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November 4, 2009

2009 Season - Vikings take on CCIW co-leader

After taking care of business last Saturday at North Park by a score of 42-14, the Augustana Vikings face a huge step up in competition this week when CCIW co-leader North Central comes to Ericson Field. The Cardinals, 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the CCIW, will head to Rock Island in a bad mood after suffering a 28-22 overtime loss at Illinois Wesleyan Saturday.

Augustana, 5-3 overall and 3-2 in CCIW play, piled up a season high 457 total yards at North Park. The Viking offense converted all of its first-half possessions with the exception of taking a knee just before half. Augustana played the game without several key performers who were nursing injuries. Both first and second-team running backs Robert Wood (Rockford Boylan HS, Loves Park, Ill.) and A.J. Hoger (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) missed the contest as did placekicker Ryan Gibbons (Richwoods HS, Peoria, Ill.).

With the injuries to Wood and Hoger, freshman Nate Pena (Neuqua Valley HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) and senior Jake Parke (St. Joseph-Ogden HS, St. Joseph, Ill.) moved into the backfield and provided a very effective combination with 188 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries between them. Parke, an all-state running back in high school, has played mostly at the slot receiver spot the last two seasons.

While the Vikings were cruising to their 38th consecutive win over North Park, North Central, ranked ninth in the nation, had its hands full with the surprising Illinois Wesleyan. The IWU defense knocked out Cardinal quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe and stifled the high-powered North Central offense. After being held for no yards on their overtime possession, the Cardinals missed a 42-yard field goal attempt and the Titans, 7-1 and 4-1 in the CCIW, took advantage by scoring the winning touchdown.

IWU’s defensive effort against North Central was all the more impressive when put into context against what the Cardinal offense has done this season. North Central will come to Rock Island averaging just less than 50 points a game. In its six wins that average jumps to 59.2 per game. The Cardinal rushing attack is averaging 259.6 yards per game and 6.2 per carry. Hardly one-dimensional, they average 222.8 through the air as well for a total offense average of 482.4 yards per contest. Defensively, North Central allows just 90.1 yards and 2.7 yards per carry on the ground. Its opponents have managed 215.4 yards a game through the air, but have completed only 50.4% of their passes. In addition, the Cardinals have forced 26 turnovers, recovering 14 opposition fumbles and picking off 12 passes.

North Central has been remarkably resilient this year. Its success on both sides of the ball has been achieved despite the loss to injury of 2008 first team All-CCIW defenders Matt Wenger (LB) and Derek Sulo (DB) as well as running back Dominic Sulo, also a first team all-conference performer last year. Fanthorpe, another 2008 All-CCIW first-teamer, missed the entire second half and overtime against Illinois Wesleyan with a hip injury. His status for this Saturday’s game is unclear at this time.

Individually, Dominic Sulo, who’s missed the last two games, still leads the Cardinals in rushing with 506 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 5.6 yards a carry. In his absence, Phillip Rossberg (433 yards, 6.9 yards per carry and four touchdowns) and Pat Malek (402-7.3-3) have filled in admirably. Fanthorpe has supplemented the ground game with 281 yards and five touchdowns.

Through the air, Fanthorpe’s connected on 108-of-162 pass attempts (.667) for 1574 yards and 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions. His 195.3 passer rating leads all CCIW starting quarterbacks. If Fanthorpe is unable to go, his backup, freshman Spencer Stanek, has been solid in relief. Fanthorpe’s favorite target has been Steve Hlavac, a second team All-CCIW performer a year ago, who’s caught 36 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Hank Johnson has added 28 receptions for 351 yards and seven touchdowns and is tied for the CCIW lead in scoring. The Cardinal offense also features Josh Delancy, a 5-11, 302-pound tackle who was another All-CCIW first team pick last year as well as guard Kyle Antos, who was a second team selection.

Defensively, linebacker Willie Hayes leads the Cardinals with 48 tackles as well as four takeaways (one interception and three fumble recoveries). Defensive lineman Robert Champion, who’s also battled injuries, leads the team with 10 tackles for loss and 4½ sacks. Defensive end Tim Janecek, who’s got 27 tackles and one sack, was a first team all-conference performer last season.

For Augustana, despite the switch to the spread offense last year, the Viking offense has remained ground-oriented for the most part. Wood, who along with Hoger, should be back in action this week, has led the team in rushing all year. He has 581 yards and seven rushing touchdowns and averages 5.2 yards per carry. Hoger has rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Parke, who saw his first extensive action in the backfield in almost two full seasons last Saturday, has rushed for 258 yards and three scores with a 6.6-yard average.

