CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football team fell 48-3 to Augustana University in their Homecoming game Sat., Sept. 29 at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn. The Vikings scored 38 first-half points and they did not look back as they took home the victory to Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Golden Eagles move to 1-4 with Saturday's loss, while Augustana rebounds after last week's loss to University of Sioux Falls and moves to 3-2.

Key Players
Minnesota Crookston
Jalin Scott, 6-of-19, 58 yards
Elijah Todd, 14 carries, 38 yards
Andy Groebner, 3 catches, 41 yards
Ali Alkhatib, 16 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT
Austin Steele, 9 tackles
Will Cole, 9 tackles, 1.5 TFL

Augustana
Kyle Saddler, 18-of-32, 282 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Shahan Ameen, 11 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD
Braiden Petersen, 6 carries, 77 yards
Nickel Meyers, 5 catches, 80 yards, 2 TD
Sean Engel, 3 catches, 47 yards, 2 TD
Kirby Hora, 9 tackles, 1 sack
Kyle Theis, 9 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks

The Golden Eagles notched 131 yards of total offense on the day with 58 through the air and 73 on the ground. Augustana picked up 574 yards of offense Saturday with 248 on the ground and 326 through the air.

Minnesota Crookston's effort was highlighted by the defensive play of Ali Alkhatib (R-Sr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) with 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and the first interception of the season for the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles won the turnover battle on the day, forcing a fumble and an interception.

Augustana got going early in the game as they ended their first offensive drive with a two-yard touchdown run for Shahan Ameen to go ahead 7-0.

The Vikings extended their lead to 14-0 when they capped off a 64-yard, eight-play drive with a Kyle Saddler 15-yard touchdown pass to Brett Shepley.
The Vikings moved their advantage to 21-0 early in the second quarter as Saddler hooked up with Sean Engel on a two-yard touchdown strike.

They would extend their lead out to 28-0 later on in the second quarter when Saddler found Engel for the second time on the game, this time from 27 yards out.
Minnesota Crookston was finally able to move deep into Augustana territory late in the second quarter aided by back-to-back pass interference calls. The Golden Eagles would have an attempt at a field goal, but Jake Newman (R-Sr., K, White Bear Lake, Minn.) would miss from 32 yards out as the score remained at 28-0.

The Vikings quickly answered as Saddler found Meyers on the big play, hooking up for the 61-yard strike to move the lead to 35-0.

Augustana ended the first half with one more score as Luis Guarita connected on a 30-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 38-0.

The Vikings started the second half in similar fashion to the first half as they were set up by a 79-yard kickoff return from Luke Fritsch to open up the half. They ended the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Saddler to Meyers to move the lead to 45-0.

The Golden Eagles got the first turnover of the game as Alkhatib intercepted Saddler and set Minnesota Crookston up at their own 44. However, the offense would only move 15 yards on the drive, giving the ball back to the Vikings.

Minnesota Crookston got the ball off a turnover, again later in the third quarter as Nick Novak fumbled with Javon Chappell recovering at the Augustana 30. This time, the turnover set up a score for the Golden Eagles as Jared McLemore moved to 2-of-2 on the season, connecting on his career long from 47 yards out to cut the lead to 45-3.

The Vikings added three more to their advantage as Guarita connected on a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and that would be the final tally as they won 48-3.

Minnesota Crookston hits the road Sat., Oct. 6 to take on Southwest Minnesota State University at 5 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.