ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – For the first time this year, an opponent was able to slow Augustana's offensive attack this past Saturday, but the Viking defense came up big, as the team won its 2015 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opener 9-3 over Elmhurst at Lindberg Stadium. Coach Steve Bell's club evened its overall record at 2-2 and will take a 1-0 league mark into Wheaton on Saturday, October 10 to face the preseason favorite Thunder (4-0, 1-0) at 1:00 p.m.
 
On a night when the nation's seventh-best offense produced just 257 yards—more than 300 below its average through three games—Augustana's defense recorded six takeaways and held Bluejay Josh Williams, the nation's fourth-leading rusher, to just 50 yards on 20 carries. Daniel Watson's (Peoria HS, Peoria, Ill.) interception in the Viking end zone with three seconds left finally sealed the deal.
 
Although held largely in check by Elmhurst, quarterback Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) still accounted for the game's only touchdown, connecting with classmate Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) on a 34-yard scoring pass in the second quarter. Frasco has put up huge numbers through four games. He's rushed for 705 yards and 10 touchdowns and is averaging 9.9 yards per carry. Through the air, he's 77 of 124 (62.1%) for 904 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions.
 
Junior Brandon Price is Augustana's second-leading rusher with 277 yards and two touchdowns on 74 carries. Frasco's top receivers have been Fitzgerald, with 24 catches for 224 yards and four touchdowns, junior Danny Lattner (Fenwick HS, Riverside, Ill.), with 18 receptions for 270 yards and two scores and senior Kyle Frake (Central HS, Clifton, Ill.), with a dozen grabs for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
Junior linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) is the Vikings' top tackler with 18 solo stops and 21 assists. His 4½ tackles for loss also lead the team and he's tied for the lead with one sack and one fumble recovery. Senior defensive end Brandon Stiers (Deer Creek Mackinaw HS, Mackinaw, Ill.) also has a sack and a fumble recovery and has been in on 26 tackles, including four for loss. Junior linebacker Erik Johnson (Warren HS, Gurnee, Ill.) is second on the team with 33 total tackles and junior corner Watson has team highs of 20 solo stops and three interceptions.
 
Coach Mike Swider's Wheaton club comes into Saturday's contest averaging 47.0 points per game and allowing an average of just 9.5, both league bests. Quarterbacks Johnny Peltz (171.95) and Andrew Bowers (180.00) rank second and first, respectively, in the league in passing efficiency. Peltz has taken most of the snaps and has completed 51 of 76 (67.1%) attempts for 745 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. He averages 311.7 yards of total offense per game, second only to Frasco in the CCIW.
 
Four Thunder receivers have caught at least a dozen balls, led by Matt Norton (17 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns) and Andrew Lindquist (17-267-3). Swider enjoys excellent balance in the ground game as well, with four backs having rushed for more than 150 yards, including both quarterbacks. Running back Sola Olateju leads the way with 272 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries. Up front, left tackle Matt Snebold is a returning first team All-CCIW selection.
 
On defense, the Thunder return three first team and two second team all-conference performers from a year ago. Linebackers Logan McRae (seven tackles for loss and five sacks this year), Mikey Swider (33 tackles) and Adam Dansdill (40 tackles) were all first team selections in 2014, with Dansdill earning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. Second team picks Josh Aldrin (16 tackles), a lineman and Alex Mendez (two interceptions), a defensive back, return as well.
 
SERIES RECORD...
Augustana leads the all-time series by the slightest of margins. The Vikings have won 29 games to 28 for Wheaton. There have been two ties.
 

Year	Augustana	Wheaton	Results		Year	Augustana	Wheaton	Results
1924	3	0	W		1986	18	17	W
1925	21	0	W		1987	28	6	W
1929	6	6	T		1988	30	13	W
1948	0	13	L		1989	24	20	W
1952	6	47	L		1990	24	7	W
1954	6	46	L		1991	19	42	L
1955	0	26	L		1992	20	15	W
1956	12	33	L		1993	14	6	W
1957	6	44	L		1994	26	21	W
1958	12	67	L		1995	27	35	L
1959	13	33	L		1996	12	16	L
1960	19	19	T		1997	21	16	W
1968	13	14	L		1998	34	21	W
1969	28	0	W		1999	31	19	W
1970	10	7	W		2000	30	37	L
1971	42	23	W		2001	32	34	L
1972	23	6	W		2002	14	38	L
1973	23	14	W		2003	27	28	L
1974	34	19	W		2004	38	39	L
1975	35	37	L		2005	28	7	W
1976	26	7	W		2006	17	14	W
1977	29	34	L		2007	24	28	L
1978	3	27	L		2008	14	26	L
1979	14	10	W		2009	17	24	L
1980	20	15	W		2010	14	20	L
1981	17	7	W		2011	7	36	L
1982	37	0	W		2012	7	49	L
1983	47	12	W		2013	15	24	L
1984	45	14	W		2014	13	20	L
1985	26	14	W

 
 
LAST YEAR'S MEETING
 
10/11/14--WHEATON 20, AUGUSTANA 13
 
Homecoming upset bid comes up just short
 
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.
 
