Augsburg downs Football in season opener at home

MEQUON, Wis. – Augsburg College's offense put on a show Saturday afternoon, as it amassed over 600 yards of total offense en route to a considerable 51-17 non-conference victory over Concordia University Wisconsin at Tomasini Stadium.

Auggies quarterback Ayrton Scott ran for 197 yards and threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns to state his case as one of the best players in the country. After one hour and 47 minutes of delay because of severe weather, including an impressive lightning show, AC (1-0) led 17-0 after 15 minutes of play and 38-10 at halftime.

CUW (0-1) would get as close as 17 points (24-7) following an Austin Damaschke 3-yard touchdown strike to junior Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.) midway through the second quarter.

David Gonzalez (sophomore, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) added a 38-yard field goal later in the quarter to make it 31-10. In a game hyped with two of the best offenses in the Midwest, the Auggies averaged 9.2 yards per play.

Junior Austin Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) ran for a CUW-best 54 yards and threw for 188 yards and a touchdown, but tossed two interceptions. Sophomore LaCurt Evans (Bloomingdale, Ill.) tallied a score and 40 yards rushing, while Wenzelburger caught seven passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. Senior Cody Johnson (Brookfield, Wis.) led the team with 72 receiving yards.

Joey Sonnenfeld led all players with 113 yards receiving and six receptions, including a touchdown, for the Auggies. Phil Putratz hauled in three passes for 62 yards and a score. AC had four players record over 100 all-purpose yards in the game.

The Auggies scored five touchdowns and a field goal, and converted 5-of-5 red zone opportunities in the first half.

After AC built a comfortable 24-0 advantage after 18 minutes of play and didn't look back.

Evans bounced and cut his way for a nice 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cut the Falcons deficit to 45-17 with just over 13 minutes to play in the contest.

When the Falcons thought they could put together a long sustaining drive to lessen the momentum by their opponent a turnover would occur, four (two fumbles, two interceptions) in total throughout the defeat.

Senior Joe Paul (West Bend, Wis.) – playing his first game as a linebacker – led CUW with 10 tackles, nine solo, and a forced fumble. Junior Lane Lawson (Tucson, Ariz.) and senior John Palese (West Bend, Wis.) each had eight tackles.

CUW returns to the gridiron next Saturday (Sept. 14) for a 1 p.m. Homecoming matchup with Macalester College.