2020 season delayed and limited to three games due to COVID restrictions; Vikings finish 1-2
The 2020 football season—the strangest in the history of Augustana's 128-year old program—ran from March 27 to April 16, 2021 and ended with the Vikings posting a 1-2 record. Fears over COVID delayed it nearly seven months and limited it to three games—the fewest played since 1944, when the season was canceled during World War II.
Just five of the CCIW's 10 teams played any official games this year. Elmhurst played a combination of scrimmages and exhibitions, while Carroll, North Central, Washington University and Wheaton were idle. A grand total of seven "countable" games were played.
Augustana opened at home against Illinois Wesleyan and dropped a 12-0 decision. On April 3, the Vikings hosted Millikin and the teams went four overtimes before the Big Blue came out on top 40-34. Coach
Steve Bell's squad wrapped things up with a 51-14 win at North Park on April 16.
Sophomore linebacker
Tim Swaney (Anderson HS, Cincinnati, Ohio) made his presence felt during the shortened season. He recorded 42 tackles, including seven for loss. His 14.0 tackles per game ranked fourth in the nation and his 2.3 TFL per game ranked 10th.
On offense, senior quarterback
Alek Jacobs (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) and sophomore running back
Jacob Brooks (Yorkville HS, Plano, Ill.) led the way.
Jacobs completed 25 of 53 passes for 336 yards and six touchdowns and rushed 44 times for 167 yards and an additional three scores. His average of 18.0 points responsible for per game ranked 13th in the nation. Although he didn't return kicks this year, he still ended up with Viking career records for kickoff returns (52) and yardage (1,193).
Brooks rushed for 272 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries. His average of 5.79 yards per carry was 21st in the nation and his 90.7 rushing yards per game ranked 29th.
2020 CCIW STANDINGS
| School |
CCIW |
Overall |
| Carthage |
0-0 |
2-0 |
| Millikin |
0-0 |
2-1 |
| Illinois Wesleyan |
0-0 |
2-1 |
| AUGUSTANA |
0-0 |
1-2 |
| North Park |
0-0 |
0-3 |
| Carroll |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| Elmhurst |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| North Central |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| Washington U. |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| Wheaton |
0-0 |
0-0 |
2020 AUGUSTANA FOOTBALL SUPERLATIVES
INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
All-CCIW: No All-CCIW team named
D3football.com All-North Region: No All-Region teams named
CCIW Player of the Week: No Players of the Week named
CCIW Academic All-Conference:
Broderick Blackford,
Hayden Bradt,
Patrick Byrne,
Kyle Cacioppo, William Crouch,
Vincent D'Orazio, Daniel Higgins,
Austin Ioerger,
Alek Jacobs,
John Kappel,
David Lane,
Brayden Macdonald,
David Mason,
Matthew McCarthy,
Hunter Menke,
Anthony Norberg,
Noah Patterson,
Matt Payton,
Logan Pierard, Michael Riley,
Michael Scarpinato,
Daniel Skold, Zachery Stewart, Joseph Timm,
John Vohasek,
Spencer Warfield,
Walker Whalen
SCHOOL RECORDS
Individual
Kickoff return yards, career: 1193,
Alek Jacobs
Kickoff returns, career: 52,
Alek Jacobs
Pass breakups, career: 34,
Zach Stewart
ADDITIONS TO AUGUSTANA'S TOP TEN LISTS
Career
Kickoff return yards: 1193,
Alek Jacobs, 1st
Kickoff returns: 52
Alek Jacobs, 1st
Pass breakups: 34,
Zach Stewart, 1st
Kickoff return average: 22.94,
Alek Jacobs, 6th
Solo tackles: 130,
John Kappel, 6th-T
Punt return average: 11.86,
John Kappel, 8th
All-purpose yards per game: 82.4,
Alek Jacobs, 9th
Completion percentage: 51.4,
Alek Jacobs, 10th
Field goals: 10,
Owen Ennis, 10th-T
Single Season
Forced fumbles: 2,
Brian Pritt, 5th-T
NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS TEAM – TOP 10
Fumbles lost: 0, 1st
4th down conversion pct.: .750, 8th
Red zone defense: .500, 8th
NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS INDIVIDUAL – TOP 25
Tackles per game: 14.0,
Tim Swaney, 4th
Forced fumbles per game: 0.67,
Brian Pritt, 9th
Tackles for loss per game: 2.3,
Tim Swaney, 10th
Points responsible for per game: 18.0,
Alek Jacobs, 13th
Punt return average: 13.6,
John Kappel, 13th
Yards per carry: 5.79,
Jacob Brooks, 21st
Solo tackles per game: 6.0,
Tim Swaney, 23rd
Fumbles recovered: 1,
James Thorp, 23rd
