Augustana 28, Greenville 7
Edwardsville, Ill. — A combination of the junior David
Lee's accurate, and strong, right arm and a suffocating
defense helped lead the way as Augustana defeated Greenville 28-7
on Friday, September 3. It was the season opener for both clubs and
it was played at Edwardsville High School because work is being
done to Greenville's facility.
Lee completed 20 of 26 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns
without an interception and the Viking defense allowed the Panthers
just 179 yards of total offense in the game. Of those 179 yards, 80
came on one play while Greenville averaged less than two yards per
play on the other 50 offensive snaps.
A year ago Lee ended the 2009 season by breaking Ken
Anderson's school records for single game completions (28 vs.
North Central on November 7) and single game passing yards (422 vs.
Millikin on November 14). He picked up in the 2010 season opener
just where he left off last year. He only misfired on six passes
the entire game and was sacked just once as the Vikings'
offensive line did a fine job in the protection department.
It didn't take very long for Lee to get warmed up. After the
Augustana defense allowed Greenville just four total yards on three
possessions after the opening kickoff, the Vikings took over on
their own 48 yard line. On the very first play of the season Lee
connected with junior wide receiver Zach McCullough for a 52 yard
touchdown. Sophomore Arnie Fitzwater split the uprights and
Augustana led 7-0 before the game, and season, was four minutes
old.
After the defense forced Greenville to punt again, the Panthers
would punt a total of nine times on the night, on the next
possession; Augustana went on a long drive. Starting on their own
18, the Vikings went 79 yards on 16 plays but were turned away on a
fourth and goal situation at the Greenville one. They ate up 8:06
of the clock and Lee was six of six on the drive for 46 yards.
The first quarter ended with the score 7-0 but with 9:20 before
halftime, Augustana began a drive on its own 30 yard line. This
time the Vikings stayed almost exclusively on the ground, going 70
yards in 10 plays with Nate Pena scoring from a yard out with 3:55
left in the half. Lee only attempted one pass on the drive and that
went for 22 yards to junior Jordan Peart. Peart would end the game
with a team high 10 catches for 111 yards.
The half ended with Augustana on top 14-0 and the Vikings drove to
the Greenville 20 to start the third quarter but Fitzwater's
37 yard field goal attempt was wide left. On the Panther's
first play from scrimmage after Fitzwater's miss, quarterback
Nelson Lira connected with Carl Boezeman for an 80 yard touchdown
pass that trimmed the lead to 14-7 with 10:07 left in the third
quarter.
Lee went back to work and led the Vikings on an 89 yard, 11 play
drive that ended with a 10 yard touchdown pass to senior tight end
Keith Abbey. During the drive, Lee was six of six for 70 yards. The
big play in the drive was a 34 yard completion to McCullough that
put the ball on the two yard line.
It was another big play from Lee to McCullough for the final score
of the night as the combination clicked for an 80 yard scoring toss
with 10:49 left in the game. Fitzwater, who was perfect on all four
extra point attempts, added the 28th and final point.
The Augustana defense, with sophomore linebacker Joe Weber leading
the way with seven solo tackles, was superb. Weber also had two
sacks for a total of 24 yards. Greenville was held to just two of
six passing for 80 yards and generated just 99 yards rushing on 45
attempts. Junior linebacker Grant Ollenburger had an interception,
which he returned for 20 yards.
Peart led the team in receptions with 10 for 111 yards and
McCullough caught three passes for 166 yards. Pena led the team in
rushing with 76 yards on 14 attempts as the Vikings gained 149
yards on 37 tries. Senior Alex Schroeder averaged 33.0 yards on
four punts but he placed two inside the 20 yard line.
Augustana will host Central of Iowa on Saturday, September 11 at
6:00 p.m. at Ericson Field.
