Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. – Backup quarterback Kyle Friberg led Carthage on a 13-play, 55-yard game-winning drive Saturday as the Red Men fought off Augustana 27-24 at Art Keller Field. The hosts improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW, while the Vikings fell to 2-2 on the year and 1-1 in the league.
 
The Carthage offense had done little in the second half. The Red Men had recorded just two first downs in the half when Friberg and company took over at their own 35 trailing 24-20 with 7:10 remaining in the game.
 
The sophomore—who had come on in relief of starter Ethan Olles on the previous possession—first converted a 3rd-and-16 with a 26-yard completion to Kyree Sago. After a 23-yard completion to James Cobbs got Carthage to the Augustana 22, a holding penalty and a Michael Daniels (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) sack left the Red Men with a 3rd-and-24 at the Viking 36. This time, Friberg found Javier Rhoades for 27 yards to the Augustana nine.
 
After a pair of rushes for no gain and a three-yard pass it looked like the Red Men would be facing a tough fourth down situation. However, the Vikings were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, giving Carthage a first down and new life. Two plays later Jamel Davis went in from the one for the go-ahead touchdown and Lance Unland's point after put the hosts ahead 27-24 with just under a minute to play.
 
Augustana sophomore quarterback Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) led his club on one final drive, connecting with senior Andrew Garcia (West Leyden HS, Melrose Park, Ill.) for completions of 13 and 21 yards to reach the Red Men 25-yard line. The drive stalled there and junior Jacob Stytz (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) was called on to attempt a game-tying 42-yard field goal. Stytz's attempt went wide left—his first missed kick of the season—and Carthage ran out the clock.
 
The Red Men jumped on top 14-0 in the first quarter. Olles hit Jamahl Wright with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 5:06 left in the period, capping a seven-play, 46-yard drive and putting his team on top 7-0. On Carthage's next possession, Joe Godlevske recovered Nick Anzelmo's fumble in the end zone for a touchdown with 31 seconds left in the quarter. That finished off an eight-play, 77-yard march.
 
The Vikings answered early in the second, going 43 yards in seven plays with freshman Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) scoring on a two-yard run. They tied it with 2:03 left before halftime. Starting from his own 41, Fuller connected with Danny Lattner (Fenwick HS, Riverside, Ill.) for completions of 15 and 21 yards before hitting the senior again from 18 yards out for a touchdown. Stytz's PAT made it 14-all.
 
It looked like the half would end that way when the defense stopped Carthage at its own 30 with a minute and a half left. An offside call on Augustana gave Olles another opportunity though and he found Cobbs for 29 yards to the Viking 36. Four plays later he hit Cobbs again for 12 yards and a touchdown. Unland's point after attempt was no good, but the Red Men led 20-14 at the half.
 
On the opening possession of the second half, Augustana marched 77 yards in 16 plays to take its first lead. Sophomore Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) made a nice juggling catch for 10 yards and a touchdown and Stytz tacked on the go-ahead PAT.  Stytz's 30-yard field goal with 9:53 to play gave the Vikings a 24-20 advantage.
 
Pitra finished with 67 yards on 20 rushes. Fuller completed 20 of 42 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Lattner caught nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) had a game-high 11 tackles, while senior safety Frank Kalble (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) had 10 solo stops and a pair of forced fumbles. Punter Robert Martin (Strake Jesuit HS, Houston, Texas) had a nice day. He averaged 42.0 yards with a long of 60 and put half of his eight kicks inside the Carthage 20.
 
Augustana will look to get back on the winning track when it hosts Elmhurst for Homecoming on Saturday, October 1. Kickoff at Lindberg Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.