SIOUX FALLS, S.D. ---  Augustana wideout Tyler Schulte hauled in a 36-yard touchdown reception with 25.8 seconds remaining to turn a 13-10 Augustana deficit into a 17-13 victory for the eighth-ranked Vikings in front of 4,247 fans in Kirkeby-Over Stadium on the campus of the Augustana College.

The Vikings – who missed a 43-yard field goal with two minutes and 56 left – forced the Mavericks to punt with a 1:18 remaining to set up the game winning drive.

“I am very proud of the way our guys played today,” said head coach Todd Hoffner. “I thought everyone put their heart and soul into this game, it just wasn’t meant to be.”

The Mavericks spent most of the first quarter in Augustana territory however came up empty on the scoreboard. The Mavericks picked up eight first downs in the opening quarter and gained 85 yards on the ground.

Minnesota State cracked the scoreboard early in the second quarter when sophomore kicker Sam Brockshus punched in a 19-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 42-yard drive that chewed up five minutes and 36 seconds.

Augustana answered MSU’s field goal with one of its own as Drew Behrens hit on a 26-yard kick with 6:54 remaining in the half.

Minnesota State drove into Augustana territory midway through the second quarter before Micah Nordin
gathered an errant pass by senior quarterback Steve Pachan, giving Augustana a 1^st and 10 from its own 25 yardline. Three plays later, Josh Hanson turned a broken pass play into a 71 yard touchdown pass. Behrens extra point was good and Augustana took a 10-3 lead with 1:38 remaining in the first half.

Pachan rebounded nicely and engineered the two-minute drill to perfection. Pachan found sophomore wideout Adam Thielen for a 30-yard pass to the AC one-yardline. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Pachan found sophomore wideout Dennis Carter in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Brockshus added the extra point and the score was tied entering the halftime break.

After a scoreless third quarter the Mavericks scored the first points of the fourth quarter when Brockshus hit on a 24-yard field goal with 9:15 remaining. The field goal was set up on a 41-yard reception by Thielen pushing MSU deep into Viking territory.

Junior running back Taylor Brookins led the Mavericks on the ground rushing 21 times for 88 yards. Pachan finished 10-of-25 for 143 yards and a touchdown while Thielen led MSU with two catches for 71 yards. Carter hauled in five passes for 36 yards and a score.

Defensively, senior linebacker Dan Fehlberg led MSU with 12 tackles including six which were solo. He also had a forced fumble, half a tackle for a loss and a pass break-up.

Schulte finished the game with three passes for 85 yards and also rushed three times for 11 yards and was 2-of-4 for 22 yards passing. 

Augustana ended the game with 369 yards of total offense compared to MSU’s 201. The Vikings gained 226 on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per rush.