St. Paul, Minnesota – The Hamline University Pipers trailed by six with about 35 minutes left in the game, but the Augsburg defense shut them down, as the Auggies rolled to a 41-7 victory. Augsburg put up 416 total yards of offense while holding the Pipers to 234 yards. Cade Sheehan threw for five touchdowns and Braden Tretter had three touchdown receptions for Augsburg.

Hamline took the opening kickoff, but quarterback Alejandra Villanueva was intercepted on the second play of the game, giving Augsburg the ball at their own 41. 11 plays later, the Auggies took a 6-0 lead. Augsburg faced third and eight when Sheehan connected with Tretter for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Pipers were forced to punt on their next possession and Augsburg quickly extended their lead. Starting from their own 49, the team needed just to place to make it a 13-0 game. Sheehan found Tretter deep down the middle for a 47-yard touchdown, the second touchdown for both players on the day.

The Pipers were down, but began to put together an impressive drive that took 6:22 off the clock. Beginning from their own 18, Hamline moved to the Augsburg 14-yard line where they faced fourth and 10. The ball was given to Nicholas Vasko, who was dropped 6-yards short of the first down, giving the Auggies back the ball.

Hamline had a missed opportunity, but the defense came up big, forcing a punt on the ensuing possession. Braydon Griswold blocked the kick, giving Hamline the ball at the Augsburg seven. On the first play, Alec Ralph took a Villanueva pass and scored to make it 13-7.

The offenses for both teams were shut down from there, but the Auggies added one more score with 40 seconds left in the half. Starting from their own 10, the team mounted an impressive drive led by Sheehan, who completed four of five passes for 45 yards, and had two carries for 34 yards. His fifth pass of the drive found Dominic Smith for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 20-7 heading into the half.

After the break, it was all Augsburg, who put up seven in the third and added 14 more in the fourth. The Auggies scored on their second possession of the half, taking the ball at the Hamline 29 and scoring three plays later. Sheehan capped off the drive when he found Tyrone Wilson for a 23-yard touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Augsburg put together an impressive nine play, 70-yard drive that extended the lead to 27. Sheehan found Tretter for a 21-yard touchdown, his third touchdown reception of the day. On their next possession, the Auggies scored once again when backup quarterback Ryan Harvey found Jordan Doe for a 16-yard touchdown.

Villanueva had a tough day, completing 15 of his 31 attempts for 107 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Charlie Wilson had just five catches for 34 yards, seeing his four-game touchdown reception streak come to an end. Vasko had 10 carries for 77 yards. The defense was led by Jevon Jones, who had 10 tackles.

The Pipers (2-3, 0-3) will look to snap their three-game losing streak when they travel to Morehead, Minnesota next week to take on the Concordia Cobbers (2-3, 1-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Boxscore

by Robert Pannier