ahead 35-17 at halftime.
In the second half, the Mavericks made their move. MSU blocked an Augie punt that turned into a 20-yard touchdown pass from Fick to Chris Nowlin two plays later. A 14-yard touchdown pass from Fick to Damian Turner brought the Mavericks within five, and on the next Augie possession, Kelvin Rodgers returned a
Ryan Grossman punt 93 yards to give MSU its first lead of the day at 38-35 with 11:58 remaining.
Augustana would regroup and answer. Grossman’s 38-yard field goal at 7:35 tied the game at 38-38.
Matt Lien intercepted an MSU pass, and Augie attempted another field goal, but MSU answered with another block. Both teams failed to score again in regulation, and the game went into overtime.
On Augie’s overtime possession, the Vikings picked up nine yards, and after a successful 33-yard Grossman field goal, led 41-38. MSU was not able to pick up any yards in overtime, and on Grady Derheim’s 42-yard attempt, the snap hit the ground before reaching the holder, bounced away, and the Vikings escaped with a 41-38 victory.
Butler completed 14-of-27 passes for 139 yards.
Jeremy Huber returned to action for the Vikings and tallied 97 yards on 16 carries.
Defensively,
Micah Nordin collected 9 tackles, including 7 solo stops. Lien added 7 tackles and an interception while
Chris Janisch was in on 8 tackles. Donnelly recorded 2 turnovers. Along with his interception he recovered a fumble and was involved in the tackle on the final play of the game.
The Vikings will play at Howard Wood Field again Saturday versus Southwest Minnesota State. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.