Sophomore quarterback David Lee (Springfield HS, Springfield, Ill.) has thrown for 1,035 yards on 99-of-163 completions (.607). He’s passed for six touchdowns and has been intercepted five times. Parke has led the team in reciving all year and currently has 32 catches for 266 yards (8.3 per catch). Matt Downing (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.), with 19 catches for 300 yards and one touchdown, is close behind. Henry Deters (Unity HS, Tolono, Ill.), with 14 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown, and Zach McCullough (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) (14-145-2) are also in double figures in catches.

Aaron Setchell’s (Amboy HS, Amboy, Ill.) 63 tackles lead the Viking defense. Andrew Rosset (Maine West HS, Des Plaines, Ill.) is third with 48 tackles including 6½ for loss and is tied with Alex Schroeder (Batavia HS, Batavia, Ill.) for the team lead with three interceptions. Rosset’s four total takeaways tie him with Setchell for the team lead. Middle guard Jeff Daisy (Thornton Fractional South HS, Lansing, Ill.) leads the team in tackles for loss with eight and sacks with five and is currently second in the CCIW in the latter category. The Vikings have allowed 91.4 rushing yards a game and 2.8 yards per carry. They’ve given up 196.4 yards a game through the air for a total defense mark of 287.8 yards a game. They’ve also given up just 13.6 points per contest.

DAVID LEE MOVING UP: With his 1,035 yards this season, Lee needs just 103 more to tie Mark Schick (1979) for 10th place on Augustana’s single-season passing yardage list. At his current rate of 129.4 yards per game, he’s on pace for eighth place, just behind Butch Necastro’s 1976 total of 1,295.

JAKE PARKE ASCENDING AS WELL: Parke, who already sits in second place on the school’s single-season receptions list with 46 last year, currently has 32 catches this year, good for ninth place. With an average of four per game, he’s on pace to end up third on the list, just behind his total from a year ago and just ahead of Paul Ander’s 39 catches in 1967. In terms of career receptions, Parke is currently fifth on Augustana’s all-time list with 87 and is on pace to finish third, just ahead of Jack Whan’s total of 94 from 1951-54.

LAST WEEK…..10/31/09 – AUGUSTANA 42, NORTH PARK 14

Augustana wins 38th straight over North Park

CHICAGO, Ill. – A three-touchdown performance by Augustana freshman running back Nate Pena (Neuqua Valley HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) keyed a 42-14 road win over North Park Saturday. Augustana has now won 47 of 49 meetings between the teams all-time, including the last 38 in a row.

Playing without first and second team running backs Robert Wood (Rockford Boylan HS, Loves Park, Ill.) and A.J. Hoger (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.), Coach Jim Barnes had the opportunity to get Pena his first significant playing time of the year. Senior Jake Parke (St. Joseph-Ogden HS, St. Joseph, Ill.), used primarily as a slot receiver for the last two seasons, saw action at running back as well. Both were very productive in the contest. Parke ran for 100 yards on nine carries and opened the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown run on Augustana’s second play from scrimmage. Pena added 88 yards on 11 carries and touchdown runs of 10, 4 and 43 yards.

An Eric Meyer (Harlem HS, Machesney Park, Ill.) interception of North Park quarterback Shelby Wood on the game’s opening possession set Augustana up at its own 45-yard line and one play later Parke’s burst made it 7-0 Augustana. A Shane Holl (Batavia HS, North Aurora, Ill.) recovery of a Wood fumble at midfield set up Augustana’s next score and Pena’s 10-yard run capped a six-play, 50-yard drive. Arnie Fitzwater’s (Waterford Union HS, Waterford, Wis.) point after made the score 14-0.

North Park answered with a 9-play, 66-yard drive that took 5:08 off the clock. Wood capped it off with a 16-yard pass to Sam Lialios and North Park was within 14-7 with 1:05 left in the first quarter. Pena’s second and third touchdowns of the half pushed Augustana’s lead to 28-7 at the break. North Park missed an opportunity to score just before the half when Aidan Howarth’s 22-yard field goal attempt was wide left.

Viking quarterback David Lee (Springfield HS, Springfield, Ill.) started the scoring in the second half with a 52-yard touchdown run with 10:23 left in the third quarter. Just before the end of the quarter, senior Henry Deters (Unity HS, Tolono, Ill.) closed out the Augustana scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run on his only carry of the day.

Wood connected with Sam Cochiaro for a 22-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to account for the final score of 42-14.

Despite playing without several key performers, Augustana’s offense was efficient if not spectacular. The Vikings scored on every possession of the first half except their last, when they took a knee. The ground game produced 303 net yards on 42 carries, an average of 7.2 yards per tote. Through the air, Lee connected on 9-of-14 for 135 yards and freshman Nick Welch (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) went 3-for-3 for 19 yards in his first action of the year. Lee added 72 rushing yards on six carries as well. Zach McCullough (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) lead Augustana with five catches for 65 yards.

