BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Augustana put together a pair of quick second half drives and added a defensive touchdown to earn a 37-24 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night in Marshall.

The victory was the first of the season for the Vikings, snapping a three-game losing streak and was their 14th straight over SMSU since 1995. Augustana is now 1-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC, while Southwest Minnesota State drops to 1-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC.

Dajon Newell, who came into the game with just five carries, rushed for 105 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries to pace the Vikings. Josh Hanson completed 15 of 23 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

SMSU quarterback Tyler Peschong completed 28 of 54 pass attempts for 314 yards and two touchdown. Britt Wickett led SMSU tying a career-high with seven receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter, SMSU answered with a Peschong 14-yard touchdown pass to Cody Condon to trim the Viking lead to 17-10 with 4:16 remaining in the quarter. The momentum was short lived as Augustana countered one play later as Hanson fired a 64-yard touchdown pass to Sam Holsen to give the Vikings a 24-10 lead.

SMSU was forced to punt on its next possession at its own 33-yard line, but on the snap attempt, the ball sailed over the head of punter Mike Wenk. Wenk then kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone for an apparent safety, but the play was ruled an illegal kick and the Vikings took over at the SMSU 2-yard line. The Vikings scored one play later on a run by Nate Mahone to build a 31-10 lead after three quarters.

Warren Matthews cut the deficit to 31-17 with 10:56 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run.

The SMSU defense forced the Vikings to punt twice in the fourth quarter, but the Mustang offense was not able to take advantage. Augustana put the game away with 3:02 remaining as Dan O'Keefe intercepted Peschong at the Vikings' 41-yard line and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown to make the score 37-17.

SMSU added a final score with 1:54 left in the game on a 36-yard touchdown strike from Peschong to Wickett.

SMSU scored the game's first three points as Wenk drilled a career-long 39-yard field goal with 7:54 left in the opening quarter, but the Vikings came right back with 14 straight points later in the quarter to build a 14-3 halftime lead.

Augustana finished with 431 yards of offense and recorded 20 first downs, while Southwest Minnesota State ended the game with 307 yards and 18 first downs.

Matthews ended the game with 34 yards rushing on nine attempts and one touchdown.

SMSU's John Kersbergen racked up a game-high 11 tackles including three for loss.

Southwest Minnesota State will return to the road next weekend to take on Wayne State (3-1, 3-0 NSIC) in Wayne, Neb., with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.