MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica football team fell 30-0 to Augsburg University on Saturday at Edor Nelson Field in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener. The Saints moved to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Isaac Johnson (St. Paul, MN/St. Paul Highland Park HS) led St. Scholastica's defense with 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries. John Lassila (Elk River, MN/Elk River HS) added eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble that he recovered in the fourth quarter. Samuel Haug (Brooklyn Park, MN/Concordia Academy) finished with seven tackles and three pass breakups, while Connor Plumley (Olivia, MN/Bold HS) also recorded seven tackles.
The teams played a scoreless first quarter before Augsburg opened the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ben Davis with 14:12 remaining in the second. The Auggies extended their lead to 14-0 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Caden Rodkewich to Iggie Cooper with 8:50 left in the half.
St. Scholastica kept Augsburg off the scoreboard for the remainder of the half, forcing a punt before the Auggies missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in the final minute.
The Saints forced punts on Augsburg's first two possessions of the third quarter, but the second pinned St. Scholastica at its own 1-yard line. A tackle in the end zone on the following play gave Augsburg a safety and a 16-0 advantage.
After the Saints forced another punt, an interception set up a 44-yard Augsburg touchdown drive. Rodkewich found CJ Ritchie for a 7-yard score with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Teshay Jubril added an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth to complete the scoring.
Stephan Jackson (Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis North HS) provided St. Scholastica's longest play of the afternoon with a 70-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. An Augsburg penalty moved the ball to the Auggies' 17-yard line, but the Saints were unable to capitalize, ending the possession with a missed 34-yard field goal attempt.
Jackson led the Saints with 30 rushing yards on seven carries, while Christian Hoveland (Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater HS) added 21 yards on four attempts. Brayden Dent (Green Isle, MN/Central HS) caught a 12-yard pass as St. Scholastica finished with 80 yards of total offense.
The Saints recorded eight tackles for loss and four pass breakups. Augsburg totaled 307 offensive yards and held possession for 41:51, with Carter Johnson rushing for 95 yards and Rodkewich throwing for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
St. Scholastica returns to the road Saturday, Sept. 26, to face Macalester College in St. Paul. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
