ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Some missed opportunities this past Saturday cost Augustana a chance at an upset of 20th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan at Lindberg Field. The Titans (6-0, 3-0) held the Vikings (2-4, 1-2) scoreless on three red zone trips and used two big plays by Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore to pull out a 21-7 win on Augustana's Homecoming. Coach Steve Bell's squad will try to get back on track on Saturday, October 24, when Carthage visits the Knowlton Outdoor Athletic Complex for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
 
The defense continued to progress on Saturday, holding a potent IWU offense that had been averaging 477.2 total yards and 41.4 points per game to just 271 yards and two touchdowns. Junior middle linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) continues to lead the team in tackles with 58 (22 solo and 36 assists). Asquini is tied with senior end Brandon Stiers (Deer Creek Mackinaw HS, Mackinaw, Ill.) for the team lead with seven tackles for loss. Senior safety Frank Kalble (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) has 42 stops, including a team-high 26 solo tackles, in just four games—a team-high average of 10.5 per contest. Junior corner Daniel Watson (Peoria HS, Peoria, Ill.) has contributed 41 tackles (25/16) and a team-high four interceptions, along with five pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
 
The offense has been led all season by quarterback Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.). The senior has rushed for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 97 carries (8.9 yards per attempt) and completed 116 of 193 pass attempts (60.1%) for 1,241 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions. His top targets have been senior Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) and junior Danny Lattner (Fenwick HS, Riverside, Ill.). Fitzgerald has 34 catches for 327 yards and five touchdowns and Lattner has snared 32 passes for 398 yards and three scores. With four games to play, Fitzgerald's season reception total is already tied for 10th-best in school history.
 
Coach Mike Yeager brings his Carthage team to Lindberg Stadium this Saturday. The Red Men sport an identical 2-4 and 1-2 record to the Vikings and are coming off a 41-17 loss to North Central at home.
 
Yeager's offense is ground-oriented, with three backs sharing ball-carrying duties. Lafayette McGary has a team-high 381 yards on 54 totes (7.1 per carry). London Townsend has rushed for 330 yards on 58 attempts (5.7) and Tristan Peterson has carried 57 times for 247 yards (4.3). Each has reached the end zone twice.
 
Carthage quarterback Bobby Suchecki is 62 of 136 (45.6%) through the air for 925 yards and four touchdowns with eight interceptions. His favorite target has been James Cobbs, with 21 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Javier Rhoades (10-173-0) was a second team All-CCIW performer a year ago. The Red Men average 22.0 points and 374.0 yards of total offense per game.
 
The Red Men return two second team all-league picks on defense in inside linebacker Greg Money and free safety Shawntrel Garner. Money is Carthage's second-leading tackler (35) behind outside 'backer K.J. Simpson (46). Simpson has a team-high eight tackles for loss. Garner has 23 tackles and two interceptions. Defensive end Terrance Allen has a league-high seven sacks this year. The Red Men have surrendered averages of 30.7 points and 385.0 total yards per game.
 
 
SERIES RECORD...
Augustana leads 65-14 with five ties.
 

Year	Augustana	Carthage	Results		Year	Augustana	Carthage	Results
1928	20	6	W		1973	8	32	L
1929	14	7	W		1974	7	7	Tie
1930	9	7	W		1975	42	15	W
1931	6	6	Tie		1976	43	35	W
1932	13	0	W		1977	24	21	W
1933	35	0	W		1978	30	21	W
1934	41	6	W		1979	19	18	W
1935	27	3	W		1980	17	14	W
1936	33	0	W		1981	35	7	W
1937	14	6	W		1982	20	0	W
1938	7	7	Tie		1983	28	7	W
1939	18	0	W		1984	56	7	W
1940	0	0	Tie		1985	38	8	W
1941	12	12	Tie		1986	49	0	W
1942	14	6	W		1987	40	6	W
1946	13	0	W		1988	35	0	W
1947	13	0	W		1989	48	6	W
1948	0	6	L		1990	38	0	W
1949	21	13	W		1991	31	12	W
1950	33	6	W		1992	67	6	W
1951	40	14	W		1993	48	0	W
1952	13	33	L		1994	41	6	W
1953	31	7	W		1995	24	0	W
1954	18	15	W		1996	18	28	L
1955	6	7	L		1997	28	21	W
1956	19	34	L		1998	45	6	W
1957	13	0	W		1999	31	9	W
1958	13	6	W		2000	23	14	W
1959	20	7	W		2001	41	18	W
1960	32	18	W		2002	34	28	W
1961	13	33	L		2003	56	20	W
1962	27	35	L		2004	35	0	W
1963	34	7	W		2005	7	0	W
1964	13	6	W		2006	28	14	W
1965	14	21	L		2007	28	33	L
1966	20	0	W		2008	40	16	W
1967	35	47	L		2009	42	20	W
1968	41	36	W		2010	43	16	W
1969	6	32	L		2011	19	13	W
1970	0	35	L		2012	38	13	W
1971	14	40	L		2013	28	0	W
1972	28	26	W		2014	31	26	W

