ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team dropped their first game of the season on Saturday, falling to the No. 11 ranked Wheaton Thunder at home by a score of 38-28.

The Vikings struck first in this one, taking their opening drive down the field 71 yards in just over four minutes to take a 7-0 lead on a Bobby Inserra touchdown from Thomas Hall. Augie forced a three-and-out on the Thunder's ensuing drive and took their next possession into Wheaton territory, but came up short on an field goal attempt to keep the score at a seven-point margin. Wheaton responded on their final drive of the opening quarter, capitalizing on a seven-play, 80-yard drive with a four-yard run to make it a 7-7 game after 15 minutes of play.

On the first play of the second quarter, the Vikings closed out a 69-yard drive that went just five plays with a touchdown pass from Liam Crawley to Inserra from seven yards out. The Thunder added a score on their ensuing drive to tie things up at 14, eventually taking the lead with five minutes remaining in the half. Wheaton led 21-14 at the break.

The Thunder controlled the third quarter to take a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter. The visitors secured a touchdown on their opening drive of the half, followed by a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown later on to make it 35-14 after three quarters of play. Augustana grabbed their first points of the half early on in the fourth as Tyler Rivelli made it a two-score game with a four-yard run.

The Vikings forced a Thunder punt on the ensuing drive and two quick passes from Hall put Augie deep into Wheaton territory. On the fifth play of the drive, Hall and Gorken Ian Gorken connected through the air for a score, this time from 28 yards out to cut the deficit to just seven at 35-28. Gorken finish the contest tied for a game-high seven catches. He tallied 123 yards and a touchdown.

With 7:38 showing on the clock, the Thunder put together a long drive down the field to take nearly six minutes off of the clock. During their march down the field, Wheaton converted two critical third down plays, eventually resulting in a 22-yard field goal to push the score back out to two possessions. Another interception from the Thunder defense on the next Vikings drive sealed the game at 38-28.

Hall finished his night 23-38 through the air with 297 yards and two touchdowns, while Crawley added 68 yards and a score on 8-14 attempts. Jordan Vesey hauled in seven catches for 66 yards.

Chase Tatum ended his night with 12 tackles on defense, also adding one sack. Ronde Worrels was next in line with nine, while Michael Hudson had the lone interception for the Vikings.

With the loss, Augustana drops to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in CCIW action. The team will be back in action on Saturday, October 1 when they visit the Carroll Pioneers. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Waukesha, Wis.