Vikings Make History

The Augustana Vikings football team is playoff bound.

For the first time since 1989, the Vikings earned a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs and, for the first time in school history, earned a first-round bye.

"That bye gives us the chance to rest and get healthy," senior Tyler Schulte said.  "We can get away for awhile, take some time off from football."

The first round bye will especially help junior quarterback Josh Hanson, who suffered a broken hand earlier this year, and should be healthy in time for the game.

"Having Josh back is going to be huge for us," Schulte said.  "No doubt he gives us a great chance to win, so it will be exciting for him to play again."

The team finished 10-1 and ended up winning the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Southern Division and earning a first-round bye with the number two seed in the central region.

Part of the reason for the bye is a stingy Vikings defense, which has totaled three shutouts this season.

Senior Nick Andreas is second to junior Zac Kallas on the team with five interceptions, and knows that a bye week, although a good opportunity for rest, does not mean a stoppage of work.

"It's a great feeling," Andreas said, "but we aren't done yet.  Just as it has all year, all the work starts on Mondays.  We go in and watch film, get to work in practice and look to get the job done on Saturdays. "

First year head coach Mike Aldrich, who led the team to the most successful record in school history, has been coaching at Augustana for five years and is known for having a fiery personality on the sideline.

"Practices have been a little more intense this year," Andreas said.  "Aldrich brings emotion and his intense nature to everything on the field.  That's helped us a lot this season."

With the success the team has had, 17 players earned a spot on the All-NSIC first and second teams and honorable mention.

Seniors Joe Clark, Dan Schoen and Schulte made first team offense, while seniors Chris Janisch, Andrew Keel and Brady McIver and junior Dan O'Keefe were awarded first-team defense.

Sophomore Drew Behrens also joined the first-team special teams as a punter.

For the 13 seniors, making the playoffs was only a dream when they arrived at Augustana.

"Going from 4-7 our freshman year to now making the playoffs, it's pretty amazing to know we were a part of it," Schulte said.

The Vikings will play Nov. 27 at 12 p.m., where they will face the winner of the game between Grand Valley State (Mich.) and Colorado School of Mines.