 
  
LAST YEAR'S MEETING
 
10/25/14—AUGUSTANA 31, CARTHAGE 26
 
Vikings hold off Carthage for second straight win
 
KENOSHA, Wis.— Augustana held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by Carthage Saturday, defeating the Red Men 31-26 at Art Keller Field. With the win, Coach Rob Cushman's Vikings win their second in a row, improve to 3-4 on the year and even their CCIW mark at 2-2. Carthage drops to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the league.
 
Augustana jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter on a pair of Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) touchdown runs. A one-yard burst by the junior quarterback capped off the game's opening drive, which covered 66 yards in 11 plays. Then, after the Viking defense forced a three-and-out, junior Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) returned Elliott Stahler's punt 26 yards into Red Men territory. Frasco busted off a 44-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage to put Augustana up 14-0 with Conner Murray's (Conifer HS, Morrison, Colo.) point after.
 
After another defensive stop, the Vikings had a chance to extend the lead early in the second quarter. However, after they drove to the Carthage 21-yard line, sophomore running back Brandon Price (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) was dropped for a loss on fourth-and-one. On Augustana's next possession, Murray's career-long 48-yard field goal pushed the lead to 17-0.
 
Red Man Jamahl Wright returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to the Viking 20-yard line and six plays later, Derek Bellamy took it in from a yard out to get Carthage on the board. Thomas Brannen's PAT made it 17-7 Vikings. Murray added field goals of 33 and 42 yards and Augustana took a 23-7 advantage to halftime.
 
On their second possession of the second half, the Vikings found themselves pinned at their own one-yard line. Price rushed for three yards on the first play, then broke off a 71-yarder on the next one. Augustana was penalized 10 yards at the end of the play for an illegal block, but Frasco and company were in business at the Carthage 35. He rushed for 20 yards on the next play and four plays later, went three yards into the end zone for his third touchdown of the day. The drive covered 99 yards in seven plays and Frasco then hit senior Kyle Frake (Central HS, Clifton, Ill.) for the two-point conversion and a 31-7 lead.
 
Carthage, which had been held in check all day by the Viking defense, answered with its first sustained drive of the afternoon. Nick Anzelmo connected with tight end Robert Anderson from two yards out to cap a 70-yard, 15-play march. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Red Men trailed 31-13 with 13:48 left in the game.
 
The teams traded quick possession before Augustana lost a fumble at its own 45-yard line with 7:24 to play. It took Carthage just seven plays to find the end zone again, this time on a 10-yard Anzelmo-to-Javier Rhodes touchdown pass. The point after attempt failed, but the Red Men were within 31-19.
 
Augustana failed to coral the ensuing onside kick and Carthage was on the attack again. The Red Men drove to the Viking six-yard line, but on fourth-and-goal, Anzelmo was stopped two yards short of the goal line with 2:44 to play. On its first play from scrimmage, however, Augustana coughed up the football and Terrance Allen recovered in the end zone for a Carthage touchdown. Brannen converted the point after and the Viking lead was trimmed to 31-26.
 
After forcing an Augustana three-and-out, the Red Men had one final chance. They reached the Viking 37-yard line before Anzelmo was sacked for a 19-yard loss back into Carthage territory. His final pass fell incomplete.
 
The Augustana running game, behind 146 yards from Frasco and 95 more from Price, produced a season-high 325 yards. Frasco was just 4 of 16 through the air for 50 yards. Frake had two catches for 34 yards. The Viking defense limited Carthage to just 96 rushing yards on 34 attempts (2.8 per carry) and although Anzelmo threw for 251 yards, he completed just 24 of 56 attempts. Senior corner Ben Fornek (Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill.) led the way on defense with 13 tackles—all solo stops. Sophomore linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) was in double figures as well, with 10 tackles.
 
The Vikings will look to continue their winning streak when North Park visits Lindberg Stadium next Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m.
 
LAST WEEK...
 
