The SMSU Mustangs lost 35-20 to the Augustana Vikings on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Schwan Regional Event Center. Augustana scored the first points of the game after a disappointing opening drive by the Mustangs that went all the way to the goal line. The Mustangs went for it on fourth down and didn’t make it; consequently, turning the ball over on downs.

SMSU answered in the second quarter off a 5 yard run by Blake Gimbel. The PAT was no good and the score was 7-6, Augustana. Augustana scored again with 25 seconds left in the half to make the score 14-6, Augustana.

Augustana opened the second half with a life-draining touchdown drive taking almost the entire second quarter to score. With 2:46 left to go in the half it was 21-6, Augustana. But the Mustangs were determined to fight and with 2:09 left in the third quarter scored on a 24 yard passing play to Raphael Lawson-Gayle to make the score 21-13, Augustana. The fourth quarter looked positive until Gimbel’s pass was intercepted with 14:17 to go in the fourth quarter. The interception led to an Augustana touchdown at the 13:27 mark to make the score 28-13. The Mustangs answered back with a touchdown at the 10:04 mark by Lawson-Gayle to make the score 28-20. Augustana scored again making it 35-20 on a pass play to Trey Wainman. The Mustangs got the ball and were driving until a Gimbel interception at the 3:06 mark ended the game.

SMSU’s Blake Gimbel completed 42 of 56 passes for 362 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions while Augustana’s Trey Heid completed 16 of 31 passes for 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. Lawson-Gayle led the Mustangs in receiving with 8 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Max Simmons led the Mustangs’ rushing attack with 31 attempts for 86 net yards.

Head Coach Cory Sauter, reflecting on the last game of the season, said, “Two really good teams playing on the field here this afternoon. One had to win and one had to lose.”

“It’s a small margin, it really is between winning and losing and they made a few more than we did, and nothing to hang our head about. We’re definitely looking forward to building from this. Let it be fuel going into our offseason, help them understand we have to get better,” said Coach Sauter.

The Mustangs will open the 2017 season against St. Cloud