Central 28, Augustana 23
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — School-record tying performances from
David Lee and Ben Hall weren't quite enough Saturday night as
Augustana fell to Central 28-23 at Ericson Field. Lee tied his own
school record for completions in a game with 28 and Hall came away
with three interceptions. The loss evens Augustana's record
at 1-1 while Central—the 7th-ranked team in NCAA Division
III—improves to 2-0.
The Dutch took the opening kickoff and drove 54 yards, but
Augustana's scrappy defense stopped quarterback Nate Snead
just short on a fourth-and-two and the Viking 26.
After Augustana went three-and-out, Central took over at midfield
and on third down Hall came up with his first interception of the
night. Unfortunately, Central forced another Viking three-and-out
before going on an eight-play, 49-yard drive capped off by a
22-yard touchdown run by Snead. Jake Viggers point after made it
7-0 Central with just over two minutes left in the first
quarter.
The Vikings did manage a first down on their next drive but were
then forced to punt and the Dutch went on another drive, going 72
yards in 12 plays before Augustana again stiffened and stopped
Snead on fourth-and-one at the Viking three.
Neither team could do much on each of its next two drives with
Augustana, pinned deep in its own territory, going three-and out
twice while both of Central's drives ended with Snead
throwing interceptions. The Dutch signal caller, who threw only
three picks all last year in an all-conference season, would throw
four on this night. He was picked off by Matt Glawe and again by
Hall in the second quarter.
After Hall's second interception, which he returned 20 yards
to the Central 42-yard line, the Vikings put together their first
scoring drive of the night. After a false start wiped out a 24-yard
completion to Zach McCullough, Lee completed four of five passes
for 53 yards, capped off by a 28-yard strike to McCullough which
tied the game at 7-7 with Arnie Fitzwater's point after.
That's the way the half would end, although the Vikings
needed John Mago to make a touchdown-saving tackle on the final
play of the half when Snead's "Hail Mary" attempt
was tipped and caught by Brett Wilkin inside the Augustana 10-yard
line.
Probably the key play in the game occurred on the Vikings'
opening drive of the second half. On fourth and one from the
Augustana 33, Alex Schroeder attempted to run for the first down
out of the rugby-style punt formation. However, Central forced him
to reverse field and ended up dropping him for a 15-yard loss on
the play.
It took the Dutch six plays and over four minutes to go the 18
yards, but Nate Snead finally found Jeremy Snead on a fade route
from the Augustana four to put the Dutch back on top 14-7.
Augustana drove 66 yards before missing a field goal, but on the
ensuing possession, Central snapped the ball over punter Kurtis
Brondyke's head and out of the back of the end zone for a
safety, cutting the lead to 14-9. After forcing another Augustana
three-and-out, the Dutch put together a nine-play, 64-yard drive
capped by another Snead touchdown run—this one from 13
yards—on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it
21-9.
Lee and McCullough hooked up again from 21 yards out with 5:44
left in the game, cutting the Dutch lead to 21-16, but the Vikings
gave up another back-breaking play on Central's next drive.
On third-and-11 from his own 39, Nate Snead found Jeremy Snead down
the right sideline for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 28-16 with
just 2:48 remaining.
Once again the Vikings, who completely abandoned the running game
in the second half, answered back with an 11-play, 66-yard drive
which ended with Corbett Ball grabbing a tipped Lee pass in the end
zone with 37 seconds left. However, that would be the team's
last gasp as Central was able to run out the clock and claim a
hard-fought road victory.
Lee finished with 28 completions in 46 attempts and 314 passing
yards. He threw for three touchdowns without an interception for
the second game in a row. Kyle Hundman caught nine passes for 74
yards while Ball added seven receptions for 91 yards. Hall's
three interceptions matched a school record that has now been
achieved 12 times. Mago and Glawe were the Vikings' leading
tacklers with 11 and nine, respectively.
The Dutch defense shut down the Viking ground game to the tune of
-32 yards. Lee was sacked five times for 32 yards in losses.
Central end Shane Wong was a terror all night. He had six tackles
including three-and-a-half for 25 yards in losses and was in on
four sacks. Nate Snead threw for 249 yards and a pair of scores,
but was really more of a threat on the ground with 100 yards and
two touchdowns on 24 carries.
Next Saturday, the Vikings are back on the road, traveling to
Adrian, Michigan for a contest with the Adrian Bulldogs. Kickoff is
scheduled for noon central time.
