The Jackrabbits (1-1) host old D2 rival, Augustana (1-0) in non-conference play. Augustana had a great 2023 and finished 11-2 and is now ranked #14 in the latest D2 coaches rankings. There has to be lots of familiarity with these two coaching staffs and the players have to be really familiar with one another too as there are so many guys from South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska on each roster. The Jacks will need to be ready for Augustana to come out firing as this is their chance to punch above their weightclass.
Offense
They are breaking in a new quarterback and a number of new wide receivers but return a D2 All-Region selection at running back. The Vikings scored 32.69 ppg in 2023 while rushing for 150.5 ypg and passing for 222.62 ypg. They converted 40% of their 3rd down conversions, and scored on 37 of 42 (88%) attempts in the redzone with 29 being touchdowns. They did allow 25 sacks, lost 6 fumbles, and tossed 10 interceptions.
In week one, the Vikings had two quarterbacks who saw some action.#10 Thomas Scholten (6-3, 215), a Brandon Valley graduate, who went 5/10 for 16 yards. He also had 8 rushing attempts for 24 yards. He has appeared in 20 games for the Vikings in his four years with the program. The second quarterback to see action was #11 Gunnar Hensley (6-2, 205) went 15/19 for 220 yards and 3 TDs and also added another 14 rushing yards and 1 TD. This is his first season seeing significant action.
At running back the Vikings return #0 Jarod Epperson (6-0, 195) who has been a standout since joining the program in 2019. Last year he ran for 1,067 yards scoring for 11 TDs. He also caught 36 passes for 370 yards and 2 TDs. He is their guy! In week one, Epperson had 11 carries for 57 yards and a long of 11. Also in the backfield are #34 Max Grand (5-8, 205) and #30 Rashad Lampkin (5-9, 210) who both had interest from SDSU in their recruiting process. Grand, a Minnesota transfer had 5 attempts for 8 yards and a TD in week 1 but also added 1 reception for 56 yards and a TD. Lampkin was the second leading rusher for the Vikings last year with 345 yards (5.2 ypc avg) and 2 TDs. In week one, he had 4 carries for 4 yards.
The receiving group is led by #6 Jack Fischer (6-1, 200) who had 32 receptions for 549 yards and 4 TDs in 2023 and had 4 receptions for 36 yards and 1 TD in week 1. He is joined by SDSU transfer #4 Canyon Bauer (6-1, 203) who had 16 receptions for 227 yards and 5 TDs in just 8 games in 2023 and had 1 reception for 1 yard, and 1 TD in week 1. Rounding out the group is #1 Isaiah Huber (5-10, 190) who had 18 receptions for 254 yards and 1 TD in 2023. He had a strong showing against Mary and had 6 receptions for 40 yards. Their starting TE is #13 Matt Francis (6-2, 230) and he had 4 receptions for 49 yards in 2023 and he caught 2 balls for 43 yards in week 1 this season.
On the offensive line, the Vikings go #68 Ben Roots (6-4, 274, SR), #74 CJ James (6-5, 310 Sr.), #72 Carson Wilson (6-1, 270, SR.), #66 Brock Fox (6-6, 345 Sr.), and #77 Corbin Wirkus (6-5, 310, So.). This group is a veteran group but they are light aren’t starting experience. James anchors this group but he is a 3 year starter and was named 1st Team All-NSIC in 2023. In week one they allowed 3 sacks and only moved the ball for 100 yards (3.3 ypc) on the ground.
Defense
The Viking defense was pretty good in 2023 allowing 20.0 ppg. Opponents struggled to move the ball on the ground at just 3.1 ypc or 91 yards per game but had more success through the air as they passed for 230 per game. Opponents converted just 34.3% of their 3rd down opportunities. They recovered 7 fumbles, had 15 interceptions, and had 25 sacks. Last week, their run defense was stifling as Mary finished with an average rush of just .1 on 26 attempts. Yes, they gained 62 yards and lost 60 yards. However, Mary did have some success through the air gaining 240 yards. The Vikings play a 4-2-5 defense but I’m assuming they will play more of a 4-3 against a team like the Jackrabbits.
