ELMHURST, Ill. – Augustana's offense scored on its first four possessions of the game and its defense stopped Elmhurst three times deep in its own territory Saturday as the Vikings defeated the Bluejays 35-0 at Langhorst Field. The CCIW-opening win gave Augustana its first 2-0 start since the 2008 season. Coach Steve Bell's bunch will take a 2-0 overall mark and a 1-0 league record into its home opener against Illinois Wesleyan at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 22.
 
A nearly flawless first half for the Vikings started with the defense forcing an Elmhurst three-and-out. After a short punt, they took over in enemy territory and went 48 yards in four plays for the game's first score. Junior Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) carried twice for 36 yards and senior Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) connected with sophomore Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) for a 13-yard scoring strike to cap the drive. Senior Ryan Ganson (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) added the point after to make it 7-0.
 
The Bluejays drove to the Augustana 17 on their next possession, but sophomore Zach Stewart (Crown Point HS, Crown Point, Ind.) picked off an Orlando Hernandez pass at the two-yard line. It took just six plays for Fuller to lead the Vikings 87 yards for another touchdown. He completed all three of his passes, including a five-yarder to senior Justin Pope (Whale Branch HS, Beaufort, S.C.) for the score. Jacobs had a key 39-yard run as well. Ganson's PAT made it 14-0 with 1:53 left in the first quarter.
 
The visitors made it three-for-three on their next possession, driving 76 yards in 11 plays to go up 21-0. Fuller completed five straight passes, the last one to sophomore Max Uranich (La Salle-Peru HS, La Salle, Ill.) for a 10-yard touchdown.
 
Another defensive stop led to Augustana's fourth straight scoring possession. The Vikings went 80 yards in 10 plays with Jarosz doing the honors from a yard out. Key plays included a 19-yard Fuller-to-Uranich completion on 3rd-and-12, an 18-yard Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) run on third-and-six and a 35-yard Fuller-to-Pope strike on third-and-five that set up Jarosz's touchdown.
 
Elmhurst drove to the Augustana six with under a minute left in the half, but senior Austin Nice (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) recovered a Hernandez fumble to end the threat and Bell's crew took a 28-0 lead to the locker room.
 
After missing a field goal midway through the third quarter, the Vikings added their final touchdown with 4:17 left in the period. Taking over at their own 48 after a Bluejay punt, they went 52 yards in seven plays. Jacobs had runs of eight and 16 yards before Pitra went 11 yards up the middle into the end zone. Ganson converted his fifth extra point of the day.
 
The defense preserved the shutout with a goal line stand early in the fourth quarter. After driving 63 yards, Elmhurst opened the period with a first-and-goal at the Augustana five. The Bluejays reached the one, but on third down junior linebacker Luke Sawicki (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) threw running back Brock Bethke for a one yard loss. A delay of game pushed the spot back to the seven and Hernandez's fourth-down scramble for the end zone came up a yard short, with junior Xavier Holley (Bettendorf HS, Davenport, Iowa) making the stop.
 
Bell went deep onto his bench the rest of the way and kept the ball on the ground, calling just one pass in the fourth quarter.
 
The Vikings' 514 yards of total offense was split nearly evenly on the ground (258) and through the air (256). Fuller finished the day 21 of 28 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Jacobs (six carries for 77 yards), Jarosz (9-76, one touchdown) and Pitra (14-68-1) paced the rushing attack. Uranich had six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown and Pope caught four balls for 58 yards and a score.
 
Sawicki led the defense with 11 tackles (six solo, five assisted), 3½ of which went for negative yardage. The shutout was Augustana's first since a 28-0 win over Carthage in 2013.