ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The North Park University football team overcame a first half shutout to take a 14-10 lead in the third quarter of Saturday's road contest on the campus of Augustana College. However, Augustana secured the win with seven points in the fourth quarter to escape with a 17-14 win.
The game remained scoreless through the first 15 minutes of play. North Park threatened to score in its first drive of the game after a 15 and 16-yard catch from Matt Little to Jacob Dreksler and a 14-yard run from Little put the visiting Vikings on the Augie 28. Unfortunately, consecutive fumbles gave Augustana a break as the score remained 0-0 after one quarter.
Augie put up the first points of the game in the second quarter on a rushing touchdown and 19-yard field goal. While North Park was held scoreless in the first half, they were about to find a burst of energy in the third quarter.
North Park's first possession of the game featured two passes for 10+ yards – Little to Dreksler for 13 and AJ Harris to Mike Oray for 26 yards – and a bunch of positive yard rushes for Harris. The final play of NPU's first score of the game arrived on a 10-yard rush by Harris, cutting the Augustana lead in half.
Keeping momentum on their side, Juan Nieves forced a fumble that was recovered by Jason Adkinson at the Augie 36. This time, North Park exclusively utilized its running game, rushing nine times before finding the end zone for a 14-10 lead.
However, starting at the NPU 37-yard line thanks to a 26-yard punt return by Bobby Inserra, Augustana manufactured a six-play, 37-yard drive in the fourth quarter to mark the final score of the game.
FINAL: Augustana 17, North Park 14
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What's Next?
North Park (0-4, 0-3 CCIW) looks forward to its homecoming game this coming Saturday, October 9, hosting the Carroll University Pioneers. Kickoff at Holmgren will be 2 p.m.
