SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana used a pair of big passing plays in the second half to help pull away and earn a 38-6 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.
 
The Vikings, which improved to 6-0 overall, 5-0 NSIC, held a 17-6 advantage in the opening five minutes of the third quarter and faced a drive starting from their own 2-yard. Following a 31-yard run by Jarrod Epperson, the Vikings' Casey Bauman connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Jack Fisher to push the lead to 24-6.
 
In the fourth quarter, Bauman connected on a 77-yard reception to Jack Fisher down to the SMSU 8-yard line before Jalani Jefferson forced a fumble on the play, but AU's Isaiah Hubur picked up the loose ball at the 5-yard line and sprinted into the end zone for a touchdown.
 
Bauman closed the game completing 14 of 21 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns with Fisher finishing with three receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Vikings finished the game with 465 yards of offense and 20 first downs and while converting 3 for 9 on third-down conversion attempts.
 
The Mustangs (1-5, 1-4 NSIC) closed the day with 221 yards of total offense and collected 13 first downs. Donald Austin rushed for a team-high 72 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and also caught two passes for 15 yards.
 
Marcus Martin threw for 145 yards while completing 16 of 25 pass attempts for the Mustangs. His top target was Peter Osman, who caught seven passes for 38 yards, while Cade Eddington recorded two receptions for a team-high 51 yards.
 
SMSU ended the game 4 of 14 on third-down and was 1 for 2 on fourth-down conversions.
 
Jefferson recorded six solo tackles with one for loss and one forced fumble, while Jordan Ellis had six tackles. Gideon Ervasti added five tackles with the team's lone sack.
 
The game started near perfect for the Vikings on their opening drive as Devon Jones scored on a 27-yard touchdown run with 11:13 left in the first quarter to take a 7-0 advantage. Following a three-and-out by the Mustangs, the Vikings answered right back with Bauman completing an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Logan Uttecht to make the score 14-0 at the 6:31 mark.
 
The SMSU defense stepped up later in the half forcing four Augustana punts, while limiting the Vikings to a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter after the Vikings started the drive at the Mustang 33-yard line.
 
Down 17-0 with just over five minutes left in the half, the SMSU offense caught fire with Martin converting a third-and-seven with a 10-yard pass to Albert Lemon. One play later, Martin lofted a 34-yard pass to Eddington to the AU 33-yard line and following a personal foul on the Vikings, the Mustangs would face first and 10 at the AU 18-yard line. Facing third-and-12 from the 20-yard line, Martin connected once again with Eddington for a first-down reception to the 3-yard line. Moments later, Austin plowed across for a 3-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-6 at halftime.
 
SMSU opened the second half with two first downs, but the drive stalled at the AU 41-yard line before Mason Carver dropped a 39-yard punt to the AU 2-yard line. However, the momentum turned moments later with the game-changing big plays to help the Vikings defeat the Mustangs for the 24^th time in 27 all-time meetings.
 
SMSU returns home for the first time in two weeks taking on Northern State on Oct. 14 for homecoming with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.