Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana got the 2015 season and Coach Steve Bell's tenure off on the right foot Saturday, defeating Mount St. Joseph 42-39 at Lindberg Stadium in the third annual Knowlton Kickoff Classic. The Vikings rolled up 522 yards in total offense in avenging last year's lost to the Lions.
 
The Mount St. Joseph offense came out on fire, taking the opening kickoff and going 76 yards in six plays for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Quinn Farrell competed four of five passes for 61 yards and added a 15-yard scramble. He hit Garrett Weaver from 34 yards out to cap the march.
 
After forcing an Augustana punt, the Lions' next possession started with a 65-yard burst by running back Charles McCall. The Viking defense stiffened, but Shane Kelly's 32-yard field goal put the visitors ahead 10-0 with less than four minutes gone.
 
Augustana found its rhythm on the next possession, going 80 yards in 14 plays with Brandon Price (Providence Catholic HS, Plainfield, Ill.) finishing off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Jacob Stytz's (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) point after cut the deficit to 10-7.
 
The Viking defense forced a three-and-out early in the second quarter and Sam Frasco (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) and company went right back to work. Frasco's 30-yard scamper finished off a seven-play, 98-yard drive and gave his team a 14-10 lead. The senior signal caller also had a 38-yard dash on the drive.
 
MSJ went three-and-out in its next possession and Augustana answered with a 70-yard, nine-play scoring march that culminated with a five-yard Frasco-to-Kyle Frake (Central HS, Clifton, Ill.) TD pass. Stytz's kick gave the Vikings a 21-10 lead with three and a half minutes left in the half. A 60-yard Tyler Hannah fumble return for a touchdown stemmed the tide momentarily, getting the Lions to within 21-17, but a 10-yard punt on their next possession set up the final score of the half. Frasco hit senior Sean Fitzgerald (Providence Catholic HS, Manhattan, Ill.), who made a diving catch in the right front corner of the end zone. The hosts took a 28-17 lead to the locker room.
 
Bell's crew took the second-half kick and went 75 yards in eight plays, with sophomore Austin Chausse (Nokomis HS, Nokomis, Ill.) hauling in Frasco's third touchdown toss of the night—a 10-yard swing pass—to put Augustana up 35-17.
 
The Lions wouldn't go away, however. Weaver took a Farrell pass 71 yards to the end zone and Mike Williams scored from a yard out to make it 35-31 with 6:42 to play in the third.
 
Frasco's eight-yard scoring run capped an eight-play, 74-yard drive and Augustana led 42-31 after three.
 
A 45-yard Tyler White punt return set up the final score of the night. On the very first play from scrimmage, Farrell hit Weaver with a 35-yard strike. The duo connected on the two-point conversion as well and the Viking lead was cut to three with six minutes left. Augustana was able to run almost four minutes of the clock with its next possession and the defense came up with one final three-and-out to ice the win.
 
Augustana rushed for 285 yards. Frasco (13 carries, 106 yards, two touchdowns) and Price (22-102-1) both eclipsed the 100-yard mark and junior Paris Edwards (Edison HS, Tulsa, Okla.) added 76 yards on 17 totes. Frasco added 237 yards and three touchdowns through the air on 18 of 34 completions. He extended his string of passes without an interception to 164. Fitzgerald and junior Danny Lattner (Fenwick HS, Riverside, Ill.) each had seven receptions.
 
Senior Frank Kalble (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and junior Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) led the way on defense. Kalbe was in on 11 tackles, including two for loss, while Asquini had 10 stops, three of which occurred behind the line of scrimmage. Junior John Bastian (V. Sue Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M.) recorded four pass break-ups and sophomore Travon Aldridge (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) had three.
 
Sophomore Jeremy Collier (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Overland Park, Kan.) stood out as well, averaging 41.6 yards on nine punts.
 
Next Saturday, September 12, Augustana is back at home, hosting Albion in a 1:00 p.m. "Family Weekend" contest.