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Cougars Win 2OT Thriller Versus Rival Vikings

Football USF Athletics

Cougars Win 2OT Thriller Versus Rival Vikings

There were many reasons for USF to celebrate inside Kirkeby-Over Stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon as the USF football team held on for a thrilling double-overtime win over Augustana College, 32-31.

The Cougars (7-1, 3-1 NSIC South) registered their first-ever win against the Vikings (3-5 NSIC, 1-3 NSIC South). It was also USF's first overtime victory since 2001.

The anticipation was thick prior to the kick-off, as a stadium-record 7,120 fans observed a matchup that had not taken place since the Reagan administration.  The winner of today's game also received the “Key to the City,” a traveling trophy that has been created for the renewed rivalry.

After the Vikings failed to score on their opening drive, the Cougars drove 80 yards on 15 plays to score the game's first points on a two-yard rush by Kristian Porter take a 7-0 lead.

The teams exchanged punts before the USF senior quarterback Taylor Perkins connected with three different receivers on a four-minute second quarter drive that was capped by a nine-yard touchdown run by Perkins to give the visiting Cougars the 14-0 lead.

The Vikings were forced to punt on their next possession, but punter Drew Behrens pinned the Cougars on their own 12-yard line and Perkins was sacked in the endzone two plays later to make the score 14-2 in favor of the Cougars.

Augustana received the kick after the safety and quickly found themselves at the USF 14-yard line with 36 seconds left in the first half. The Vikings struck again when Ben Parsley caught a jump ball in the corner of the end zone with 30 seconds left on the clock but Nick Bonte stuck up a big right paw and blocked the extra point to send the two teams to the locker room with USF leading 14-8.

USF received the ball to start the third quarter and Perkins moved the ball into Augustana territory on a 16-yard run to the Viking 45 yard line. After another Perkins rush made it third-and-seven on the Augustana 10-yard line, the drive stalled and senior kicker Braden Wieking made it 17-8 USF with a 22-yard chip shot.

The Vikings retaliated on their next drive, marching the ball 82 yards in eight plays to narrow the deficit to 17-15 with a six-yard scamper by C.J. Ham coupled with an extra point by Ben Albrecht.

After a Cougar punt, the Vikings converted a pair of third downs and took their first lead of the game at 18-17 when backup kicker Drew Behrens nailed a 38-yard field goal.

The Cougars had the ball to end the third quarter and moved it to the Augustana 46-yard line but a false start killed the drive and the Vikings took over on their own 20 after a touchback. The USF defense stopped Augustana on the next drive and its offense responded with a textbook 74-yard drive void of third downs that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Jordan Taylor. A two-point conversion put the Cougars in front 25-18.

Augustana moved right down the field while converting twice on third down and once on fourth down to keep their hopes alive. On fourth and five at the USF seven-yard line, Viking quarterback Josh Hanson found Isaac Jorgensen wide open in the flat and he walked into the end zone to set up the game-tying extra point. Behrens put it through the uprights to tie the game at 25.

The Cougars took a knee with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. Augustana won the toss and chose to go on defense first and their defense stood tall, as Austin Luecke picked off a Perkins pass on first-and-goal to set up the Viking offense.

The Vikings quickly moved to the USF goal line and all but had the “Key to the City” in their hands, but the Cougars blocked the 38-yard field goal attempt by Drew Behrens to send it to a second overtime.

The Vikings started with the ball in the second overtime and scored on a four-yard dash by Hanson but USF's defense blocked the extra point and the Vikings held a 31-25 lead with USF taking over on offense.

The Cougars scored on a nine-yard pass from Perkins to Carrington Hanna to tie the game at 31. Braden Wieking nailed the extra point to finish off the Vikings with the 32-31 win.

Perkins connected on 21 of 30 passes through the air for 238 yards with one interception and one touchdown. He also chipped in on the ground with a team-high 71 yards on 15 attempts.

After failing to record a touchdown in the Cougars' first seven games, senior running back Jordan Taylor responded with 32 yards on four carries with a touchdown.  Jeremiah Oates tallied 129 yards on 10 catches, including a dazzling 23-yard catch through the Vikings defense in the fourth quarter.

The senior trio of Eric Anderson, Robert Virgil and Matt White registered 12 tackles each, while classmate Nick Bonte posted 10 tackles with a team-high 2.5 for loss. Fellow seniors Michael Frericks and Brett Jensen notched eight and seven stops, respectively.

The Cougars will now turn their attention to Upper Iowa, who they will host for a Homecoming weekend showdown on Oct. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.


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Players Mentioned

Kristian Porter

#36 Kristian Porter

RB
6' 0"
Freshman
Nick Bonte

#40 Nick Bonte

DB
6' 0"
Freshman
Michael Frericks

#26 Michael Frericks

DB
6' 2"
Freshman
Braden Wieking

#15 Braden Wieking

K
6' 0"
Freshman
Jordan Taylor

#26 Jordan Taylor

RB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Carrington Hanna

#2 Carrington Hanna

QB
6' 2"
Sophomore
Jeremiah Oates

#10 Jeremiah Oates

WR
6' 3"
Junior
Taylor Perkins

#7 Taylor Perkins

QB
6' 1"
Junior
Robert Virgil

#20 Robert Virgil

DB
6' 2"
Junior
Matt White

#35 Matt White

LB
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Kristian Porter

#36 Kristian Porter

6' 0"
Freshman
RB
Nick Bonte

#40 Nick Bonte

6' 0"
Freshman
DB
Michael Frericks

#26 Michael Frericks

6' 2"
Freshman
DB
Braden Wieking

#15 Braden Wieking

6' 0"
Freshman
K
Jordan Taylor

#26 Jordan Taylor

6' 1"
Sophomore
RB
Carrington Hanna

#2 Carrington Hanna

6' 2"
Sophomore
QB
Jeremiah Oates

#10 Jeremiah Oates

6' 3"
Junior
WR
Taylor Perkins

#7 Taylor Perkins

6' 1"
Junior
QB
Robert Virgil

#20 Robert Virgil

6' 2"
Junior
DB
Matt White

#35 Matt White

6' 1"
Junior
LB