MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University football team closed out its 2023 campaign on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Carleton College Knights 41-25 at Edor Nelson Field in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Championship Week Crossover Game.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Carleton 41, Augsburg 25
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-4 overall (4-4 MIAC), Carleton 7-3 overall (5-3 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies struck first in the game when
Nathan Wangensteen (SO, Chisholm, Minn./Chisholm HS) kicked a 25-yard field goal with 5:04 left in the first quarter, the results of a nine-play, 39-yard drive spanning just over three minutes. With just 20 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, the Knights found the end zone for the first time to take a 7-3 lead.
• Following another touchdown by the Knights that made it 14-3 with 3:20 left in the first half, the Auggies responded with a quick scoring drive of their own, marching 61 yards in just five plays, and punctuating the drive with a one-yard touchdown strike from
Cade Sheehan (SR, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) to
Tyrone Wilson (So, Ellendale, Minn./New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva HS), cutting the deficit to four. A Knights field goal in the waning seconds of the half would make it 17-10 in favor of Carleton at halftime.
• The Knights used three third-quarter touchdowns to expand their lead to 38-10 entering the game's final frame. The Auggies found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter -- one touchdown reception each for Wilson and
Dominic Smith (JR, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS), both from the arm of Sheehan – and the Knights kicked a field goal to complete the 41-25 victory.
• The Auggies were outgained 479 to 332 in the game, with Carleton holding a 219-112 advantage on the ground and a 260-220 edge through the air.
• Starting his final game as Augsburg's quarterback, Sheehan completed 20 of his 42 pass attempts for 220 yards and three touchdown passes. Smith was the receiving leader with four receptions for 103 yards and a score, while Wilson hauled in two catches for 13 yards and two touchdowns.
Michael Ims (SR, Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) led the team in receptions, catching six passes for 45 yards.
• Sheehan also proved to be the top performer for the Augsburg ground game, gaining 68 yards on 14 carries.
DJ Monroe (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) carried the ball 11 times for 36 yards.
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Justin Tverberg (SR, Farmington, Minn./Hastings HS) was the game's top tackler, amassing seven solo tackles and nine tackle assists for 16 total tackles, including one for a loss. Tverberg also forced a fumble, but it was recovered by the Knights.
Tayvion Gardner (SO, Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS) was the second-leading tackler with 11 total tackles in the game, including a tackle for loss.
Conner Elliott (SO, Rosemount, Minn./Apple Valley HS) had the lone sack for the Auggie defense, along with six tackles.
• The Auggies came away with one of the game's two turnovers in the fourth quarter when
Sillys Seiler (JR, Blaine, Minn./Blaine HS) dislodged the ball from a Carleton running back's arm and
Shaquille Young (SR, St. Paul, Minn./Tartan HS) scooped it up for the Auggies.
• Wangensteen was perfect on the day for Augsburg, knocking through two extra points and a field goal.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
• The game marked the final collegiate appearances for 16 Augsburg seniors –
Avory Caruthers (Barstow, Calif./Barstow HS),
Aiden Deacon (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Anthony Village HS),
Heron Francis III (Minneapolis, Minn./South HS),
Lionel Gates (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS),
Michael Ims (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS),
Tre Lee (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS),
DJ Monroe (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS),
Andrew Pheng Chang (St. Paul, Minn./Hmong College Prep Academy),
Marcus Santillana (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids HS),
Cade Sheehan (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS),
Gerald Shepherd (Minneapolis, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS),
Rashaun Simmons (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS),
Brandon Sjostrand (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS),
Braden Tretter (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS),
Justin Tverberg (Farmington, Minn./Hastings HS), and
Shaquille Young (St. Paul, Minn./Tartan HS).
FOR THE FOES
• Carleton quarterback Jack Curtis completed 21 of his 26 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, also adding 74 yards on 14 rushes. Oryon Hamlin was the leading rusher for the Knights with 102 yards on 17 carries.
• Isaac Simmons finished with a team-high 11 tackles for Carleton.