10/17/15—ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 21, AUGUSTANA 7
 
Vikings drop Homecoming contest 21-7 to 20th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan
 
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Three of the game's four scores came in the first eight minutes Saturday as Illinois Wesleyan spoiled Augustana's Homecoming with a 21-7 win at Lindberg Stadium. The Vikings fell to 2-4 on the season and 1-2 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, while the Titans, ranked 20th by D3football.com, improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the league.
 
After each team went three-and-out on its first possession, IWU took over at the Augustana 43. Four plays later, quarterback Jack Warner hit Andrew Javorka with a short pass on the left side and the Titan receiver weaved his way through the Viking defense for a 15-yard touchdown. Warner also connected with running back Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore for a 28-yard completion on the drive. Michael Kelly's point after gave the visitors a 7-0 with 10:55 left in the opening quarter.
 
On the next possession, after driving from its own 21 to the IWU 49, Augustana decided to throw a wrinkle at the Titans. On first-and-10, senior quarterback Chris Salazar (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) came off the bench and hit classmate Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) with a swing pass to the left side and the Vikings' starting signal-caller went for a 14-yard gain. On the next play, the Vikings faked a jet sweep to Frasco and Salazar found senior Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) behind the IWU secondary for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Jacob Stytz's extra point tied things up at 7-7.
 
The deadlock lasted for just 13 seconds, however, as Shoemaker-Gilmore took the ensuing kickoff and went 93 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Kelley's conversion gave the Titans a 14-7 lead with 7:00 left in the first.
 
Although both defenses began to take control from that point, Augustana did have a pair of second-quarter red zone trips that came up empty. Early in the period, the Vikings drove to the IWU nine-yard line, but Stytz's 26-yard field goal attempt went wide left. Then, with 7:01 left in the half the Vikings took over on the Titan 39 following an IWU punt. The march eventually reached the three-yard line before a pair of rushes lost a yard each and Frasco was sacked by Will James. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 14 with 16 seconds before halftime, Frasco found Fitzgerald in the back of the west end zone, but the Augustana receiver's catch was ruled out of bounds and the score remained 14-7 at intermission.
 
The hosts trailed despite outgaining the Titans 178 to 56 in total yards and having a 10-2 edge in first downs.
 
The defenses continued to control things in a scoreless third quarter. Frank Kalble's (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) interception of a Warner pass in the end zone ended the only real threat of the period. Junior corner Daniel Watson (Peoria HS, Peoria, Ill.) made a big hit on the receiver to free the ball for Kalble.
 
IWU got an insurance touchdown on the second possession of the fourth quarter. Shoemaker-Gilmore broke loose on the left side and went 55 yards for the score and a 21-7 lead with Kelley's PAT.
 
The Vikings threatened once more, driving from their own 16 to the Titan 17, but Frasco's fourth-down pass to sophomore Riley Donald (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.) was broken up by Darrow Traylor to end the drive. IWU put together an eight-play, 75-yard march to run out the clock.
 
The defenses carried the day, with neither team reaching 300 yards of total offense. Augustana gained 284 yards—104 on the ground and 180 through the air. Illinois Wesleyan rushed for 165 yards, with 115 of those coming on Shoemaker-Gilmore's fourth-quarter back-breaker and a 60-yard jaunt by Austin Harrell on the final drive. Warner threw for just 106 yards for a total offense mark of 271.
 
The Vikings will be back at Lindberg Stadium on Saturday, October 24, hosting Carthage in a 1:00 p.m. contest.
 
 
2015 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS

DATE	OPPONENT	SITE	TIME/SCORE
September 5	Mount St. Joseph (Austin E. Knowlton Classic)	HOME	W, 42-39
September 12	Albion (Family Weekend)	HOME	L, 49-60
September 19	Loras	Dubuque, Iowa	L, 52-56
October 3	*Elmhurst	HOME	W, 9-3
October 10	*Wheaton	Wheaton, Ill.	L, 14-31
October 17	*Illinois Wesleyan (Homecoming)	HOME	L, 7-21
October 24	*Carthage	HOME	1:00 p.m.
October 31	*North Park	Chicago, Ill.	1:00 p.m.
November 7	*North Central (Senior Day)	HOME	1:00 p.m.
November 14	*Millikin	Decatur, Ill.	1:00 p.m.

* - College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin game
 
2015 CCIW STANDINGS

School	CCIW	Overall
Illinois Wesleyan	3-0	6-0
Wheaton	3-0	6-0
North Central	3-0	4-2
AUGUSTANA	1-2	2-4
Carthage	1-2	2-4
North Park	1-2	2-4
Elmhurst	0-3	3-3
Millikin	0-3	1-5