ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Augustana committed five turnovers and had a blocked punt returned for a touchdown Saturday, falling to Washington University 35-14 at Francis Olympic Field. The Vikings fell to 4-4 on the year and 3-4 in the CCIW, while the Bears improved to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the league.
 
Augustana's problems started on the very first play from scrimmage, when quarterback Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) was intercepted by Will Hurley at the Viking 31. Five plays later WashU running back Emmanuel Ebirim took it into the end zone from a yard out. Chris Vartanian's point after made it 7-0 Bears less than two and a half minutes in. 
 
The hosts intercepted Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) on the Vikings next two series as well, with the second leading to a 62-yard Johnny Davidson-to-Jared Harrison touchdown pass. Vartanian's kick made it 14-0 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
 
Early in the second period, Andrew Whitaker blocked a Justin Wehr (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) punt and Hurley scooped it up and went 28 yards for a touchdown. Vartanian added the extra point and WashU led 21-0 10:06 before halftime.
 
Luke Phelan's (Joliet Catholic HS, Shorewood, Ill.) fifth interception of the season set up Augustana's first score. Phelan picked off Davidson at the Viking 12-yard line and Augustana responded with a 16-play, 88-yard touchdown march. Fuller completed six passes, including two on fourth down. He hit Ethan Jennings (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) for 17 yards on a fourth-and-12 from the Bear 38 and later connected with Jennings again for nine yards and the score with 22 seconds left in the half. Owen Ennis' (Evanston HS, Evanston, Ill.) extra point pulled the Vikings to within 21-7 at halftime.
 
WashU added a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, both the result of Augustana turnovers.
 
Junior Zach Stewart (Crown Point HS, Crown Point, Ind.) intercepted Davidson on the first series of the second half, but after a 16-yard return, coughed the ball up with the Bears regaining possession. They took advantage, benefitting from a roughing-the-passer call on their way to an eight-play, 36-yard touchdown drive. John Fisher capped it with a three-yard run and the point after made it 28-7.
 
WashU's final score came after a Carter Rholl interception. The Bears went 54 yards in nine plays with Davidson finding Emmanuel Engermann for 15 yards and the touchdown. Vartanian's kick made it 35-7 with 5:07 left in the third.
 
The Vikings answered with a nine-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) capped it with a four-yard run and Ennis' extra point accounted for the final.
 
Behind 117 yards from Jarosz, Augustana outrushed its hosts 159 yards to 63 and outgained them 341 to 320, but couldn't overcome losing four interceptions and a fumble. The five turnovers were just one less than the  Vikings had committed in seven previous games. Fuller, who had been picked off just once all year, finished 20-of-32 for 177 yards and a touchdown, with three interceptions. Jarosz added seven receptions for 43 yards.
 
Junior safety John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) led the defense with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops. Senior end Xavier Holley (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) added seven tackles, three of which came behind the line of scrimmage, including 2½ sacks.
 
Coach Steve Bell's club will look to bounce back on Saturday, November 9, when it hosts Carroll at Lindberg Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.