Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.— Wheaton took advantage of two short fields to put 10 third-quarter points on the board Saturday, pulling out a 20-13 victory over Augustana at Lindberg Stadium. The Vikings, who came up just shy in their Homecoming bid to upset the nation's 18th-ranked team, fall to 1-4 on the year and 0-2 in the CCIW. The Thunder improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
 
Wheaton's Sam Cote provided the only points of the first quarter, converting a 25-yard field goal with 3:53 left in the period. Cote's kick capped a six-play, 18-yard drive that started at the Augustana 26-yard line after a Viking punt from deep in their own territory.
 
A 15-yard Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) scramble on third-and-one keyed Augustana's next possession, which ended when the junior quarterback threaded the needle on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Owens (Naperville North HS, Chicago, Ill.). The 12-play, 75-yard march took 5:26 off the clock and gave the hosts a 6-3 lead with 13:21 remaining in the half. Conner Murray's (Conifer HS, Morrison, Colo.) point after attempt was blocked.
 
An interception by senior Bo Goshorn (Romeoville HS, Romeoville, Ill.) on Wheaton's next possession set up another Viking scoring drive. It lasted just one play, as freshman running back Austin Chausse (Nokomis HS, Nokomis, Ill.) went around left end and galloped 58 yards to the end zone. Murray's point after put Augustana on top 13-3 with 9:57 left in the half.
 
The Thunder answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 16-yard Andrew Bowers-to-Matt Mitchell touchdown pass which cut the deficit to 13-10 with Cote's extra point. With three seconds left before halftime, Cote lined up for a 53-yard field goal attempt which would have tied the game. However, Goshorn got a hand on his kick and the Vikings went to the locker room with a 13-10 advantage.
 
On the opening possession of the second half, Augustana's defense forced a Wheaton three-and-out and the Vikings took over at their own 40-yard line following a Cote punt. After two short rushes, an incomplete pass and back-to-back false start penalties, Augustana faced a fourth-and-15 from its own 35. Out of punt formation, defensive end Brandon Stiers (Deer Creek-Mackinaw HS, Mackinaw, Ill.) took a direct snap and went around the right end. He was stopped after a gain of five yards and the visitors took over on downs. A 15-yard interference penalty on the Vikings followed by a half-the-distance unsportsmanlike conduct call gave the Thunder the ball at the Augustana 12-yard line, but Coach Rob Cushman's defense rose to the occasion, holding Wheaton to another Cote field goal which tied the game at 13-13 with 9:55 left in the third.
 
Each team had a three-and out on its next possession, but the Vikings muffed Cote's punt and the Thunder's Wes Cannonier recovered at the Augustana seven-yard line. Two plays later Bowers went in from a yard out to give the visitors the lead. Cote's point after made it 20-13 Wheaton.
 
The hosts mounted one more serious threat. After a Murray punt pinned the Thunder at their own three and the Viking defense forced another three-and-out, Frasco and company took over at the Wheaton 46 with eight minutes left. They eventually reached the Thunder eight-yard line before a chop block penalty pushed them back to the 23. After a nine-yard completion to Owens, on third-and-22, Frasco's fourth down throw to Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) fell incomplete. The Vikings had one final possession, but turned it over on downs.
 
Augustana outgained Wheaton 293-229 in the contest and the Viking defense held the Thunder to just 68 rushing yards on 36 carries. Chausse ran for a game-high 96 yards on 11 carries in his first extensive varsity action of the season. Senior Benjamin Hodges (St. Charle North HS, Elburn, Ill.) added 45 of Augustana's 171 rushing yards. Frasco ended up 16 of 28 through the air for 122 yards and a touchdown. Senior Kyle Frake (Central HS, Clifton, Ill.) caught five passes for 67 yards.
 
Sophomore linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and senior safety Tim Maroder (Burlington Central HS, Elgin, Ill.) had eight tackles each on defense, while senior defensive end Thomas Enke (Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.) had seven stops, including team highs of six solo tackles, 2½ tackles for loss and 1½ sacks.
 
The Vikings are back in action on Saturday, October 18, traveling to Bloomington, Illinois to take on Illinois Wesleyan. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.