ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Coe got on the board first Saturday, but Augustana responded with 41 unanswered points and rolled to a 41-3 win over the Kohawks in both teams' season opener at Lindberg Stadium. Coach Steve Bell's Vikings will be idle next Saturday before hosting Elmhurst in their CCIW opener on September 21 at 6:00 p.m. The game with the Bluejays will be part of Family Weekend festivities.
 
Each team punted on its opening possession. On Augustana's second series, senior Zachary Fuller (St. Patrick HS, Schiller Park, Ill.) had his short third-down pass go through the hands of his receiver before being picked off by Coe linebacker Brian Robertson at the Viking 34-yard line. The Kohawks managed one first down before settling for a 28-yard Tristan Connell field goal and a 3-0 lead.
 
Augustana took the lead with a touchdown on its final possession of the first quarter. Fuller hit senior Tom Dolis (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) with completions of 41 and 10 yards—the latter going for the score that put the Vikings up 6-3. A bobbled snap spoiled the point after attempt.
 
A diving interception by senior Luke Sawicki (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) set up Augustana's next scoring opportunity. Fuller took advantage, lofting a perfect 28-yard touchdown pass to Max Uranich (La Salle-Peru HS, La Salle, Ill.) to cap a three-play 42-yard drive. Owen Ennis' (Evanston HS, Evanston, Ill.) kick made it 13-3.
 
Coe put together its best drive of the day midway through the second quarter, going 51 yards in 13 plays. The Viking defense stiffened though and Connell's 46-yard field goal attempt ended up short and wide left. Each team's final possession of the half came up empty and they headed to intermission with the hosts on top 13-3.
 
Senior Luke Phelan (Joliet Catholic HS, Shorewood, Ill.) intercepted Max Ridenour on the Kohawks' first two possessions of the second half and Augustana tallied touchdowns after both. The first drive went 70 yards in 10 plays and Fuller ran the final seven yards for the score, scrambling first to his right before reversing field and surviving a big hit at the goal line. Phelan brought back his second pick 17 yards to the Coe 10 and after a holding penalty pushed the Vikings back, Fuller hit senior Ethan Jennings (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) in the back of the end zone from 18 yards out. Ennis hit both conversions and the lead was 27-3 midway through the third.
 
Augustana completed the day's scoring with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Fuller connected with Dolis again, this time from 35 yards out and junior Travor Spicer (North Lawndale HS, Chicago, Ill.) finished off an 11-play, 76-yard march with a two-yard scoring burst with 1:42 to play.
 
Bell's bunch was outstanding on both sides of the ball. The defense limited Coe to 193 total yards, 10 first downs and an average of just 3.0 yards per play. Sawicki finished with 11 tackles, including three for loss, an interception and a sack. Junior John Kappel (Wheeling HS, Wheeling, Ill.) was in on nine stops and also had an interception.
 
Fuller completed 16 of 24 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He spread the wealth, with four receivers each snaring three of his throws. Dolis' three grabs went for 86 yards and two scores. Senior Bobby Jarosz (Prospect HS, Mount Prospect, Ill.) paced the ground attack with 113 yards on 21 carries. The Vikings finished with 184 rushing yards on 40 carries and 449 total yards, averaging 6.9 yards per play.