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October 7, 2011

2011 Season - Augustana vs. North Central Preview

Sean Walker brings back a kickoff 44 yards versus Millikin. The sophomore defensive back and his Viking teammates head to Naperville, Illinois to face 6th-ranked North Central Saturday night.

Millikin got a 37-yard field goal from Austin Brettschneider with :00.9 seconds to lift the Big Blue to a 30-27 win over Augustana in the teams' College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opener at Ericson Field last week. The Vikings are 0-4 on the season. The four losses have been by an average margin of just 4.75 points (and none by more than eight points) to teams with a combined record of 16-3 this season.

Another big challenge faces the team this Saturday as it travels to Naperville, Illinois to take on North Central, currently the nation's sixth-ranked team, at 7:00 p.m. The Cardinals are 3-1 this season and won their CCIW opener 24-0 at Carthage Saturday afternoon.

Statistically, the Vikings are averaging 316.3 yards of total offense per game. Of those, 139.0 have come via the ground. Junior running back Brett McWilliams (Hononegah HS, Roscoe, Ill.) has been the primary ball carrier, rushing for 269 yards and five touchdowns on 67 totes. Senior quarterback David Lee (Springfield HS, Springfield, Ill.) has thrown for 709 yards on 71 completions in 123 attempts (.577). He's thrown for three touchdowns with four interceptions. His most frequent targets have been sophomore wide receiver Nick Krantz (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) and senior tight end Keith Abbey (Rich East HS, Park Forest, Ill.), who have each snared 14 passes. Krantz's have gone for 160 yards and one touchdown, while Abbey's have yielded 107 yards and one score.

Sophomore linebacker Erik Westerberg's (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) 44 total tackles lead the team by a 2-to-1 margin. A whopping 31 of those have been solo stops. Senior linebacker Danny Hess (Naperville North HS, Naperville, Ill.) leads with for four tackles for loss, while junior linebacker Joe Weber (Marmion Academy, South Elgin, Ill.) and senior defensive end Pete Schimeck (Benet Academy, Naperville, Ill.) are tied for the team lead with three sacks each. Senior free safety Ben Hall (University HS, Normal, Ill.) has one fumble recovery and one interception to lead the Vikings in takeaways.

Junior Arnie Fitzwater (Union HS, Waterford, Wis.) has highlighted special teams play, averaging 39.4 yards on 22 punts, with a net average of 35.3.

This Saturday's opponent, North Central, dropped its season opener in California, 35-29 to Redlands. Since then however, the Cardinals have posted 70-26 and 86-14 wins over Bethel (Tenn.) and Olivet, respectively, as well as their CCIW-opening victory over Carthage.

North Central returns eight players who earned all-conference recognition a year ago. Free Safety Josh McLeod, and defensive ends Willie Hayes and Valente Garza were first team selections on defense, while tight end Kyle Fiedorowicz earned first team honors on offense and wide receiver Joe Antonacci as a return specialist. Returning second team All-CCIW performers are running back Jordan Tassio, center Nick Capristo and defensive tackle Peter Bulandr.

The Cardinals are averaging 426.4 yards of total offense and 52.3 points per game. They average 279.2 yards per game and 7.1 per carry on the ground. Tassio, a junior transfer from Western Illinois University who's also listed as the team's backup quarterback, leads with 338 yards on 44 carries (7.7 ypc). Freshman Ryan Kent (25 carries, 233 yards, 9.3 ypc, 4 TD), junior Nick Kukuc (27-236-8.3-4) and senior Mike Boettcher (19-181-9.5-2) have also been extremely effective in the ground game.

Senior quarterback Brad Crackel, a Western Michigan University transfer, has completed 36 of 62 passes (.581) for 421 yards and six touchdowns. He's been intercepted twice. The 6-7, 266-pound senior Fiedorowicz has been his favorite target, with 12 catches for 170 yards and five touchdowns. Antonacci, a transfer from Drake (8-71-1), and Tassio (7-69-0) are next in receptions.

