SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus football team dropped its Homecoming game and MIAC opener against Augsburg, as the Auggies delivered a 33-31 blow to the Gusties at Hollingsworth Field on a last-second Hail Mary. The Gusties drop to 1-2 overall, while the Auggies improve to 3-0 on the season. The loss breaks a seven-game win streak against Augsburg dating back to 2014.
The Auggies came out swinging, jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Augsburg converted on its first possession of the game with a 10-yard touchdown reception. Augsburg scored another touchdown on its third drive for the 14-point lead with 2:14 left in the first quarter.
Andrew Abegglen (Mound, Minn.) broke the shutout in the Gusties' first possession of the second quarter, making a 35-yard field goal to get the home team on the board. The Gustie defense held the Auggies to only two yards in their next possession to force a punt.
In the ensuing possession, the Gusties went 56 yards in six plays, highlighted by a 42-yard completion from
George Sandven (Edina, Minn.) to
Matthew Carreon (Houston, Texas), followed by a one-yard touchdown pass to the Carreon for the Gusties' first touchdown of the game, cutting the Augsburg lead to 14-10 to end the half.
Augsburg opened the third quarter with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass. The Auggie defense stifled the Gusties' on their next possession, as Sandven was sacked on the Gusties' fourth down.
The Gusties forced a punt with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter, but it was muffed and recovered by the Auggies at the Gustavus 40. The Gustie defense made up the difference though, as
Braden Black (Rochester, Minn.) and
Taylor Stroh (Jordan, Minn.) stopped the Auggie drive at the 32.
The Gusties' next possession was carried by Sandven and Carreon, as Carreon led the drive with a 37-yard gain on the completion for a first down, leading to an eventual 19-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to
Caden Kleinschmidt (Morgan, Minn.).
Jake Breitbach (Golden Valley, Minn.) found the endzone for the two-point conversion to cut the Augsburg lead to 21-18 to round out the third quarter.
The final frame brought more excitement than anticipated, with two touchdowns scored in the game's final minute.
The Auggies started the fourth with a 17-yard touchdown completion for a 27-18 lead. The Gusties struck back on the next drive, going 65 yards in 12 plays.
Walker Britz (Mankato, Minn.) ran in a two-yard score, but the extra point was no good as the Gusties trailed 27-24 with 6:19 remaining.
The Auggies' next drive ended in an incomplete pass and the Gusties took over at their own 16, looking to go 84 yards in 1:15 to take the lead.
Breitbach started the drive with a 42-yard gain for a first down at the Auggie 32. Two plays later, Sandven was sacked on the third down for a loss of seven. On the next play, Sandven sent a pass just out of reach of Breitbach, but the Gusties got the automatic first down on a pass interference call with 0:29 left in the game.
After 59:38 of playing behind, the Gusties took their first lead as Sandven sent a 23-yard pass to Kleinschmidt for a 30-27 advantage.
Brady Miller (New Paris, Penn.) made the extra point for the Gusties to bring the score to 31-27. The Auggies responded in effective fashion, going 57 yards in three plays for the game-winning score with one second on the clock — a 34-yard touchdown pass for the 33-31 final.
Breitbach once again led the Gustie receivers, totaling 15 receptions for 180 yards. Carreon added 100 yards and five receptions with a touchdown. Sophomore
Caden Kleinschmidt led the Gusties with two touchdowns — the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
Britz led a ground attack that totaled 126 yards. Britz finished with nine carries for 47 yards and a touchdown, while
River Wood (Saint Petersburg, Fla.)added 33 yards on eight attempts.
Jack Klug (Maple Lake, Minn.) led the defense with eight tackles, while
Carson DeKam (Owatonna, Minn.) picked up six and
Nathan Le (Savage, Minn.) added five.
The Gusties look to respond next Saturday, facing nationally-ranked Bethel in Arden Hills at 1 p.m.
