Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Augustana rode a stellar defensive effort to a 21-10 win over Mount St. Joseph Saturday in the Austin E. Knowlton Kickoff Classic. The Vikings held the high-powered Lions to their lowest point total since November 2, 2013 in winning the season opener for both teams.
 
Although the defenses controlled things early, Augustana was able to put together an eight-play, 61-yard drive capped off with a one-yard touchdown sneak by sophomore quarterback Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.). Jacob Stytz's (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) point-after gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead mid-way through the first quarter.
 
The visitors extended the advantage to 14-0 in the second quarter. Fuller scrambled right and found senior wide receiver Danny Lattner (Fenwick HS, Riverside, Ill.) behind the Mount defense down the right sideline for 58 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Augustana defense, which had stifled the Lions—allowing just a 35-yard Jerry Porter field goal early in the second quarter—got into the scoring act late in the first half. Senior Michael Daniels (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.), who has made the move this year from linebacker to defensive end, stripped quarterback Quinn Farrell of the ball and senior corner Daniel Watson (Peoria HS, Peoria, Ill.) collected it at the MSJ 22-yard line, cut across the field and beat the Lions to the right pylon for the Vikings' third touchdown. Stytz followed with his 43rd consecutive successful extra point attempt. A Watson interception on the ensuing drive sent the teams to intermission with Augustana ahead 21-3.
 
In the second half, the Viking offense focused on the ground game to run clock and the defense continued its impressive play. A John Bastian (V. Sue Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M.) interception ended one fourth-quarter Lion drive deep in Augustana territory. Mount St. Joseph scored its only touchdown with less than two minutes remaining on a 16-yard Chaiten Tomlin-to-Ronnell Colbert strike.
 
Fuller completed 17 of 29 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown with one interception in his first varsity action. Sophomore Ryan Hennessy (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) had a team-high seven catches. Classmate Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) led the Viking ground game with 62 yards on 18 carries.
 
Senior linebacker Jack Asquini (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.), senior safety Frank Kalble (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Watson spearheaded Coach Steve Bell's defense. Asquini recorded 11 tackles (nine solo and two assists), including 3½ for loss and a pair of sacks. Kalble had eight solo stops and three assists. Watson was credited with six solo tackles and five pass breakups in addition to his interception and fumble return. Augustana held the Lions, who averaged 39 points and 435 total yards per game last season, to 291 total yards, including just 31 on 33 rushing attempts.
 
The Vikings will play their 2016 home opener—also called the Austin E. Knowlton Kickoff Classic—on Saturday, September 10, against Central. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.