Junior middle linebacker Joey Michals leads the Cardinals in tackles with 26 split evenly between solo and assisted stops. Garza and Bulandr are tied with a team-high three sacks. Sophomore defensive end Alex Tripp has a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss. The Cardinals have forced 13 turnovers, including 10 interceptions, led by McLeod's two. Opponents are averaging just 234.0 total yards per game and only 96.3 per game and 2.4 per carry on the ground.

AUGUSTANA-NORTH CENTRAL SERIES: Augustana has dominated this series throughout its history, leading 57-23-1. However, the Cardinals have won the last five meetings and six of the last seven. North Central won the initial meeting in 1923 by a score of 20-6. From 1963 until 2003, the Vikings won 36 of 41 meetings. The Cardinals' win in 2004 snapped a string of 23 consecutive Augustana wins in the series.

2011 CCIW STANDINGS

School	CCIW	Overall
Illinois Wesleyan	1-0	4-0
Elmhurst	1-0	3-1
Millikin	1-0	3-1
North Central	1-0	3-1
Carthage	0-1	3-1
North Park	0-1	3-1
Wheaton	0-1	3-1
AUGUSTANA	0-1	0-4

2011 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS

DATE	OPPONENT	SITE	SCORE/TIME
September 1	Dubuque	HOME	L, 13-18
September 10	Central of Iowa	Pella, Iowa	L, 23-31
September 17	Adrian	HOME	L, 14-17
October 1	*Millikin (Family Weekend)	HOME	L, 27-30
October 8	*North Central	Naperville, Illinois	7:00 p.m.
October 15	*Carthage	HOME	6:00 p.m.
October 22	*North Park (Homecoming)	HOME	1:00 p.m.
October 29	*Wheaton	Wheaton, Illinois	1:00 p.m.
November 5	*Elmhurst	HOME	1:00 p.m.
November 12	*Illinois Wesleyan	Bloomington, Illinois	1:00 p.m.

* - College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin game

HEAD COACH ROB CUSHMAN

Rob Cushman is in his first season as the head coach of the Augustana football program. He has spent the previous three seasons serving as the Viking defensive coordinator. His coaching career began at Cal State-Chico in 1979. His first head coaching position was at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon, where he spent five seasons before being named the first head coach at Feather River College in Quincy, California in 2002. He led the fledgling program to a 34-21 (.618) record in five seasons, reaching a post-season bowl game each year. He served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York in 2007, prior to coming to Augustana.

CUSHMAN'S RECORD AS HEAD COACH

OVERALL CONFERENCE

YEAR	WON	LOSS	PCT	WON	LOSS	PCT	SCHOOL
1997	4	6	.400				Eastern Oregon
1998	6	4	.600				Eastern Oregon
1999	5	5	.500				Eastern Oregon
2000	2	8	.200				Eastern Oregon
2001	1	8	.111				Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon Totals	18	31	.367
2002	6	5	.545				Feather River
2003	9	2	.818				Feather River
2004	6	5	.545				Feather River
2005	7	4	.636				Feather River
2006	6	5	.545				Feather River
Feather River Totals	34	21	.618
				College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin
2011	0	4	.000	0	1	.000	Augustana
Augustana Totals	0	4	.000	0	1	.000
CAREER	52	56	.481

ROB CUSHMAN BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a closer look at Rob Cushman's record at Augustana College.

	OVERALL			CCIW
YR	W	L	PCT	W	L	PCT	FINISH	SEP	OCT	NOV	H	A
2011	0	4	.000	0	1	.000		0-3	0-1	0-0	0-3	0-1
CAREER	0	4	.000	0	1	.000		0-3	0-1	0-0	0-3	0-1

CUSHMAN AGAINST THE OPPOSITION

TEAM	GAMES	W	L	FIRST MEETING	LAST MEETING
Adrian	1	0	1	2011 - L (14-17)
Carthage	0	0	0	2011
Central of Iowa	1	0	1	2011 - L (23-31)
Dubuque	1	0	1	2011 - L (13-18)
Elmhurst	0	0	0	2011
Illinois Wesleyan	0	0	0	2011
Millikin	1	0	1	2011 - L (27-30)
North Central	0	0	0	2011
North Park	0	0	0	2011
Wheaton	0	0	0	2011

