NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings football team travels to the No. 1 North Central Cardinals on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The Vikings sit at 4-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play after defeating the Carroll Pioneers last Saturday by a score of 31-24. In the Vikings' opening drive starting on the 37-yard line, Ben Ludlum rushed for five yards before Jimmy Makuh connected with Mikey Brosnan for 18 yards. Makuh rushed another eight and connected with Ethan Vrabec and Sean Schlanser to set the ball on the one-yard line. Makuh dashed through the Pioneers to cap a seven-play, 63-yard drive and take the 7-0 lead. Carroll responded to even the game 7-7. 

In the second quarter, Makuh sparked the drive with a 12-yard scramble to the nine and followed with an end zone back to Vrabec. Jacob Garbett followed with the successful extra point to put Augustana back up 14-7. Carl Thomas sacked the Pioneers on their next drive before Teke Nieto broke up a short pass. Despite the defensive resistance, Carroll punched in a 12-yard quarterback scramble to even the score at 14–14. Carroll took the 21-14 lead entering the halftime break. 

Returning to the field, the defense closed the Pioneers' offense before setting the ball up for Garbett, who drilled a 40-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 21-17. The Vikings' next drive resulted in 13 plays for 81 yards. On 1st-and-goal from the six, Makuh found Vrabec again on a fade to the right that the big target would go up and get, taking the ball off the defender's helmet. Garbett's extra point capped the 6:35 drive and gave Augustana the 24-21 lead.

A late field goal in the fourth drew the score even at 24 apiece. Ludlum carried the ball for four consecutive plays to move inside the five-yard line before he powered across from two yards out to reclaim the lead. Garbett's extra point pushed the margin to 31-24. 

Makuh finished the day 26-36 for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 42 yards on the ground. Ludlum anchored 72 yards on 14 carries, while Vrabec posted 97 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Toby Splitt led with 12 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup. Garbett went four-for-four on extra points and a 40-yard field goal.

North Central enters the game with a 6-0 overall record and 5-0 in conference play after shutting out North Park last weekend by a score of 75-0. The Cardinals totaled 507 offensive yards, while holding their opponents to just 79. Garret Wilson completed 11 of his 17 attempts for 139 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, Zeb Rashid had 10 rushing attempts for a gain of 85, while Galashky Blaise gained 69 yards for nine rushing plays for two touchdowns. In the air, Jack Rummel had two catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns, and Thomas Skokna had six receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Bobby Medina finished the day with two sacks for a loss of 10 yards and four solo tackles. On special teams, Aidan Ellison made five of his six extra point attempts. 

North Central owns a 57-35-1 all-time series record over Augustana, with the Cardinals collecting a 49-10 victory at home a season ago. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.