Defensively, Augustana allowed just 103 rushing yards on 35 North Park carries. Wood completed 10-of-17 passes for 129 yards and the Vikings intercepted him once. John Mago (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) was the leading Augustana tackler with eight. Aaron Setchell (Amboy HS, Amboy, Ill.) had three tackles for loss and forced a fumble.

Augustana is in action next on Saturday, November 7, when they host CCIW co-leader North Central in a 1:00 p.m. contest at Rock Island’s Ericson Field.

LAST YEAR…..11/08/09–NORTH CENTRAL 41, AUGUSTANA 28

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Augustana gave second ranked North Central quite a battle on Saturday, November 8 in Naperville, Illinois but the Vikings came up short 41-28. North Central, which is now 9-0 on the year clinched the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship with the victory and Augustana fell to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in league play.

Jake Parke (St. Joseph-Ogden HS, St. Joseph, Ill.) put Augustana on the board first with an eight yard run midway through the first quarter (6:50). The touchdown, Parke’s 10th of the season, capped a 10 play, 76 yard drive and Phil Prosia’s (Mountain Vista HS, Littleton, Col.) extra point made it 7-0. North Central came right back to tie things up, however, with a 60 yard, 12 play drive that ended when Dominic Sulo scored from six yards out with 2:46 left in the first quarter.

The Cardinals’ defense stopped Augustana on a fourth and one situation from the Vikings 33 on the ensuing possession. Working with the short field North Central got to the four before a fumble stopped the drive. An interception put the Cardinals back in business at the 35 and quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe scored on a one yard drive and with 8:42 left in the second quarter it was 14-7.

Both teams missed field goals on their next possessions and at halftime North Central led 14-7. The Vikings got within a point on their first drive of the third quarter when Josh Galliart (Orion HS, Orion, Ill.) scored from one yard out to cap a 78 yard, nine play drive. The extra point was no good and with 11:16 left in the third quarter the Cardinals led 14-13.

North Central then scored three touchdowns in a span of 6:17 to build a 35-13 lead. Kyle Fiedorowicz caught a two yard pass from Fanthorpe to put the finishing touches on a five play, 52 yard drive to make it 21-13 with 8:39 left. Fanthorpe scored on an 11 yard run to cap a short 13 yard, two play drive that was set up by a blocked punt to push the advantage to 28-13 with 6:08 left in the third. Steve Hlavac tallied on a nine yard pass from Fanthorpe to end a 48 yard, seven play drive to make it 35-13 with 2:22 left in the third.

The Vikings were far from done, however, as they opened the fourth quarter (14:02) with a 42 yard scoring toss from quarterback Tim Podulka (Elk Grove HS, Elk Grove Village, Ill.) to Jason Kwasigroch (CarmelHS, Wauconda, Ill.) to make it 35-19. Podulka ran for the two point conversation and that made it 35-21.

An Augustana defensive stop gave the Vikings the ball back and Podulka ended a 75 yard, eight play drive with a three yard run to trim the advantage to 35-28 with 7:38 left in the game. North Central answered with a five play, 67 yard drive with Hank Johnson scoring on a five yard pass from Fanthorpe with 5:20 left in the contest.

The Vikings rolled up 428 yards of total offense, with 304 of those coming on the ground and 124 through the air. Podulka gained 85 yards on 20 rushing attempts and Robert Wood (Rockford Boylan HS, Rockford,Ill.) had 85 yards on just five carries. Podulka completed 15 of 27 passes for 124 yards with one touchdown but he was intercepted twice. Parke caught six passes for 29 yards and Kwasigroch had three receptions for 52 yards.

North Central gained 403 yards of total offense (203 rushing and 200 passing). Dominic Sulo gained 115 yards on 24 attempts and Fanthorpe added 83 on 17 tries. Fanthorpe connected on 18 of 24 passes for 200 yards with three scores. Steve Hlavic caught 10 passes for 98 yards.

John Mago (Cary Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) and Billy Lynch (Loyola Academy, Chicago, Ill.) led Augustana in tackles with 10 each and WyattBrieser (Geneseo HS, Atkinson, Ill.) had eight.

2009 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

* - College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin game

AUGUSTANA-NORTH CENTRAL SERIES RECORD:

SERIES NOTES: Augustana has dominated this series throughout its history, leading 57-21-1...North Central’s last win before a 31-10 victory in 2004 came in 1980 by a score of 24-16...The Cardinals have won the last three games however.