DECATUR, Ill. – For the second week in a row, Augustana jumped out to a two-score lead Saturday, but eventually fell, dropping a 28-27 decision to Millikin at Lindsay Field. The Vikings are now 2-2 on the

year and 1-2 in the CCIW, while the Big Blue improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the league.
 
It was all Augustana early. A Daniel Tjaden (Assumption HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) sack of Nicco Stepina helped stall Millikin's opening drive and after the Big Blue punted, Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) led the Vikings on an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. He completed four of five passes, including a 10-yard fade to Tom Dolis (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) for the score. Senior Ryan Ganson (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) added the point after.
 
Augustana stopped Millikin on downs inside its own five-yard line and the offense went right back to work. Fuller rushed 33 yards on a 3rd-and-11 from his own five and completed three passes on a 15-play, 94-yard march. Sophomore Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run on the last play of the first quarter and Ganson's PAT made it 14-0.
 
Junior linebacker Luke Sawicki (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) intercepted a Stepina pass on the next possession, setting the Vikings up in Millikin territory. However, the drive stalled following a penalty, starting a string of four straight Augustana possessions to be derailed by penalties or a turnover.
 
After the teams traded punts, Stepina found his rhythm and led his squad on a five-play, 51-yard scoring drive. His 13-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Perry and William Raibley's extra point pulled the hosts to within 14-7.
 
Jacobs returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards, but coughed the ball up and the Big Blue recovered at their own 30. A 57-yard Stepina-to-Tyrice Hines pass keyed an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Stepina hit Perry from two yards out to cap the march. Raibley added the point and the teams went to halftime tied 14-14.
 
The Vikings took the second half kickoff and went right down the field. However, they failed to gain a first down after having second-and-one from the Millikin six and had to settle for a Ganson 27-yard field goal and a 17-14 lead.
 
Stepina hit Jordan Smith with a 55-yard touchdown pass on the next possession, giving Millikin its first lead of the night, but Augustana answered with a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to get it back. Fuller went into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the one and Ganson's kick made it 24-21 Vikings with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
 
Stepina connected with Smith again, this time from 24 yards with 14:21 left in the game and the hosts had the lead for good. Raibley's kick made it 28-24 Big Blue.
 
Augustana was stopped again deep in Millikin territory and Ganson's 21-yard field goal cut the deficit to 28-27 with 9:15 to play. After the defense recorded a pair of stops, the Vikings twice penetrated Big Blue territory. A sack forced them to punt on the first trip and on the second, Ganson's 51-yard field goal attempt came up short with 51 seconds left, allowing Millikin to run out the clock.
 
Fuller finished 25 of 39 through the air for 246 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Max Uranich (La Salle-Peru HS, La Salle, Ill.) caught six passes for 70 yards.
 
Senior Ryan Pitra (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) led a 218-yard rushing attack with 77 yards on 16 carries. Jacobs added 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts and Fuller had 40 yards and a touchdown on eight totes. Junior Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) carried six times for 39 yards.
 
Sophomore safety John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) led the defense with eight solo and nine total tackles.
 
Stepina threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns. Perry was on the receiving end of 13 passes for 116 yards.
 
Augustana will host fifth-ranked North Central at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6. That contest will be part of Homecoming festivities at Lindberg Stadium.