Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. – Freshman quarterback Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) rushed for one touchdown and threw for another Saturday, as Augustana spoiled Elmhurst's homecoming with a 24-19 win over the Bluejays at Langhorst Field. The Vikings moved to 1-4 on the year and 1-2 in the conference, while the hosts are also 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the league.
 
Elmhurst took Jacob Stytz's (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.) opening kickoff and marched 65 yards in five plays to take the lead. Quarterback Orlando Hernandez had runs of 11 and 27 yards and capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Hasahn Austin. Matt Brachmann's point after made it 7-0.
 
Augustana answered with a 12-play, 71-yard touchdown drive. With a fourth-and-one from his own 38-yard line, freshman Alex Bryan (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee, Ill.) rushed for 13 yards on a fake punt to keep the march alive. Junior Luke Bleyer (Williamsville HS, Springfield, Ill.) completed three passes for 46 yards before Jacobs returned and carried twice for the final nine yards, including a five-yard touchdown run. Stytz added the extra point.
 
After the teams traded punts, the Bluejays drove to the Viking 24, but Brachmann's 41-yard field goal attempt with 12:44 left in the second quarter was wide right and the score remained 7-7.
 
Each team had a three-and-out before Augustana put together another scoring drive, going 43 yards in 10 plays before Stytz knocked through his seventh field goal in as many attempts this season. The 33-yarder gave the visitors 10-7 lead, which they maintained going into halftime. The key play on the drive was a 17-yard Jacobs to Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) pass.
 
After a 61-yard Bryan punt pinned Elmhurst at its own seven-yard line early in the third quarter, junior linebacker Cassin Wolfe (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) picked off a Hernandez offering to set the Vikings up with great field position at the Bluejay 17. Three plays later, Jacobs hit junior Ryan Hennessy (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) on the left side and he weaved through the Elmhurst defense with the help of a Danny Oliger (Davenport Central HS, Davenport, Iowa) block and got into the end zone standing. Stytz's kick made it 17-7 Augustana.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Buejays drove to the Augustana three-yard line, but on fourth and two, senior Grant Burke (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) threw Brock Bethke for a four-yard loss on a toss sweep and the Vikings took over on downs.
 
With 9:41 left in the game, Hernandez hit Bethke with a two-yard touchdown pass, capping an eight-play, 61-yard march and pulling the Bluejays to within 17-13. However, Blake Bailey's extra point attempt struck the upright and bounced away, leaving the Viking lead at four points.
 
Augustana responded with the key drive of the contest. Taking over with 9:35 left, the Vikings went 71 yards in 15 plays and took 8:17 off the clock. Pitra carried 11 times for 47 yards on the march, including a 10-yard run on third-and-four from midfield on which he grabbed an errant snap and broke several tackles to keep the drive alive. He eventually went into the end zone from four yards out and Stytz's kick made it 24-13 with 1:21 to play.
 
Elmhurst cut the deficit to 24-19 with a nine-play, 67-yard touchdown drive aided by a circus catch by Jawan Gaines off a twice tipped pass and a pass interference penalty on Augustana. Hernandez eventually found Brachmann in the back of the end zone with 11 seconds left on the clock.
 
The Bluejays' two-point attempt failed and the ensuing onside kick went only four yards, allowing the Vikings to run out the clock.
 
Pitra finished with 89 rushing yards on 23 carries. Jacobs carried 16 times for 74 yards and completed five of eight pass attempts for 43 yards. Bleyer finish 4-for-6 for 50 yards passing. Pitra was the leading Augustana receiver with five catches for 56 yards.
 
Freshman safety John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.)  led the defense with seven solo tackles and three assists. The Viking kicking game was outstanding. Stytz remained perfect on the year with a field goal and three PATs and Bryan averaged a whopping 50.5 yards on four punts.
 
Augustana is back at Lindberg Stadium on Saturday, October 7, hosting Illinois Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m.