SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota -- Minot State put together a huge 305-yard performance on the ground, including 100 yards from Brandon Hines Jr., but fell 38-33 to Augustana University (SD) Saturday afternoon on the road at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.
The Vikings improved to 2-1 on the year and 1-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the Beavers fell to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in conference match-ups.
Hines Jr. paced the Beavers rushing attack by accumulating 100 yards over the course of the game, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Hines Jr. also tacked on 38 receiving yards. Jaden Fox added 78 yards on the ground, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Jett Lundeen chipped in with 76 yards and three rushing touchdowns as well, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Minot State also got a significant contribution from Tyler Stonebraker, who caught one pass for 37 yards and one touchdown, as well as Sam Buckhanan, who tacked on an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
"Offensively, it was an efficient effort. It wasn't a spectacular effort, and frankly it just wasn't enough," Head Coach Ian Shields said after the game. "Our job is to score more than the opposition and we didn't get that done today."
Minot State recorded a stellar performance on the ground, racking up 305 rushing yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and out-rushing Augustana (SD) by 196 yards. The Minot State offense did a good job keeping drives alive, converting on 76.9 percent of their third-down attempts going 10-for-13 on the day. The Beavers also went 1-for-1 on fourth down.
Head Coach Ian Shields will not let another close loss define the team, saying "there's a lot of football left in the season for this team to truly define itself."
Defensively, Minot State held up fairly well against the Augustana (SD) rushing attack, holding the Vikings to 109 yards on the ground.
Minot State's offense made the most out of their trips to the red zone, scoring four of their touchdowns in the red zone.
For the Beavers, Head Coach Shields knows the priority for next week. "I'm proud of the continued effort, the fight, and resiliency of our men. That being said, the expectations are to do more than just compete - the expectation is to win."
Shields and his team are prepared to take the field at home next Saturday at 2 p.m. against Southwest Minnesota State.
How It Happened
Minot State got on the scoreboard first and took a 6-0 lead with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter by a 1-yard run from Jett Lundeen. Augustana (SD) responded to go ahead 7-6 before the Beavers scored again on a 37-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Stonebraker to jump back in front 13-7.
Augustana (SD) then grabbed a 14-13 lead, but Minot State got on the scoreboard again at the :51 remaining mark in the second quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run from Sam Buckhanan to jump back ahead 20-14. Augustana (SD) then took control of the lead, building a 21-20 advantage before the Beavers responded with another Jett Lundeen one-yard touchdown run to retake the lead at 27-21.
Augustana (SD) then fought back to take a 38-27 lead, with a Minot State touchdown 3:14 left in the fourth quarter to make it a 38-33 game. Neither team scored again in the game.
Comments from Head Coach Ian Shields
"It sounds like a broken record, but it's the same story and it's the truth - we're playing good people really close but not making enough plays to come out on top."
"Credit to Augustana. They made a few more plays than we did in the second half and that was the difference."
"We operated well at QB, our OL controlled the line of scrimmage, and our backs performed at a high level."
Game Notes
» Augustana (SD) outgained Minot State 480-393 in the contest.
» Minot State had their highest scoring quarter in the second period, when they put up 14 points.
» Minot State converted 10 of 13 third downs while Augustana (SD) was successful on 4 of 10.
» The Beavers had two players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Calvin Moore, who had 10.
» Minot State went 1-for-1 on fourth down, converting on 100 percent of attempts.
» The Beavers didn't allow a sack in the contest.
» Minot State won the time of possession battle 32:37 to 27:23.
» Gunnar Hensley led the Vikings passing attack, completing 23 of his 30 attempts for 371 yards and four touchdowns.
» Dj Page was Augustana (SD)'s leading receiver with 147 yards.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