2011 AUGUSTANA FOOTBALL TWO DEEP

Prior to October 8

POS	NO	NAME	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
OFFENSE
WR	88	Nick Krantz	6-0	180	So	Moline, Ill./Moline
	81	Jason Wagner	6-1	200	Sr	Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central
WR	2	A.J. Hoger	5-7	160	Sr	Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove
	8	Antonio Owens	5-9	180	Fr	Naperville, Ill./North
TE	35	Jack Gilleland	6-1	220	Sr	McHenry, Ill./Marian Catholic
	89	Keith Abbey	6-4	225	Sr	Park Forest, Ill./Rich East
	86	Marty Resner	6-2	220	Jr	Montgomery, Ill./Oswego
OT	72	Mike Kautz	6-4	240	Jr	East Moline, Ill. /Alleman
	73	Rej Hoxha	6-5	250	Fr	Niles, Ill/North
OG	74	Derek King	6-1	285	Jr	New Boston, Ill./Westmer
	63	Trace Wingo	6-2	275	So	Crystal Lake, Ill. /South
OC	61	Kelly Clennon	6-2	260	Sr	Naperville, Ill./Joliet Catholic
	62	Eric Dratnol	6-0	250	So	Montgomery, Ill./Kaneland
OG	64	Adam Lang	6-2	260	Sr	Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island
	59	Alex Anderson	6-2	255	Fr	Geneseo, Ill./HS
OT	56	Anthony Roome	6-2	275	Fr	Geneseo, Ill./HS
	75	Dan Gregg	6-2	280	So	Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey
WR	12	Zachary McCullough	6-1	185	Sr	St. Charles, Ill./North
	17	Torre Harrell	6-1	165	Fr	Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington
QB	15	David Lee	6-3	219	Sr	Springfield, Ill./Springfield
	10	Nick Welch	6-3	200	Jr	Oswego, Ill./Oswego
RB	32	Brett McWilliams	6-1	217	Jr	Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah
	4	Nate Pena	5-8	195	Jr	Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley

DEFENSE
OLB	30	Danny Hess	5-7	170	Sr	Naperville, Ill./ North
	46	Grant Ollenburger	6-2	200	Sr	Evergreen Park, Ill./Evergreen Park
DE	49	Shane Holl	6-2	245	Sr	North Aurora, Ill./Batavia
	98	Mike Matthiesen	6-3	247	Sr	Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove
NT	99	Carl Hartweg	6-3	235	So	Carthage, Ill./Illini West
	52	Kyle Voda	6-1	255	So	Plainfield, Ill./South
DE	44	Pete Schimeck	6-1	245	Sr	Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy
	38	Luke Anderson	6-5	230	Jr	Lemont, Ill./Lemont
ILB	41	Erik Westerberg	6-3	211	So	Elmhurst, Ill./York
	47	John Draminski	6-0	215	Jr	Kewanee, Ill. /Wethersfield
ILB	45	Joe Weber	6-2	240	Jr	South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy
	51	Andrew O'Reilly	6-0	210	Jr	Elgin, Ill./Driscoll Catholic
ILB	58	Cody Wickenhauser	6-3	210	Sr	Downs, Ill./Tri-Valley
	39	Dylan Smith	5-11	195	So	Yorkville, Ill./Aurora Christian
SS	25	Mitch McGilliard	6-0	200	Sr	Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley
	42	Mike O'Donoghue	6-1	195	So	Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein
CB	27	Matt Glawe	5-10	195	Sr	Winfield, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South
	7	Sean Walker	5-9	160	So	Annawan, Ill./Annawan
CB	28	Mack Gray	5-7	175	Sr	Chicago, Ill./Simeon
	21	Tim O'Shea	6-0	197	Sr	Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South
FS	11	Ben Hall	6-0	205	Sr	Normal, Ill./University
	3	Robert Mago	5-9	175	Jr	Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove

SPECIALIST
KICKER	16	Brady Rogers	5-11	165	Fr	Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail
PUNTER	33	Arnie Fitzwater	6-2	190	Jr	Watertown, Wis./Watertown
PUNT RETURN	2	A.J. Hoger	5-7	160	Sr	Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove
	1	Armin Batang	5-10	165	Fr	Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North
KICK RETURN	1	Armin Batang	5-10	165	Fr	Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North
	8	Antonio Owens	5-9	180	Fr	Naperville, Ill./Naperville North
SNAPPER	86	Marty Resner	6-2	220	Jr	Montgomery, Ill./Oswego
HOLDER	30	Danny Hess	5-7	170	Sr	Naperville, Ill./North

