Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team fell to Augustana University, 42-21 in the third annual Blackout Cancer game on Saturday afternoon. The game was neck and neck through the first three quarters, however the Vikings broke things up with a 21-point fourth quarter. With the loss, Northern slides to 2-5 overall.
 
The Wolves opened the first quarter with the ball, driving 59 yards to the Augustana 11. Jacob Wiedrich attempted a 29-yard field goal straight into a 25 mph wind, and the kick came up short. The Northern defense however answered quickly forcing the Vikings first punt of the afternoon just two minutes later. NSU junior Brayden McNeary came up big for the Wolves on the kick, both blocking the punt and recovering it for his first touchdown of the 2018 season. The 18-yard return gave the Wolves the 7-0 lead.
 
The Vikings tied things up to end the first quarter, and the two teams traded possessions through a majority of the second. Hunter Trautman hit Dakota Larson, for a 5-yard touchdown pass, with 3:12 on the clock, giving the Wolves the 14-7 lead. Augustana quickly answered back less than a minute later with a touchdown pass of their own, and the two teams entered the locker room tied at 14-all.
 
Augie scored first in the second half, on a short pass with 5:24 on the clock, leaving just enough time for the Wolves to take over. Northern went 15 plays and 80 yards down field, recording their third touchdown of the afternoon right as the clock hit 00:00 in the quarter. Trautman notched his second passing touchdown of the afternoon, this time into the arms of Zech Culbreath for a 14-yard reception.
 
The Augustana defense went on to hold the Wolves scoreless through the final 15 minutes of action, while the offense recorded two passing touchdowns and one rushing score, which secured the victory.
 
Northern tallied a game high 48 yards rushing, while adding 206 yards passing. They averaged 9.8 yards per completion, and 1.5 yards per rush. The Wolves also added one interception and seven tackles for a total loss of 18 yards.
 
Trautman threw for 206 yards, completing 21-of-38 attempts with one interception and a 27-yard long. Chaka Kelly led the rushers with 42 total yards, including an 8-yard long. Dakota Larson notched his third straight game over 100 yards, with 104 and a touchdown. The freshman also tallied the team's 27-yard long. Jacob Streit added 58 yards receiving, followed by Culbreath with 24.
 
Noah MacPherson led the Wolves defense and the game with nine tackles, including six solo stops and 0.5 tackles for a loss of a yard. Chance Olson and Zach Mohs followed with eight and seven tackles respectively. Joe Gorghuber recorded the team's interception, which he returned 13 yards, while Preston Droessler and Tyler Trefethren each tallied 2.0 tackles for a loss. Trefethren notched the team's lone sack in the contest, and Etienne Ezeff led the defensive backs with three pass break-ups.
 
Wiedrich tallied 208 yards punting in some of the windiest conditions this season. The senior averaged 34.7 yards per punt with a 49-yard long and two inside the 20. He also recorded 216 yards on kickoffs, averaging 54.0 yards per kick. Larson and Spencer Johnson led the team with 25 and ten yards on kickoff returns.
 
The Wolves return to action next Saturday on the road at Southwest Minnesota State. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. in Marshall.