SAINT PETER, Minn. – Playing in just its third freezing cold game in the past four seasons on Saturday, the Gustavus football team treated its home crowd to a 34-20 win over Augsburg in the MIAC third place game. The Gusties finish the season 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the MIAC, marking the third consecutive season with at least seven wins which was last done by Gustavus in the 1978-80 seasons.
Gustavus scored on the opening drive of the game as George Sandven (So., Edina) completed a 36-yard touchdown to Dalton Thelen (Sr., Cold Spring) deep down the middle. After forcing the Auggies to go three-and-out on their first possession, the Gusties answered with a five-play, 89-yard drive, capped by a 65-yard touchdown from Sandven to Matthew Kipper (Sr., Bloomington). Both extra points were no good and the Gusties led 12-0 midway through the first quarter.
Augsburg was able to answer on its second drive after going 65 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 23-yard touchdown pass to make the score 12-7 with 6:26 left in the quarter. The Auggies took a 13-12 lead in the second quarter after completing an 11-play, 78-yard drive, ending with a 29-yard touchdown pass. The score remained 13-12 at the half.
Augsburg extended its lead to 20-12 on its first drive of the third quarter with a 22-yard touchdown pass, but that would be the last score for the visitors as Gustavus responded with 22 unanswered points. Rohee Konde (Jr., Hopkins) rushed the ball four straight times for 52 yards, ending the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run up the middle. The two-point conversion was successful and the game was tied 20-20 with 8:52 to go in the third.
Starting their next drive on the Augsburg 43, the Gusties scored three plays later on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Jake Breitbach (Jr., Golden Valley), taking the lead for good. Gustavus scored on its next possession, taking a 34-20 lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Breitbach once again and the score stood as a final.
Sandven completed 16-of-26 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Breitbach was the top target with seven catches for 114 yards and two scores. Kipper added five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Konde led the rushing attack with 19 attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Zach Jakes (Sr., North Mankato) led the defense with 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Graham Nistler (Sr., St. Cloud) added nine stops and a pass breakup.
The Gusties outgained the Auggies 399-312.