The Augustana football team, following a skid that saw them fall in three straight contests, was looking to regain its footing as it took on the Carthage Firebirds at home. With the game being senior day for the team, it could provide a huge win for the Vikings and for the season.
The Vikings had the same idea of not wanting to send off their seniors on a sour note and handing Carthage yet another loss on their season. However, if you ask Augustana head coach Stephen Bell, it doesn’t matter who the Vikings are matched up with.
“I don’t care who we play this week,” Bell said. “It’s all about Augustana and how Augustana handles themselves. We can’t make a bad choice or a bad play and then let that continue, and unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing right now.”
It certainly seems as if his critiques were heard. The game opened up with Augustana jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looking back, claiming a 31-21 win as they would hand the Firebirds their 7th loss this season and leave this game with a 4-5 record heading into their final week of play.
Unlike previous weeks, the Vikings were able to hold on to their early momentum and carry that throughout the entirety of the game. Defensive lineman Ryan Gustafsson noted that struggle and knew how it had affected them in their last few matchups.
“We haven’t really been closing out games,” Gustafsson said. “We started off well against Illinois Wesleyan and North Central, but we struggled to finish that and carry the momentum through the game, which is crucial. The other side can gain momentum easily, and we struggle to gain that back.”
The Augustana offense found its rhythm in this game, with quarterback Liam Crawley walking away from his senior day with 172 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 74% completion percentage. He wasn’t the only senior to be pleased with his performance, as a familiar face in Mike Digioia had another stellar game, coming away with 173 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
As for the defense, the Vikings got their fair share of help from the seniors in this one, as defensive lineman Hugh Keany and linebacker Jack Certa were both able to get the Carthage quarterback in the backfield two times for a total of four sacks for 25 yards. The Augustana defense was certainly working, and if you ask Gustafsson, you can thank the scheme and execution for the product on the field.
“Their quarterback is different from the ones we’ve seen recently,” Gustafsson said. “He’s not always trying to throw the ball deep. He’s more so trying to get off quick passes, which we know, but we also have to be prepared for him to scramble. In the North Park game (in which Carthage won 22-21), he had close to 100 scramble yards, which hurt North Park. But I think the pass rush from the D-line can keep him in the pocket and force him to make good throws.”
While the win was an excellent “cherry on top,” the real treat came with the celebration of this class of seniors as the Vikings bid farewell to over twenty players who donned the blue and gold. While their impact cannot be quantified, it’s clear that this group has affected the classes below them. Sophomore defensive lineman TJ Klein feels their daily impact and knows what he has to do to carry over the energy they have brought to this team.
“We can’t let anyone get down in the locker room,” Klein said. “We always try to stay positive and bring good energy. If you’re energetic, you have a good time, and if you have a good time, you’ll play much better.”
It’s hard to forget that the players are not the only ones feeling the loss of their teammates, as the coaches also lose a kid that they helped mold into an adult just before their eyes. It’s a long season and an even longer off-season filled with preparation, and no one understands that more than Coach Bell, who’s more than happy to see the joy on his players’ faces as they walk across the field with their parents, soaking it all in one last time.
“It’s when the finality hits all at one moment, and you know that that’s the last time you’ll ever be on this field,” Bell said. “I love seeing the smiles on their faces, seeing their parents and how proud they are. It’s that feeling of ‘Yeah, it’s done, but you know you had some pretty good times out there.’”