 
LAST WEEK...
 
10/03/15—AUGUSTANA 9, ELMHURST 3
 
Defense shines in CCIW-opening win over Elmhurst
 
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Despite a boasting matchup of a pair of two-time CCIW Offensive Players of the Week, Saturday's league opener between Augustana and Elmhurst featured very few offensive fireworks, as the host Vikings held on for a 9-3 win at Lindberg Stadium. The Augustana defense held down Bluejay star Josh Williams, forced six turnovers and came up with two huge fourth-down stops deep in its own territory to preserve the win. Coach Steve Bell's club improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the CCIW, while Elmhurst suffered its first loss in four outings this year.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings drew first blood with 11:49 left in the second. Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) found Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.) down the middle and the senior took it into the end zone for a 34-yard scoring strike. Jacob Stytz's (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) point after made it 7-0.
 
A Daniel Watson (Peoria HS, Peoria, Ill.) interception with just over four minutes to play in the half set Augustana up in good field position at the Bluejay 46. The Vikings looked to be going in for another score, but a Frasco fumble at the Elmhurst one ended the threat. However, on the ensuing play, Erik Johnson (Warren HS, Gurnee, Ill.) and Nathan Magiera (Wauconda HS, Island Lake, Ill.) stuffed Elmhurst quarterback Drew Domino in the end zone for safety and a 9-0 lead. Augustana took the free kick and eventually reached the Bluejay 33, but Stytz's 50-yard field goal attempt was wide left shortly before halftime.
 
A Johnson interception and a Brandon Stiers (Deer Creek Mackinaw HS, Mackinaw, Ill.) fumble recovery thwarted the first two Elmhurst possessions of the second half, but the Bluejays finally got on the board on Brett Bayer's 45-yard field goal with 1:33 to go in the third period.
 
While the offense struggled to get anything going after halftime, the Viking defense continued to come up big. Early in the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Jack Asqiuni (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) picked off a Domino pass and returned it 16 yards to the Elmhurst 25. After a false start and three plays for zero yards, Stytz's 47-yard field goal attempt came up short.
 
On their final two possessions of the game, the Bluejays got to the Augustana 22 and 17-yard lines, respectively, but came away empty both times. On the first, freshman linebacker Cassin Wolfe (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) stuffed Williams for a yard loss on fourth-and-one. On the second, Domino's fourth-and-10 pass into the end zone was tipped by junior John Bastian (V. Sue Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M.) and corralled by Watson for his second interception of the night.
 
Both defenses were able to slow the opposition's star. Frasco, who came into the game averaging a national-best 465.7 total yards per game, was limited to 212. The nation's leading scorer (20.0 ppg) and second-leading rusher (212.0 ypg), he finished with 69 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 17 carries. Williams, who was averaging 183.0 yards per game on the ground, had just 50 yards on 20 carries.
 
Several players stood out for the Vikings on defense. Senior Frank Kalble (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights) returned from an injury to lead the team with 11 tackles, including eight solo stops. He also had a pair of pass breakups. Johnson (eight tackles, 1½ for loss, interception), Asquini (eight tackles, interception), Stiers (eight tackles, fumble recovery), Watson (five tackles, two interceptions) and freshman Christian Chavez (Willowbrook HS, Lombard, Ill.) (6 tackles, interception) all had big nights. Bastian broke up a team-high three passes.
 
Augustana is on the road on Saturday, October 10, facing CCIW preseason favorite Wheaton at 1:00 p.m.
 
 
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.	1:00 p.m.
October 17	*Illinois Wesleyan (Homecoming)	HOME	1:00 p.m.
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	1-0	4-0
Wheaton	1-0	4-0
AUGUSTANA	1-0	2-2
North Central	1-0	2-2
Elmhurst	0-1	3-1
Carthage	0-1	1-3
Millikin	0-1	1-3
North Park	0-1	1-3