Box Score
Box Score (html)

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Augustana senior quarterback Josh Hanson threw for four touchdowns and accounted for all five Viking scores to lead the Vikings to a 35-14 win over Northern State Saturday afternoon in the 2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and season opener for both teams.
 
The two teams racked up similar numbers on the stat sheet, but the Vikings were able to capitalize on big plays and short field position.  AC was also 7 of 13 on third-down conversions, while the Wolves were just 3 of 12.
 
Sophomore quarterback Jared Jacobson ran for 153 yards on 15 carries to pace the Wolves before leaving the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.  He would return to the game to finish the drive before being rested for the final two NSU drives.
 
Redshirt freshman Jordan Freeman caught three passes for a team-best 75 yards for the Wolves, hauling in a fourth-quarter TD pass from back-up Zac Emde.
 
The Vikings drew first blood with an 18-yard Hanson run on the first offensive possession of the day.  That drive was set-up by a 41-yard kick return on the opening kick-off that allowed the Vikings to start off the game near midfield.
 
NSU answered two possessions later on a 30-yard run from junior John Hughes to make it a 7-7 game, a score that would stand for the remainder of the quarter.
 
Augustana broke the tie with two quick scores late in the second quarter, both on TD passes from Hanson and both drives set-up by big plays.  Hanson found Ben Parsley for 32 yards to the end zone to make it 14-7, then used a 34-yard punt return by Grant Gebhardt to set up the short field for the second score, finding Gebhardt from six yards out to make it a 21-7 affair.
 
NSU took the ball to start the second half and drove down to the Augustana 32-yardline before turning the ball over on downs.  The Vikings then scored two plays later on a 64-yard Hanson-to-Gebhardt hook-up that put the Vikings up 28-7.
 
Augustana tacked on a fifth score in the fourth quarter to finish out their scoring.  NSU answered with 1:12 left on the clock when Emde found Freeman from 23 yards out for the touchdown.  Emde and Freeman hooked up twice during the four-play, 71-yard drive, accounting for all 71 yards on those two plays.
 
The Vikings were led by Dajon Newell's 106 yards rushing and Gebhardt's 104 yards receiving.  Gebhardt caught four passes, scoring on two of them for his career-best day.
 
NSU will look to get back on track next weekend when they play host to Southwest Minnesota State in the 2012 home opener.  SMSU fell 20-45 at home in its season-opener on Thursday.  Kick-off for Saturday's contest is set for 2:30 p.m. at Swisher Field.  Gates open at 12:30 with tailgating areas available in the south end zone.