Max Plunkett's Late Spark Not Enough To Pick Up Second Straight Overtime Win

Saturday, October 12

Sioux Falls, SD

1 p.m.

St. Cloud State

3-3 , 3-3

Augustana University (SD)

4-2 , 4-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

St. Cloud State

Augustana

Dwayne Lawhorn looking downfield for an open receiver

Photo by: Jurgens Photography

Max Plunkett's Late Spark Not Enough To Pick Up Second Straight Overtime Win

10/12/2019 9:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Sioux Falls, S.D.- The Huskies game went into overtime for the second straight week. Unfortunately, St. Cloud State fell 16-13, on a field goal by the Augustana kicker in overtime. The Huskies fall to 3-3 (2-2 NSIC North after today's heart breaking loss. The Vikings improve to 4-2 (3-1 NSIC South after today's overtime win.

St. Cloud State fought hard on the road but ultimately it all came down to who was able to adjust to the elements. In a cold game with constant snow, both team teams had to go away from their game-plan and try to keep the ball on the ground. The Huskies defense played well and held the Vikings to just one touchdown despite Augustana having a short field to work with most of the game. The SCSU defense forced three turnovers and tallied two sacks.

Max Plunkett (Fr., WR, Superior, Wis.) played a crucial role in getting the Huskies into overtime as he made a few crucial catches to keep the last drive alive and get Adam Stage (Sr., K, Appleton, Wis.) into field goal range and take the game into overtime. Plunkett finished the day with six receptions and 54 receiving yards.

Augustana received the kick-off and wasted no time moving the ball with two 10+ yard gains. On the first pass attempt by the Vikings Graham Miller (Sr., LB, Minneapolis, Minn.) striped the quarterback and forced a fumble. While the Huskies did not recover the fumble, the Vikings failed to get anything else going and ultimately punted.

Due to snow fall and wet field conditions both teams struggled to move the ball effectively. After a muffed punt by the SCSU punter, The Vikings got the ball just outside the St. Cloud State 25. On third down and short Augustana decided to take a shot at the end zone. Payton Conrad (So., DB, Tea, S.D.) and Matthew Lechner (Sr., DB, Waukesha, Wis.) combined on the coverage and teamed up for a Lechner interception.

With 5:52 left in the second quarter the Vikings scored on a 25-yard pass and catch to make the score 7-0. St. Cloud State responded with a solid nine play drive where the Huskies drove the ball 30 yards before electing to punt. The Huskies completed three passes that drive and that got Dwayne Lawhown (Sr., QB, Germantown, Wis.) going who at that point had only completed one pass. Augustana got the ball back with a little over a minute left before the half and elected not to take a knee and run the clock out. The Huskies took advantage of that and forced a turnover on fumble by Louis Williams. St. Cloud State was able to capitalize on a five yard touchdown run by Curtwan Evans (Sr., RB, Bloomingdale, Ill.) to tie the game at 7.

After a slow start out of halftime by both teams, The Vikings scored on a 34-yard drive that lasted nine plays. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal after St. Cloud State put their foot down and limited their offense in the red zone. With the Huskies trailing 10-7 early in the fourth, the St. Cloud State offense put together a strong drive that resulted in a 30-yard Stage field goal to tie the game at 10 with a little under 10 minutes felt in the game. The 69-yard drive was highlighted by two receptions for 29-yards from Tanner Teige (Jr., WR, Big Lake, Minn.) and a 45-yard reception from John Solberg (Sr., WR, Cambridge, Minn.).

Augustana controlled the ball for 3:54 and scored on a 29-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead with 1:20 left in the game. The St. Cloud State offense moved the ball on a 13-yard pass to Plunkett to put the ball at midfield. Joe Blando (So., RB, Oak Creek, Wis.) made a big time reception that extended the drive and Plunkett made another big grab on fourth and one. Plunkett made another big time catch to put the Huskies on the 20-yard line with eight seconds left. This time Stage knocked the 37-yard field goal through the uprights to send the game to overtime.

St. Cloud State started overtime with the ball but unfortunately turned the ball over on a fumble, which gave the ball to the Vikings. After attempting to ice the Augustana kicker, the Vikings kicker made a 35-yard field goal to win the game.

The Huskies will be back at home at Husky stadium next Saturday, October 19, as they take on Southwest Minnesota State University at 1 p.m. SCSU has two more cross-divisional games before returning to NSIC North play.