2011 NORTH CENTRAL FOOTBALL TWO DEEP

Prior to October 8

POS	NO	NAME	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
OFFENSE
LT	72	Jace Werkheiser	6-5	280	So	Freeport, Ill./Freeport
	70	Justin Bjornson	6-3	255	Sr	Carol Stream, Ill./West Chicago
LG	57	Will Thrun	6-4	280	Sr	Batavia, Ill./Batavia/Univ. of Wisconsin-Platteville
	62	Michael Stella	6-0	250	Sr	Berwyn, Ill./Nazareth Academy
C	52	Nick Capristo	5-11	272	Sr	Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley
	68	Nick Iossi	6-0	265	Sr	Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North
RG	69	Joe Guenther	6-1	275	Jr	Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Township
	63	John Cannova	6-0	270	Fr	Wheaton, Ill./Benet Academy/Butler Univ.
RT	75	Conor Oenning	6-3	280	Sr	Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South
	59	Greg Whalen	6-5	255	So	Algonquin, Ill./Marian Central Catholic
TE	89	Kyle Fiedorowicz	6-7	266	Sr	Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg
	7	Alex Haan	6-2	230	Sr	Homer Glen, Ill./Chicago Christian
WR	20	Joe Antonacci	5-11	186	Sr	Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley/Drake Univ.
	16	Nick Slezak	6-2	206	So	Warrenville, Ill./Glenbard South
WR	11	Ryne Rezac	5-9	168	So	Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Vista
	6	Jeff Stolzenburg	6-4	185	Fr	Beaverton, Ore./St. Charles North (Ill.)/Univ. of Oregon
WR	1	Nick Hicks	5-9	172	Sr	Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage
	15	Kevin Adams	6-2	185	Jr	Ellisville, Mo./Marquette
QB	12	Brad Crackel	6-4	220	Sr	Oswego, Ill./Oswego East/Western Michigan Univ.
	4	Jordan Tassio	6-1	210	Jr	Naperville, Ill./Naperville North/Western Illinois Univ.
RB	32	Nick Kukuc	5-10	200	Jr	Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central
	26	Ryan Kent	5-10	190	Fr	Elmhurst, Ill./York

DEFENSE
DE	8	Valente Garza	6-0	232	Sr	Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North/Coll. of DuPage
	46	Alex Tripp	6-1	230	So	Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere North
DT	98	Peter Bulandr	6-4	270	Sr	Long Grove, Ill./Stevenson
	92	Josh Fick	6-3	280	So	Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central/Univ. of Wis.-Parkside
DT	94	James Robinson	6-2	270	Sr	Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South/Coll. of DuPage
	90	Peter Mann	6-3	265	So	Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South
DE	47	Willie Hayes	6-0	235	Sr	Lemont, Ill./Lemont
	48	Jim Clendenning	6-1	230	Sr	Orland Hills, Ill./Sandburg
SLB	2	Scott Skuteris	5-11	205	Sr	Elmhurst, Ill./York
	19	Alex Pirela	5-10	208	Jr	West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago
MLB	58	Joey Michals	6-3	220	Jr	Frankfort, Ill./Providence Catholic
	49	Travis Saville	6-3	232	Jr	West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago/Coll. of DuPage
WLB	44	Kane Thompson	6-2	215	Sr	Aledo, Ill./Aledo
	39	Tharryn Wright	5-11	206	So	Batavia, Ill./Batavia/Ball State Univ.
CB	31	Stewart Charles	6-1	200	Sr	Batavia, Ill./Batavia
	19	Alex Pirela	5-10	208	Jr	West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago
CB	5	Josh Mitchell	6-1	191	Jr	Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington/Quincy Univ.
	28	Connor Douglas	5-10	180	So	Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South
FS	17	Josh McLeod	6-1	200	Sr	Lisle, Ill./Lisle/Truman State Univ.
	21	Noah Pressley	5-8	185	Sr	North Lauderdale, Fla./American Heritage
SS	25	Shane Dierking	5-9	171	So	Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South
	22	Caleb Bednarz	5-9	150	Fr	Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South

