Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.: Augustana College, ranked No 5 in the latest NCAA regional rankings, used several big plays in the second quarter and scored a late fourth quarter touchdown to earn a 39-20 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The loss spoiled a record day for SMSU quarterback Josh Shudlick who completed a school record 40 passes on 61 attempts and passed for a career-high 451 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first SMSU quarterback to pass for over 400 yards since Sept. 3, 1994. The 451 yards is the seventh highest total in school history.
Augustana with the victory maintains a share of the NSIC South Division lead with a 3-0 division record while improving to 5-1 in the conference and 5-2 overall. SMSU drops to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the NSIC including 2-2 in the South Division.
After Augustana took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter the Southwest Minnesota State offense answered back with its longest drive of the season moving the ball 86 yards on 10 plays capped by a Josh Shudlick 43-yard touchdown pass to Derek Townsend.
The SMSU defense forced AC to set up for a punt on its next possession but on fourth and eight the Vikings ran a fake punt and punter Ryan Grossman ran 18 yards for the first down keeping its drive alive. The Vikings finished the drive scoring on a Luke Butler 10-yard scoring pass to Tyler Schulte with 13:41 left in the first half to give AC a 9-7 lead.
The Vikings would score three more touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 29-7 lead before SMSU rallied back with another score as Shudlick connected with Wade McDonough on a 57-yard pass to trim the Viking lead to 29-14 with 2:08 left in the half. Tyler Reed intercepted a Viking pass on its next possession and SMSU drove inside the AC 20-yard line in the final minute of the half but Shudlick was intercepted and Augustana took a 29-14 halftime lead.
The defense was stepped up by both teams in the second half and SMSU had plenty of chances to cut the AC lead to less than once score in the final quarter.
After Augustana booted a 30-yard field goal with 9:10 left in the third quarter SMSU once again drove inside the Vikings' 20-yard line but Scott Talcott missed a 30-yard field goal to keep the AC lead at 32-14. SMSU would cut into the lead midway through the fourth quarter as Shudlick found McDonough for a 13-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 32-20 with 7:37 left in the game.
The Mustang defense stopped the Viking offense on downs at the SMSU 40-yard line with just over five minutes left in the game. SMSU almost scored again as Shudlick nearly completed a long touchdown pass to McDonough as his pass attempt just fell off the finger tips of McDonough at the six-yard line. Shudlick was intercepted on the next pass to seal the victory for Augustana. The Vikings added a final score on a 39-yard pass with 1:10 left in the game to push the final margin to 39-20.
Blake Wilson and Zach Wysong each finished with a team-high 10 receptions with Wilson finishing with a career-high 135 yards. It was the first 100-yard receiving game by an SMSU player this season.
Reed led the Mustang defense with a game-high 10 tackles.
SMSU will continue its road trip next Saturday, Oct. 18 with conference game at Concordia-St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. at Griffin Stadium.
