ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team will be back home for their next contest on Saturday, October 21 when they welcome in the North Park Vikings to Lindberg Stadium.

Augustana is currently 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the CCIW, now winners of three in a row following a statement 35-17 road victory this past Saturday at Wash U. After punting the ball away to begin the game, the Augustana defense quickly shifted momentum in favor of the Vikings on a forced fumble deep in the Bears' territory. This set up the first score of the game as a three-yard touchdown run from Tyler Rivelli put the Vikings up 7-0. Following a Bears field goal to trim the margin to 7-3, the Vikings strung together another scoring drive, this time going 75 yards on 11 plays and ending it with another Rivelli score on the ground to move the advantage to 14-3 after one quarter of action.

Another defensive stop from the Augie defense kicked off the second quarter, setting up another long, touchdown-scoring march down the field. Beginning at their own 23, the Vikings took nearly eight minutes off the clock with a 17-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in a Mike DiGioia plunge from a yard out. On the following WashU possession, Augustana snagged the ball right back on a tipped ball interception by Darren Oregon. The Vikings added their second touchdown of the quarter and fourth of the half moments later on a 26-yard pass from Cole Bhardwaj to Bobby Inserra. The Bears answered with a score right before the half to make it 28-10 Vikings at intermission. Following a 7-0 third quarter in favor of Washington, the Vikings added some insurance in the fourth quarter, using a 45-yard punt return from Inserra to account for the only points of the final period and put the game out of reach for good.

Bhardwaj ended his afternoon with 17 completions on 27 attempts for 156 yards, while DiGioia led the ground attack with 95 yards. Inserra was the top pass catcher with 11 receptions and 91 yards. On defense, Chase Tatum and Toby Splitt tallied eight tackles apiece, while six total Vikings grabbed at least one tackle for loss. Tatum and Tim Swaney were among the five players to record a sack.

North Park enters Saturday's matchup with a 4-2 overall record and 3-2 mark in the CCIW. The Vikings are winners of their last two outings, including a slim 20-18 victory over Illinois Wesleyan in their most recent contest. After falling behind 12-0, a 90-yard kickoff return in the second quarter allowed them to pull within five of the Titans heading into halftime. Back-to-back second-half scores gave them a lead and extended it out to 20-12, fending off a two-point conversion from Illinois Wesleyan on a fourth-quarter touchdown to hang onto the lead and the eventual win. 

North Park is averaging just over 25 points per contest this year and is allowing 20 to their opponents, good for fourth in the conference behind Augustana's 18.8 mark. Saturday's game will feature the two top returners in the CCIW, with North Park's Juan Nieves averaging 40.3 yards per kickoff return and Augie's Inserra at 24.1 yards per punt return.

Saturday will be the 61st meeting between the two programs, with Augustana holding a 56-4 advantage all-time. Augie has won four in a row over their Viking counterpart, including last season's 56-34 victory in Chicago.

Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live coverage can be found here.