SPECIALIST
KO	35	Kevin Looff	6-3	190	So	Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich
PK	13	Nick Dace	6-2	180	So	Freeport, Ill./Freeport
P	88	Tyler Rasche	6-4	210	Jr	Moline, Ill./Moline
	35	Kevin Looff	6-3	190	So	Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich
KR	32	Nick Kukuc	5-11	193	Jr	Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central
	26	Ryan Kent	5-10	190	Fr	Elmhurst, Ill./York
PR	20	Joe Antonacci	5-11	186	Sr	Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley/Drake Univ.
	5	Josh Mitchell	6-1	191	Jr	Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington/Quincy Univ.
H	11	Ryne Rezac	5-9	168	So	Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Vista
	88	Tyler Rasche	6-4	210	Jr	Moline, Ill./Moline
LS	51	Nathan Schweitzer	6-1	205	So	Bloomington, Ill./University
	89	Kyle Fiedorowicz	6-7	266	Sr	Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg

2011 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

CATEGORY	NUMBER	OPPONENT	DATE
Individual Offense
Most Points	12 - Brett McWilliams	Adrian	09/17/11
	12 - Brett McWilliams	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Points Kicking	5 - Brady Rogers	Central	09/10/11
Most Touchdowns	2 - Brett McWilliams	Adrian	09/17/11
	2 - Brett Williams	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Extra Points	3 - Brady Rogers	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Yards Total Offense	319 (20 rushing & 299 passing) - David Lee	Central	09/10/11
Most Yards Rushing	105 - Brett McWilliams	Adrian	09/17/11
Most Rushing Attempts	22 - Brett McWilliams	Adrian	09/17/11
Most Yards Passing	299 - David Lee	Central	09/10/11
Most Pass Attempts	41 - David Lee	Central	09/10/11
Most Pass Completions	25 - David Lee	Central	09/10/11
Most Yards Receiving	102 - Nick Krantz	Central	09/10/11
Most Pass Receptions	8 - Nick Krantz	Central	09/10/11

Team Offense
Most Points	27	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Touchdowns	4	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Total Yards	416 (117 rushing & 299 passing)	Central	09/10/11
Most Yards Rushing	152	Adrian	09/17/11
Most Yards Passing	299	Central	09/10/11
Most Passing Attempts	41	Central	09/10/11
Most Completions	25	Central	09/10/11
Most First Downs Total	24 (8 rushing, 14 passing, 2 penalty)	Central	09/10/11
Most First Downs Rushing	10	Dubuque	09/01/11
	10	Adrian	09/17/11
Most First Downs Passing	14	Central	09/10/11
Most First Downs Penalty	3	Adrian	09/17/11
Most Rushes	43	Adrian	09/17/11
	43	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Plays	72	Central	09/10/11

Individual Defense
Most Total Tackles	14 - Erik Westerberg	Central	09/10/11
Most Solo Tackles	10 - Erik Westerberg	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Assisted Tackles	7 - Erik Westerberg	Central	09/10/11
Most Interceptions	1 - Bo Goshorn, Ben Hall	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Fumble Recoveries	1 - Done five times
Most Quarterback Sacks	2.0 - Pete Schimeck	Adrian	09/17/11
Most Tackles for Loss	3.0 - Danny Hess	Central	09/10/11

Team Defense
Fewest Points	17	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Plays	64	Dubuque	09/01/11
Fewest Rushing Attempts	29	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Total Yards	289 (47 rushing & 242 passing)	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Rushing Yards	47	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Passing Yards	168	Dubuque	09/01/11
Fewest Pass Completions	12	Central	09/10/11
Most Interceptions	2	Millikin	10/01/11
Most Fumble Recoveries	3	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Total First Downs	15 (5 rushing, 9 passing, 1 penalty)	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Rushing First Downs	5	Adrian	09/17/11
Fewest Passing First Downs	7	Dubuque	09/01/11
Fewest Penalty First Downs	0	Dubuque	09/01/11

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2011 Season - Augustana vs. North Central Preview