Wayne State 10 Augustana 7

            Wayne State used 10 first quarter points and a defense that stopped Augustana three times inside the red zone as Wildcats defeated Augustana College 10-7 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference football played at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Both teams are now 2-3 overall and 2-3 in the NSIC while Wayne State posted a fourth straight win over Augustana and fifth victory over the Vikings in the last six years.
            The Wildcats got off to a quick start, scoring 10 first quarter points.  WSC scored on their second possession of the game as redshirt freshman Tyler Basch booted a 36-yard field goal giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 5:06 to play in the first quarter.
            Following an Augustana punt, Wayne State used a big pass play to strike for a quick score as redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Osborn hooked up with junior wide receiver Adam Stark on an 80-yard scoring play to pad the Wildcat lead to 10-0 with 1:30 to go in the first quarter. 
            Wayne State's defense then came up big in the second quarter, stopping two Augustana scoring drives inside the red zone to hold the Vikings scoreless both times. 
            Early in the second quarter, Augustana put together an 18 play, 60-yard drive that used 7:19 on the clock and moved the ball from the  Augustana 20 to the WSC 20, but Gabe Dunn missed wide right on a 37 yard field goal to keep Wayne State's lead at 10-0.
            Following a WSC punt, Augustana put together another scoring drive moving from their own 49 to the Wildcat 16, but Dunn was wide left on a 34-yard field goal with just 20 seconds to play in the first half giving WSC a 10-0 lead at halftime.
            The third quarter saw neither team generate much offensively as Wayne State held the Vikings to zero yards forcing Augustana to punt three times while WSC gained 50 yards and had to punt three times with other drive resulting in an interception, the lone Wildcat turnover of the game.
            Early in the fourth quarter, Augustana moved the ball into the Wildcat red zone for a third time, but Wayne State defensive back Ben Radel intercepted a Trey Heid pass in the end zone for a touchdown to stop the Vikings again.
            After Augustana forced a three and out on the Wildcats, the Vikings moved the ball from their own 39 and scored on a Heid one yard run to cap an eight play, 61 yard drive, trimming the WSC lead to 10-7 with 3:46 to play in the game. 
            On their next drive, Wayne State was able to collect two first downs and take time off the clock before the drive stalled, forcing a WSC punt from the Augustana 49.  Senior Sean McClure came up with a key 40-yard punt as WSC downed the ball at the Augie nine with just 24 seconds left.  Wayne State was able to force two incomplete passes and a completed pass on the final play of the game for no gain as the Wildcats sealed the 10-7 win.
            Augustana outgained Wayne State in the contest 294-224 with the Wildcats gaining 116 yards in the pivotal first quarter.  WSC had 36 yards rushing and 188 passing while the Vikings gained 154 yards on the ground and 140 passing.  Senior Charlie Davidson was the top rusher for Wayne State with 53 yards on 26 carries.  Redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Osborn completed 11 of 21 passes for 188 yards with one touchdown and one interception.  Tonev Abraham was the top Wildcat receiver with four catches for 52 yards while Adam Stark added two receptions for 89 yards and one TD.
            Junior linebacker Nick Monzu led the Wayne State defense with 11 tackles followed by sophomore linebacker Nathan Scott with 10.  Abram Walker was credited with a forced fumble that was recovered by Austan Pomajzl while Ben Radel recorded an interception.  Sophomore linebacker Zach Bierman added nine tackles, three pass breakups and one sack. 
            Wayne State will be at home next Saturday hosting Southwest Minnesota State in an NSIC South Division clash with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.