Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Mount St. Joseph scored on four of its first five possessions Saturday and went on to claim a 58-25 win over Augustana at Schueler Field. The Vikings start off 0-1 and the Lions are now 1-0 after the season opener for both teams.
 
The hosts took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in six plays—all on the ground—for the go-ahead touchdown. Denzell Norvell took it in from 17 yards out and Shane Kelly's point after gave the Lions a 7-0 lead. Augustana went three-and-out on its first two possessions and a 79-run by freshman quarterback Greg Simpson set up MSJ's next score, a 19-yard Kelly field goal.
 
The Vikings cut the deficit to 10-6, going 65 yards in five plays—all rushes by Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.)—for a touchdown with 2:35 left in the first quarter. The junior quarterback finished off the drive with a one-yard scoring run, but the point after attempt by freshman kicker Jacob Stytz (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) was blocked. The march was aided by a pair of facemask penalties on the Lions. Simpson then hooked up with 6' 8" wide receiver John Peters for a 26-yard touchdown pass and MSJ led 17-6 after one period.
 
After the Lions went up 24-6, a 76-yard run by junior slot receiver Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) set the stage for a Brandon Price (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) three-yard touchdown run that cut the deficit to 24-12. The Vikings' two-point conversion attempt failed.
 
After the teams traded punts, Simpson connected with Charles McCall from 10 yards out for a 31-12 Lions advantage. Augustana went from its own 21-yard line to the MSJ 30, but saw the first half clock expire.
 
Stytz converted a 37-yard field goal on the Vikings' opening possession of the second half. Later in the period, Mike Williams hit Ronell Colbert for a 17-yard scoring pass. On the ensuing point after, Augustana blocked the kick and senior Ben Fornek (Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill.) gathered it in and took all the way back for a defensive two-point conversion to make the score 37-17 after three periods.
 
The Vikings added a safety and a 15-yard Chris Salazar (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) touchdown run in the fourth quarter, while the Lions tacked on three more scores, including a pair of defensive touchdowns.
 
Augustana will attempt to even its record on Saturday, September 13, when the Vikings travel to Holland, Michigan to face Hope at 12:30 p.m. central time.