Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University racked up a season-high 245 yards on the ground against the nation's 16^th ranked rush defense and came within a minute and 19 seconds of pulling off a big Gypsy Days upset over visiting in-state rivals Augustana College on Saturday, but came up on the short end of a last-ditch effort from the Vikings, who squeaked out of Swisher Field with a 27-24 victory.
 
NSU junior Kristin James exploded for 152 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, while junior wide-outs Mark Hanley and Chris Morton offset the ground game with a combined 176 receiving yards.  Hanley also hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass from senior Nick Wanner just before halftime that gave NSU a 14-7 lead.

With the loss, NSU slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.  The Vikings, who entered the 2011 season ranked amongst the nation's top ten before suffering three straight losses to open the season, climbed back to the .500 mark at 3-3 overall and 3-2 in league action.
 
NSU forced Augustana into two straight 3-and-outs and four straight punts to start the game before linebacker-turned-running back Hanipale Seuga put the Wolves on the board in the second quarter with a two-yard dive into the end zone. 
 
The Vikings wasted little time in tying the score when Grant Gebhardt returned the Wolves' ensuing kick-off 93 yards for a touchdown.  Gebhardt joined teammate Sam Holsen on the leaderboard with 94 reception yards apiece on the night.
 
Augustana appeared to be gaining momentum after holding NSU to a 3-and-out and marching downfield on their next possession until another Seuga effort, this time in the form of an interception, re-turned the tide in favor of the Wolves.
 
Seuga, who entered the game in the offensive backfield on several short-yardage situations, looked to be headed for a second touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have all but sealed the win for the Wolves, but was caught from behind by Augustana's Dan O'Keefe and stripped of the ball inside the Vikings' 20-yardline.
 
Although the Vikings did not score on their ensuing possession, the changing of hands was the start of the turning of the tide for Augustana.  The two teams traded punts, giving the Wolves the ball on their own 38 with 4:51 to go and holding on to a 24-19 lead.  NSU pushed the ball into Augustana territory before stalling out at the 41 and sending the punt unit onto the field.  Head coach Tom Dosch and the Wolves wanted an illegal participation penalty called on Augustana on the punt – a penalty that would have resulted in a first down and a fresh set of downs for the Wolves – but no flag was thrown, setting up the Vikings on the 20 yard line for what proved to be the game-winning drive.
 
The Vikings and junior quarterback Josh Hansen covered the 80 yards in four plays and 38 seconds, capping the drive with a 24-yard pass to an outstretched Ben Parsley in the end zone – his second touchdown catch of the game.  Hansen, who finished the game 25-for-49 for 317 yards and the two touchdowns, then found Parsley again on the two-point conversion to go up by three.
 
The Augustana defense then withstood the NSU passing attack on their final drive, holding on fourth down to seal the win despite coming up more than 115 yards shy of the Wolves in total offense and 13 minutes shy of the Wolves in time of possession.
 
Defensively, the Wolves held a competent Augustana rushing game to just 40 net yards in the game, 19 of which came on the final drive of the night.  Cornerback Paul Woodward and linebacker Mike Tuch led the way with eight tackles apiece.  Tuch also had a big third-down sack for the Wolves early in the first quarter to help set the tone.  Woodward also had two pass break-ups in the secondary.
 
NSU junior Felipe Alfaia also kicked a career-long 41-yard field goal in the Wolves' offensive effort.
 
Senior Ben Wardell had 13 tackles to lead the Viking defensive effort, while Nick Andreas and O'Keefe added 12 and 11, respectively.
 
The Wolves remain at home next weekend to host Minnesota, Crookston in a match-up of NSIC North Division teams.  Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. at Swisher Field.