Box Score Valley City State Football defeated Augsburg University to pick up its first win of the 2024 season. Improving their record to 1-1, the Vikings topped the Auggies with a final score of 24-14.

Laggarius Marshell opened the Vikings' scoring early in the first quarter on a 3^rd-and-1 touchdown run from the Auggies 14-yard line. Capping off the 7 play, 68-yard drive with a successful PAT, the Vikings took a 7-0 lead. In the next possession the Vikings, gave up one first down before forcing an Auggies punt. With the offense back on the field, quarterback Noah Chambers extended the drive with third down completions to Dominic Sotomayor and Jake Deutsch, before being forced to a 43-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Yzan Lorenzo hammered one through the uprights to extend the Viking lead to 10-0.

During the beginning of the second quarter the Auggies put together a 12 play, 68-yard drive that led to a 3-yard rushing touchdown. With the score of 10-7, the Vikings went 3 and out punting back to the Auggies. Taking over at the 50-yard line, the Auggies marched down to the Viking 1-yard line where they were unsuccessful on 4^th and goal. After the Viking defensive hold, the remainder of the half went scoreless, ending 10-7.

The Auggies received the ball at the beginning of the second half. After driving to the Viking's 33-yard line, the Auggies' drive ended on 4^th and 14 incomplete pass attempt. Taking over on downs, the Vikings moved the chains to the Auggies 35. There the Auggies intercepted Viking quarterback Avery Thorsgard's pass attempt. Immediately after the interception the Viking's defense stepped up and forced a 3^rd and 11. On 3^rd and 11, defensive back James Dahn scored a 56-yard pick six, putting the Vikings up 17-7. In the following possession, the Auggies closed the third quarter with a 6 play, 60-yard touchdown drive, leaving the score at 17-14 Vikings entering the fourth quarter.

The Vikings started the fourth quarter with the ball, three plays later punting to the Auggies. The Auggies could only muster one first down before punting back to the Vikings. With 11:26 on the clock, the Vikings completed an eight-minute scoring drive that ended with a 28-yard touchdown pass on a 4^th-and-12 to Jake Deutsch. That touchdown placed the game at its final score of 24-14. In the final Auggie possession Viking linebacker Malachi Torres came up with an interception. From there the Vikings possessed the ball until the clock expired.

The Vikings totaled 244 yards of offense, including 81 yards on the ground and 163 by air. Scoring one rushing, one passing, and one defensive touchdown as well as a field goal, the Vikings defeated the Auggies 24-14.

Chambers completed 15 passes on 19 attempts for 157 yards and a touchdown while Thorsgard totaled 30 rushing yards for VCSU. Marshell totaled 46 rushing yards and a TD in 10 carries. Sophomore receiver Deutsch recorded his first career game with 100 receiving yards including a touchdown Friday.

Defensively, Aiden Russell totaled 10 tackles and Sal Soto added nine, each recording seven solo tackles in the game. Loke Iese added six tackles and a sack, and TaQuez Chatman recorded five tackles and 1.5 sacks for a loss of eight yards.

UP NEXT: VCSU hosts Dakota State University during Homecoming on Saturday Sept. 21^st. Tailgate begins at 2 p.m. and kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.