ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team will remain home for their next contest on Saturday, October 7 when they welcome in the Millikin Big Blue for Homecoming.

Augustana currently sits 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the CCIW, and are receiving votes in the latest AFCA poll. The team is coming off a comeback 23-19 victory over Carroll last Saturday at home, erasing a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off the previously-undefeated Pioneers. After 10-0 start to begin the game for Carroll, Sidney Maroon put the Vikings on the board on the ensuing Augustana drive, drilling a field goal from 37 yards out to cap off a 10-play venture down the field. Another successful kick from the Pioneers stretched the margin back out to 10 before Augie notched their first touchdown of the game with less than five minutes to go before the half, seeing a 26 yard pass connection from Cole Bhardwaj to Jordan Vesey. The Pioneers added one more field goal with less than a minute to go to make the score 16-10 in favor of the visitors heading into the halftime break. All five drives for Carroll in the first half made it inside the Augie 40-yard line, but the Vikings' defense allowed just one touchdown through 30 minutes of play.

In a battle of two of the top three scoring offenses in the CCIW, the defenses continued to shine in the third quarter, keeping each other off the scoreboard. The 16-10 score remained intact heading into the fourth, which began with the Pioneers inside the Augie red zone, eventually resulting in another three points to make it a two-possession game. Augie responded in a positive manner, using a 25-yard pitch-and-catch on the second play of the ensuing drive to get to midfield. Four plays later, Bhardwaj hooked up with Sean Schlanser from 11 yards out, Schlanser's first catch and touchdown of the season. Another drive for the Pioneers ended up deep in Augie territory, but the Vikings' defense continued to keep them out of the end zone, this time forcing a turnover with a Nick Harper acrobatic interception at the goal line. Starting at their own two, Augustana rattled off an eight-play, 98-yard drive to take the lead as a Mike DiGioia 11-yard touchdown run put the Vikings out in front for the first time. 

Leading by four, the Augie defense faced one final drive from the Pioneers deep in the Augie red zone. With under a minute to go, Carroll faced a first down from 14 yards out, but proceeded to see four incompletions in a row. On the final attempt to the end zone, Johnny Breeden poked the ball away to seal the Vikings win. Tim Swaney led the stout Augie defense with a game-high 14 tackles, as well as one tackle for loss and a sack. As a team, the Vikings had six tackles for loss on the afternoon. Carroll out-gained Augustana 461-392, but the Vikings defense allowed just one touchdown in five Pioneers' red zone visits.

Millikin enters Saturday with an 0-4 overall record and 0-3 mark in conference. The Big Blue are coming off of a 45-17 home loss to Illinois Wesleyan Titans last Saturday. Millikin has allowed over 30 points in all four losses this season and is averaging just 7.5 points per outing, with the 17 points scored against Illinois Wesleyan being a season high. The game vs. the Titans started with a low-scoring 6-3 opening quarter, but a 15-0 advantage in the second for Illinois Wesleyan allowed them to pull away. Millikin notched both of their touchdowns in a plus-margin fourth period, connecting on a pair of four- and 25-yard touchdown throws. The Big Blue currently rank last in the CCIW in both rushing and passing offense.

Saturday will be the 82nd all-time meeting between the two programs, with Augustana holding a 46-35-1 series advantage. The Vikings put together an efficient performance last season in a 70-0 victory in Decatur, 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. 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. Bhardwaj finished 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.

Three of the last five meetings have been decided by six points or less, all Millikin wins. The two other games in that span were won by Augustana by a combined 110-14 score.

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