ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team earned a key win over the Carroll Pioneers on Saturday, erasing a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit with 13 straight points to win by a final score of 23-19.

After a three-and-out from the Vikings began the game, the Pioneers marched down the field for the game's first score, using a six-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. Augustana bounced back nicely with a 13-play drive that saw them with a fourth down opportunity from a yard out, but was unable to convert. Carroll added onto their lead shortly after, connecting on a 34-yard field goal to begin the second quarter.

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. Following a couple of first down runs from Tyler Rivelli and Mike DiGioia, the Vikings found the end zone on 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.

The fourth quarter 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. The score read 19-17 Carroll's way with just over 11 minutes to go.

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 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. Harper also posted double-digit tackles with 11 to go with his interception and three pass breakups. As a team, the Vikings had six tackles for loss on the afternoon.

On offense, Bhardwaj finished with 237 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Rivelli was the top rusher with 87 yards, while Bobby Inserra and Breyden Smith were the top receivers, ending with 76 and 75 yards.

Carroll out-gained Augustana 461-392, but the Vikings defense allowed just one touchdown in five Pioneers' red zone visits.

Augie improves to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW with the win. The team will remain home for Homecoming next Saturday against Millikin.