The defensive line is just a little smaller than what we typically see in the MVFC but it is somewhat similar to the size that UIW had on the field last week. on the interior is #58 Jett Lamb (6-4, 290) #6 Myles Taylor (6-0, 270). Lamb had 14 total tackles in 2023 and 2 TFL and 2 PBU. Taylor at 16 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and 5 more QBH. In week 1, Taylor had 2 sacks! The ends are #92 Gradee Sherman (6-5, 260) and #57 Will Davis (6-5, 267). Sherman has been a role player in the past but still finished with 5.5 sacks and 22 tackles in 2023. Davis had a strong 2023 and earned All-NSIC honors after recording 5.5 sacks and 33 tackles. He started the season strong with 2 sacks against Mary! #94 Christian Connelly (6-3, 235) a sophomore defensive end, recorded 2 sacks of his own in week 1 as well! Depth is a question mark at this point in the season.
The senior duo of #32 Kade Lynott (6-1, 225) and #51 Haden Wallace (6-2, 220) are the two starting linebackers for the Vikings. This duo returns after a very strong 2023. Wallace was second on the team with 67 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 3 PBUs, and 2 forced fumbles. Lynott, an Iowa State transfer, was third on the team with 59 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 PBU, and 3 QBH. Against Mary, Lynott had 6 total tackles including 1 TFL. Wallace had 4 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 PBU. Again, depth is a little bit of an unknown after the proven commodities that lead this group.
The three senior safties for the Vikings are pretty dang good! #8 Peyton Buckley (6-1, 207) was an All-American in 2023 and led the team with 78 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 INT, 9 PBU, 2 QBH, and 1 forced fumble. I’m guessing that Buckley will be in the box a fair amount vs. the Jacks. #27 Logan Leonard (6-4, 208) and #33 Isaiah Ryan (5-11, 200) are the other two safties. Leonard finished the year with 31 tackles and led the team with 3 INT along with 4 PBU. Ryan, had 33 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks on the season. In week 1, this group combined for 10 tackles with Ryan adding a PBU. #39 Alex Belongia (6-0, 207) added 5 tackles and a TFL in week 1.
The cornerback group is led by #20 Jayvian Farr (5-9, 192) who had 38 tackles, 2 INT, and 5 PBUs in 2023 in route to a 2nd team All-NSIC selection. He had 2 tackles in week one. #22 TJ Murray (6-0, 180) starts opposite Farr. In week 1, he had 2 total tackles. #36 DeMaris Williamson (6-0, 185) and #7 Jermaine Hampton Jr. (6-2, 185) are two new faces to the depth chart. Williamson did register 5 tackles in 2023.
Special Teams
The Viking special teams appears solid and is led by #25 Jake Pecina (5-10, 180) who went 11 for 12 in 2023 with a long of 52 and his only miss coming from 50+. In week one he didn’t have any field goal attempts but he did go 5/5 on extra points. He also handled the kickoff duties and had 6 attempts for a 57.5 yard averaged. 3 of those kicks were returned and Mary averaged just 18.3 yards per return.
The punting duties belong to #43 Joey Sorenson and he had 6 punts for 198 yards (33 yard average) with a long of 41. Mary only returned 1 punt and it went for 16 yards.
Augustana returned 3 kickoffs with #2 Austin Johnston (6-1, 190) having 1 for 27 yards and #26 Kyle Graham (5-10, 190) had 2 for 44 yards.
Prediction
Augustana is a good D2 program. I’m assuming many of these players attended prospect camp at SDSU. We know that the coaching staffs have a ton of respect for one another. The new look offensive line for Augustana would make me nervous if I was a Viking fan. However, their experienced skill players and impactful defensive players have me intrigued.
Jackrabbits 47-Vikings 13
Go Jacks!
Matt
