ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team was defeated on Senior Day on Saturday, falling in a wild finish to the visiting Carthage Firebirds by a final of 37-30 inside Lindberg Stadium.
 
The Vikings quickly took the ball away from the Firebirds on the opening drive of the game, recovering a fumble on just the third play from scrimmage to give the home team the ball inside the Carthage 40. Augie tallied the first points of the day four plays later on an eight-yard touchdown connection from Cole Bhardwaj to Bobby Inserra. The 7-0 lead for the Vikings remained intact after one quarter of play.
 
Early on in the second quarter, Bhardwaj and Inserra connected once again through the air, this time from 14 yards out for another Augustana touchdown. The point-after attempt was no good to keep it at a 13-0 game.
 
In the closing minute of the first half, Carthage found the end zone for the first time with just 13 seconds showing on the clock. A muffed snap proved to be advantageous for the Firebirds on their extra-point try, converting a successful throw from their holder to earn two points. Augustana held a 13-8 lead at the break.
 
A fumble from the Vikings on their first possession of the second half gave the Firebirds the ball back inside Augie territory, eventually resulting in their second score of the game. Another two-point conversion put Carthage ahead 16-13. Augustana answered with a scoring drive to reclaim the lead as Inserra and Bhardwaj hooked up in the end zone for the third time. The 20-16 advantage did not last long as a 59-yard touchdown strike from Carthage a minute later put the visitors back on top 23-20, which held firm heading into the final quarter.
 
Following a few empty possessions both ways, Carthage cushioned their lead to 10 with a touchdown with less than three minutes left, but two plays and 18 seconds later the Vikings connected on a 30-yard strike from Bhardwaj to Jordan Vesey to get within three.
 
An onside kick went out of bounds to give the Firebirds the ball back inside Augustana territory, but the Vikings prevented a first down on four tries from Carthage to get the ball back with two minutes remaining. A fourth-down conversion kept the Augie drive alive and with 40 seconds left, Sidney Maroon sent through a 42-yard field goal to knot the game at 30 points apiece.
 
After a holding call, a first down for the Firebirds gave them life and the visitors grabbed the lead back with 20 seconds left on a 59-yard touchdown pitch and catch. Bhardwaj's last-second heave for the Vikings fell into the arms of a Carthage defender, ending the game at 37-30 in favor of the Firebirds.
 
The Vikings were out-gained by Carthage, but were led by Inserra's career day as he hauled in 16 catches for 240 yards and the three scores. The 16 receptions break a 12-year record of 12 set by Corbett Ball versus Elmhurst in 2010, as well as Paul Ander in 1968 against Luther. Bhardwaj finished with 361 yards through the air on 25 completions. On defense, Dakota Straight secured 10 tackles, five of which were solo, while Josh Timm and Conner Waite each added seven. Cole Romano and Ronde Worrels each contributed a sack.

With the loss, Augie drops to 5-4 on the season and 4-4 in the CCIW. The team wil close out the 2022 season next Saturday, November 12 on the road against No. 1 ranked North Central. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Naperville, Ill.