Football 10/6/07 -- Augsburg 14, Wartburg (Iowa) 13

BOXSCORE

FootballWAVERLY, Iowa (10/6/07) -- Jordan Berg (Jr., Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East HS) threw a fourth-down, six-yard touchdown pass to Clint Donovan (Fr., Solon, Iowa) with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter, and Garrett Adamson (Jr., White Bear Lake, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) clinched the victory with an interception at the Augsburg 1-yard line with 50 seconds left, as Augsburg College claimed a 14-13, come-from-behind victory over host Wartburg College in a nonconference football game Saturday afternoon at Walston-Hoover Stadium.

Augsburg (2-3 overall) rallied with 14 fourth-quarter points to score the victory over Wartburg (4-1 overall), ranked No. 11 in the D3Football.com Division III national poll and No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III national poll. It was the third time in the last four weeks that Augsburg had faced a nationally-ranked opponent. It was also Augsburg's first victory over Wartburg since the nonconference series was renewed in 2004; the Auggies are now 2-4 all-time against the Knights.

Trailing 13-0, the Auggies got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter, as Jason Potts (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run. Potts rushed 13 times for 122 yards, reaching the 100-yard plateau for the third time this season and fourth time in his career.

After the teams exchanged three-and-out drives, Augsburg's defense stood firm, forcing a fourth-down incomplete pass by the Knights at the Augsburg 29-yard line.

FootballThe Auggies then drove 71 yards in 12 plays for the go-ahead score. Berg completed 5-of-7 passes on the drive, including passes of 38, 12 and six yards to Mike Nourie (So., Nicollet, Minn.). However, Augsburg faced fourth down and one from the Wartburg 6-yard line. After a timeout, Berg faked a handoff into the line and threw a swing pass to Donovan on the right side, who ran into the end zone with 2:50 left.

After a 35-yard kickoff return gave Wartburg the ball at the Knights' 45-yard line, the Knights drove down to the Augsburg 15. But after a delay-of-game penalty and an incomplete pass, a Nick Yordi (So., Solon, Iowa) pass toward the end zone was intercepted by Adamson at the Augsburg 1-yard line, clinching the victory for the visitors.

Adamson led a stout Augsburg defense with 17 tackles (nine solo). As a team, Augsburg held Wartburg to 366 yards of total offense (113 rushing, 253 passing). Donovan Bates (Jr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) had 11 tackles (seven solo), while Justin Reese (Sr., Missouri City, Texas/Westbury Christian HS) and Alex Glasenapp (So., Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) had six tackles each. Glasenapp had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the game.

Augsburg's defense also stopped the Knights twice on fourth downs and claimed one fumble recovery in the game.

FootballAugsburg put together 390 yards of total offense, including 267 yards passing by Berg on 21-of-46 passing. Royce Winford (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo HS) claimed his third 100-yard receiving day of the season, catching five passes for 111 yards, including a 55-yard reception in the first quarter. Nourie caught eight passes for 88 yards.

Marcus Hemesath (Jr., Norway, Iowa/Benton Community HS) scored both touchdowns for the Knights, on a three-yard pass reception from Yordi in the first quarter and on a 48-yard interception return for a score in the second quarter -- one of three interceptions Wartburg claimed in the game.

Yordi completed 30-of-49 passes for 253 yards, with Kyle Duchman (Sr., Cedar Falls, Iowa) catching eight passes for 107 yards. Alex Boom (So., Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware HS) had 48 rushing yards on six carries for the Knights.

Defensively, Ryan Gerardy (Jr., Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott HS) and Kyle Goodchild (Jr., Van Horne, Iowa/Benton Community HS) led the Knights with eight tackles each. Gerardy had two tackles for loss and Goodchild had a sack. Nico Botembe (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa/West HS) had two sacks for Wartburg.

Both teams return to play in their respective conferences next Saturday (10/13) at 1 p.m., as Augsburg hosts St. Thomas for Homecoming in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Edor Nelson Field, and Wartburg tavels to face Loras in an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest.