Senior Tanner Cooper had two interceptions for 111 yards and one touchdown and the Wayne State defense came up with big stops late in the game to hand #12 Augustana its first loss of the season 14-12 on a snowy Saturday afternoon in the 34^th annual Egg Bowl Northern Sun Conference football game played at Bob Cunningham Field.  WSC improves to 6-3 and 5-3 in the NSIC while the Vikings are 8-1 and 7-1.
            Weather conditions dictated play for both teams.  Several bad snaps resulted in poor field position for Wayne State midway through the first quarter and a bad snap on a punt in the end zone resulted in an Augustana safety giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead at the 6:30 mark of the opening quarter.
            Late in the first quarter, Cooper intercepted Augustana quarterback Casey Bauman at the WSC 16 and appeared to have an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown, but the score was nullified thanks to a blind block that gave the 'Cats the ball at the Viking 47.
            Five plays later and on the first play of the second quarter, Wildcat quarterback Nick Bohn fired a 31-yard scoring strike to sophomore Kendrick Watkins-Hogue giving Wayne State a 7-2 lead with 14:55 to play second quarter.
            Later in the second quarter, Augustana started a drive at the WSC 41 and Cooper stepped in front of another Bauman pass and this time raced 64 yards for an interception touchdown return pushing the Wildcat advantage to 14-2 at halftime.
            The third quarter was dominated by both defenses with one combined first down gained by the two teams with Augustana gaining 38 yards while holding the 'Cats to -12 yards on 11 offensive plays.
            Augustana started to gain some momentum offensive in the fourth quarter and scored their first offensive points of the game with 10:18 to play in the fourth quarter when running back Jarod Epperson found the end zone on a three-yard rush to cap a 60-yard drive for the Vikings.  Wayne State's lead was 14-9 following the score.
            Following a three and out by the Wildcats, Augustana took over at their own 38 and marched to the WSC 12.  But the 'Cats defense stopped the Vikings and forced a 32-yard field goal by Jake Pecina cutting the Wildcat advantage to 14-12 with 3:55 remaining.
            Neither team was able to move the ball in the final four minutes and Wayne State sealed the win with an interception by redshirt freshman Joe Morrison with 47 seconds to play and the 'Cats finished with a 14-12 victory.
            Augustana outgained Wayne State in the contest 289-20.  The Vikings rushed for 147 and threw for 142 while WSC was held to -23 yards rushing and 43 passing.
            Watkins-Hogue led WSC in rushing with two carries for 21 yards and was the top WSC receiver with three catches for 40 yards. 
            Throwing the ball, Nick Bohn was 5 of 13 for 43 yards and one touchdown.
            Defensively, Tanner Cooper had two interceptions for 111 return yards and one score along with one breakup and was named Egg Bowl MVP.
            Junior linebackers Dexter Larsen and Tyler Leclair had 15 and 13 tackles respectively.  Freshman defensive lineman Luke Lambert added six stops with one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
            Augustana's Egg Bowl Game MVP was Epperson, who ran for 92 yards on 24 carries and one score while adding a team-high three catches for 45 yards. 
            The Wildcats will be on the road next weekend visiting Sioux Falls in a 1 p.m. contest.