ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings football team hits the road for the first time this season to battle the UW-Stout Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Menomonie, Wis.
The Vikings are returning to action after a 42-14 win in the season opener against the Simpson Storm this past Saturday at Lindberg Stadium. After Simpson opened the game with a fumble, Augustana immediately capitalized. Running back Ben Ludlum took the handoff and raced 58 yards to the end zone, putting the Vikings on the board just 14 seconds into the possession. Augie's defense forced another Simpson punt. Jimmy Makuh guided the offense down the field, eventually finding Tyreke Fortney for a six-yard touchdown pass, and Jacob Garbett added the extra point, pushing the lead to 14-0. With less than a minute remaining in the opening quarter, Makuh connected with Fortney again, this time on a 50-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, Augie put together an 88-yard scoring drive; the Vikings found the end zone again when Makuh kept the ball himself and powered in from five yards out. Simpson eventually answered to put themselves on the scoreboard, but Augustana maintained the 28-7 lead into halftime.
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Both teams' defenses limited each other to no action in the end zone, with Augie protecting its three-touchdown upper hand. Simpson opened the fourth with a rushing touchdown to trim the deficit to 28-14. Just over three minutes later, Makuh found Sean Schlanser for a 21-yard touchdown pass, restoring Augustana's three-touchdown cushion at 35-14. With 4:53 remaining, Makuh capped an eight-play, 54-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Garbett's sixth successful extra point of the evening completed the scoring and gave the Vikings a 42-14 advantage.
Makuh completed 16 of 23 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns to earn CCIW Offensive Player of the Week. Ludlum carried the ball 19 times for 146 yards and a touchdown, while Fortney hauled in six passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Cole Schroeder led the defense with 10 tackles, and Ronde Worrels finished the night with 2.5 tackles for a loss of 14 yards and 1.5 sacks.
UW-Stout enters the game with a 1-0 record after defeating the Dubuque Spartans 34-20. The Blue Devils trailed 17-10 at halftime and 17-13 entering the fourth quarter, then scored 21 points in the final period to pull away for the win. Stout finished with 407 yards of total offense, including 159 rushing and 248 passing. The Blue Devil defense limited Dubuque to 37 rushing yards and recorded 10 tackles for loss. Quarterback Chase Pemberton completed 17 of 32 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut. Keon Maggitt led the Blue Devils receiving corps with five catches for 110 yards, while Matt Grzybowski rushed 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Braxton Munnikhuysen led the Stout with seven tackles. Stout is receiving votes in the opening week of the AFCA Polls, accumulating eight points alongside Augustana.
Saturday will be the first meeting between the two teams. The Blue Devils have met CCIW teams the past two years in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl, where they lost to Wheaton in 2024 and defeated WashU last season.
Kickoff is scheduled to begin after a short senior recognition at 1 p.m.
