Wayne State built a 38-17 lead, then held back a late Augustana rally to beat the #13 Vikings 38-31 Saturday afternoon at Bob Cunningham Field to capture a share of the NSIC South Division football title in the 36^th annual Egg Bowl Game.  The 'Cats end the season on a four-game winning streak and finish 7-4 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC South while the Vikings are 9-2 and 4-2 in division play.
            The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions of the game to take an early 14-0 lead.  Sophomore running back Brennan Hayes capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 43-yard scamper putting WSC in front 7-0.
            After forcing a second three and out on the Vikings, WSC took the next drive 70 yards on 11 plays with Hayes finding paydirt on a four-yard rush giving the 'Cats a 14-0 lead with 3:27 to play in the first quarter.
            Augustana then charged back in the second quarter with a pair of scoring passes from quarterback Rich Lucero Jr. to Isaiah Huber to even the score.  The first TD was a 23-yard strike at the 11:55 mark with the second coming off a Wildcat turnover when the two teamed up on a 20-yard scoring strike with 4:29 to play before halftime.
            Wayne State was able to capitalize on a late Augustana interception and score right before intermission to regain the lead.  Brayden Chaney intercepted Lucero Jr. at the WSC 44 with just 43 seconds left before halftime.
            On the ensuing play, Bennett Dannenbring fired a 56-yard scoring pass to Alex Phelps giving the Wildcats a 21-14 lead at halftime.
            Augustana scored to open the second half as Jake Pecina booted a 57-yard field goal, trimming the WSC lead to 21-17 with 12:41 to play in the third quarter for the only scoring.
            Wayne State countered with a field goal by Boston Hensley from 39 yards out, giving the 'Cats a 24-17 lead.
            Later in the quarter, WSC drove 73 yards on nine plays with Hayes finding the end zone for a third time on a two-yard run to extend Wayne State's lead to 31-17 with 7:41 to play.
            Nine seconds later, the 'Cats added another score as Chaney intercepted an Lucero Jr. pass for the second time and raced 29 yards for the touchdown giving the 'Cats a 38-17 lead.
            The Vikings responded quickly, driving 75 yards in just four plays with Lucero Jr. finding Neal May on a 38-yard scoring pass to cut the WSC lead to 38-24.
            Following an onside kick recovered by Augustana, the Vikings scored again on a Mack Molander one-yard run and it was a 38-31 game with 3:11 to play.
            Wayne State was able to get a pair of key first downs on the final drive of the game, thanks to runs of 26 yards by Hayes and a key 4^th and 1 conversion to gain three yards to seal the 38-31 win.
            Wayne State outgained Augustana in the contest 444-274.  The 'Cats had 345 yards rushing and 99 passing while the Vikings had 56 yards on the ground and 218 passing.
            Redshirt junior Dawson Forgy ran the ball 27 times for 161 yards, setting a new single season rushing record with 1,400 yards to break the previous mark of 1,360 set by Elroy Brown in the 1999 season.  He was named Egg Bowl Most Valuable Player for WSC.  Hayes added 134 yards on 24 carries and three scores.
            Throwing the ball, Dannenbring was 4 of 13 for 91 yards and one TD.  Phelps was Wayne State's top receiver with three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. 
            Defensively, senior linebacker Alex Kowalczyk had 16 tackles.  Chaney added two interceptions including a 29-yard return for touchdown. 
            Augustana's Egg Bowl Most Valuable Player was kicker Jake Pecina.  He booted a 57-yard field goal, averaged 45.3 yards on seven punts and executed a successful onside kick that led to a Vikings score.