BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – A potential 90-yard, game-winning drive came up just short for Augustana Saturday, as Illinois Wesleyan hung on for a 21-17 win at Tucci Stadium. The Vikings suffered their first loss in three games this year and fell to 1-1 in the CCIW. The host Titans improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
 
Taking over at his own 10-yard line with 2:05 remaining after an IWU punt, quarterback Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) led Augustana 80 yards in 12 plays to reach the Titan 10. The senior connected on six passes, including two to Max Uranich (La Salle-Peru HS., La Salle, Ill.) for 18 and 15 yards and his final completion of the drive, to Ethan Jennings (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) for 18 yards down to the 10. With three seconds showing on the clock, Fuller threw to Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.) on the right side, short of the end zone, but the ball slipped through Jarosz's hands as the final horn sounded.
 
Both teams missed scoring opportunities early. The Titans drove to the Viking four on the game's first possession, but had a 21-yard field goal try go wide right. Augustana drove to the Wesleyan 32 before being stopped on downs. Two plays later, Daniel Tjaden (Assumption HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) sacked Titan quarterback Brandon Bauer and stripped him of the ball. Matt Payton (Kaneland HS, Sugar Grove, Ill.) was there to fall on it at the IWU 23. The Vikings reached the 14-yard line, but were again stopped on downs.
 
Wesleyan broke through for the game's first score late in the first quarter. Bauer hit Jack Healy with a 21-yard touchdown pass, capping a 59-yard, eight-play drive. Jonathan Rukujzo's kick made it 7-0. Augustana answered on the ensuing possession, going 76 yards in 10 plays, with Fuller hitting Patrick Byrne (St. Patrick HS, Chicago, Ill.) with a six-yard scoring strike. Owen Ennis' (Evanston HS, Evanston, Ill.) conversion tied it at 13:40 of the second quarter.
 
A 12-yard Bauer-to-Dean Zigulich touchdown pass and a 19-yard Ennis field goal sent the teams to the locker room with the Titans on top 14-10.
 
The biggest play of the day occurred on the opening possession of the second half, when Christopher Kosinski blocked a Justin Wehr (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) punt and IWU teammate Robert Neidballa carried it 20 yards to the end zone. Rukujzo's PAT made it 21-10 two minutes into the third quarter.
 
A 29-yard John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) punt return set up the Vikings' next score. Starting at the Wesleyan 26, it took just three plays, with Fuller hitting Jennings for 21 yards and a touchdown to make it 21-17 with 5:25 left in the third.
 
It looked like the hosts would answer again, but J.J. Cervino (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) intercepted a Bauer throw at the goal line and returned it 35 yards. Augustana responded by driving to the Titan 21 before again being stopped on downs. The Vikings returned the favor when IWU reached the Augustana 25 on the next possession. The teams then traded punts, setting the stage for Vikings' final march.
 
Fuller completed 26 of 45 passes for a career-high 348 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He spread the wealth. Uranich had seven grabs for 76 yards, while Tom Dolis (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.), Jarosz, Jennings and Byrne had five catches apiece. Augustana found the going tough on the ground. It took 25 carries for Jarosz to net 68 yards.
 
With the exception of a 50-yard Bauer run on the third play of the game, the Viking defense limited IWU to 57 yards on 29 rushes. Bauer was 22 of 38 through the air for 247 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Zach Walsh was his most frequent target with six catches for 82 yards. Luke Phelan (Joliet Catholic HS, Shorewood, Ill.) (12), Cervino (11) and David Lane (Civic Memorial HS, Bethalto, Ill.) (10) led the Vikings in tackles and Zach Stewart (Crown Point HS, Crown Point, Ind.) recorded four pass breakups.
 
On Saturday, October 5, Coach Steve Bell's outfit is back at Lindberg Stadium, hosting Millikin as part of Homecoming festivities. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.