DECATUR, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings football team bounced back in a big way on Saturday, defeating the Millikin Big Blue on the road by a score of 70-0. It marks the first time since October of 2019 that Augie has posted a shutout, also seeing the most points in game since their 71-0 win over North Park back at that time.

After forcing a Millikin punt on the first drive of the game, the Vikings notched their first touchdown of the afternoon on the ensuing possession, going 74 yards and ending it with a Mike DiGioia three-yard run. Frank Giamarusti picked off a pass from the Big Blue on the very next play from scrimmage to give the Vikings the ball right back. Augie later went on to add one more touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Cole Bhardwaj to Jordan Vesey, making it a 14-0 lead for Augustana after 15 minutes of play.

Less than a minute into the second quarter, Tyler Rivelli added another score for the Vikings to put them up 21-0. After a couple of empty possessions both ways, the Vikings recovered a muffed punt with 40 seconds remaining in the half to give them the ball at the Big Blue 14-yard line. A play later, Augustana grabbed another score before the end of the half as Bhardwaj and Jack Schmitz connected from 14 yards out. The Vikings led 28-0 at the break.

The onslaught continued on the ground in the third quarter as three more rushing touchdowns for the Vikings, two from Brooks and one from Rivelli, lifted the differential to 49-0 in favor Augie after three quarters of action. Halfway through the fourth, Liam Crawley grabbed his second passing touchdown of the season, hooking up with Breyden Smith from 13 yards out. The score for Smith was his first collegiate touchdown. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff gifted the ball back to Augie, which turned into a nine-yard touchdown run for Arik Mistak, also the first of his collegiate career.

For the second straight kickoff, a fumble on the return allowed the Vikings to set up inside the Millikin 30-yard line. Mistak secured his second touchdown in the quarter a few minutes later from a yard out to give Augie their 70th point of the contest. The clock ran out on the following Big Blue drive to lock in the shutout win for the Vikings.

Augie held Millikin to just 126 total yards and forced six Big Blue turnovers. The balanced defensive effort was led by Ronde Worrels, who finished with six tackles. Four others tallied four tackles, with Josh Timm securing three of his for loss. 

On offense, Bhardwaj finishing his afternoon with 300 yards through the air with 19 completions and two touchdowns. Bobby Inserra hauled in a game-high seven catches and posted 133 yards, while DiGioia had a team-high in rushing yards with 54.

With the win, Augustana improves to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the CCIW. The Vikings will return home for a homecoming matchup with the undefeated Washington Bears on Saturday, October 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from inside Lindberg Stadium.