Wayne State 26 #7 Augustana 14
Wayne State College handed #7 Augustana its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon 26-14 in Northern Sun Conference football played in Wayne, Nebraska. The win in the 22nd annual Egg Bowl Game snapped a three-game losing streak for the Wildcats, now 6-4 overall and 5-4 in the NSIC, while the Vikings, who are also ranked #1 in NCAA Division II Super Region 3, falls to 9-1 and 8-1 in league play. WSC is now 16-6 in Egg Bowl games.
Wayne State's defense shut down the Vikings throughout the game and used great field position to score its first touchdown of the day midway through the first quarter. After forcing Augustana to punt from their own end zone, Frederick Bruno returned a punt 22 yards to give WSC the ball at the Augustana 17 yard line. Two plays later, Pierce sophomore Kevin Paulsen scored on a 13-yard run to put the Wildcats in front 7-0 with 6:40 to play in the first quarter. Later in the first quarter, the Wildcats put together an 11-play, 69 yard drive with Nick Pulscher finding the end zone on a three yard run with 14:49 to go in the second quarter to give Wayne State a 14-0 lead.
Augustana got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter when quarterback Tyler Schulte found Eric Ellingworth on a 12 yard scoring pass to cap a 68 yard drive on eight plays, cutting the Wildcat lead to 14-7 with 2:23 left in the first half.
Defenses dominated in the third quarter with Wayne State coming up big on two series where Augustana started inside the Wildcat 30-yard line each time. On the first series in the third quarter, WSC quarterback Evan Johnson was intercepted by Augustana's Chris Janisch on a tipped pass at the Wildcat 13 yard line setting up the Vikings first and goal at the WSC nine. The WSC defense stopped Augustana on three plays and then Viking placekicker Drew Behrens was wide right on a 28-yard field goal to end the scoring threat. On Wayne State's next series, the Wildcats were forced to punt after three plays and Randy Weich's punt was blocked, recovered by the Vikings at the Wildcat 26-yard line. The Wildcat defense came up big again as WSC stopped Augustana running back Joe Clark on back-to-back plays on 3rd and 1 from the WSC 17 yard line, stopping the Vikings again.
Later in the third quarter, the WSC defense forced a turnover that resulted in points as Ben Perry forced a Joe Clark fumble at the Augustana 20 yard line with Wildcat linebacker Kyle Bertelsen recovering the ball at the Augustana 23 yard line. Three plays later, Wayne State's Nick Bell booted a 35 yard field goal with 15 seconds to go in the third quarter, making the score 17-7.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats got a safety when Augustana was in punt formation and the snap went over the head of Augustana punter Drew Behrens through the end zone for a safety, making the score 19-7 with 14:46 left in the game.
Following the safety, WSC got the ball back and scored again as sophomore quarterback Evan Johnson scored on a one-yard run to culminate a six play, 55 yard drive increasing Wayne State's lead to 26-7 with 11:40 to go in the game. Augustana scored on its next possession as the Vikings drove 72 yards on 10 plays and used a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Schulte to Jordan Marshall to make the score 26-14 with 8:19 to play. Wayne State was able to run the ball and drive down the field while taking time off the clock, moving the ball to the Augustana 15 yard line while using 6:04. Wayne State sealed the win when senior Cole Fischer intercepted an Augustana pass as Wayne State knocked off Augustana College 26-14.
Wayne State had 280 yards of total offense while holding Augustana to just 201. WSC had 172 yards rushing and 108 passing while the Vikings finished with 55 yards rushing and 146 passing. Sophomore running back Nick Pulscher led the Wildcat rushing attack with 102 yards on 23 carries and one score followed by Kevin Paulsen with 34 yards on eight carries and one TD. Evan Johnson completed 12 of 21 passes for 108 yards with one interception. Frederick Bruno, Tommy Warren and Paulsen each had three receptions for WSC.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Benjamin Perry was selected Egg Bowl Most Valuable Player for the Wildcats with 15 tackles, 12 of them solo, with one forced fumble. Kyle Bertelsen added five tackles and a fumble recovery. The Wildcat defense forced three turnovers on the day.
For Augustana College, senior running back Joe Clark was selected Egg Bowl MVP for the Vikings after rushing for 73 yards on 21 carries to go with one reception for 29 yards.
Wayne State conclude the 2010 season next Saturday with a Northern Sun Conference road contest at Winona State starting at 1:00 p.m.
