The Vikings of Augustana University passed for over 500 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air to push past the Peacocks on Salute to Service Day in Fayette. Augie claimed a 652-540 yard advantage in total offense to post their 54-35 victory at Harms-Eischeid Stadium. With the decision, Augustana improved to 5-3 overall and 2-2 against NSIC South opponents, while Upper Iowa falls to 2-6 overall and 1-3 against the south.

Today the Peacocks paid respect to all that serve in our great nation and were proud to wear a helmet sticker in honor of Steve Owen, the father of former Peacock football players Chadd and Brandon. Owen was a sergeant in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 5. Sergeant Owen was no stranger to Fayette. He had been with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department for 29 years and was recognized during his career with the agency's highest honor for courage.
 
Augustana wasted no time scratching the scoreboard first after just two plays.  The Peacocks fumbled the opening kick and one passing play later the Vikings had the game's first touchdown. Augie's quarterback Trey Heid added two more passing touchdowns before UIU had registered its initial first down of the game.
 
Peacock quarterback Brent Lammers found Trey MacTaggart down the sideline for 57 yards; just when it seemed that the Peacocks would have their first touchdown the UIU receiver put the ball above his head to celebrate the score at the two-yard line prior to crossing the goal line. A flag came out due to the celebration; a new rule across all divisions disallows any celebrations in the field of play so the ball was brought back to the 17-yard line and the score came off the board.  On UIU's second play after the near score, Lammers was sacked and fumbled the ball giving it back to Augustana.
 
In the second quarter, Heid completed his fourth touchdown pass, all to different receivers, but the extra point attempt went off the upright.  Trailing 27-0, the Peacocks changed quarterbacks to Dimitri Morales and put together a 7-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 33-yard touchdown run by Ryan Parmely.
 
Augie got three points off the right foot of Lucas Wainman and Heid tossed his fifth scoring pass and second to Matt Heller to extend the Viking lead to 37-7.  Upper Iowa had time for one last drive before the halftime break and made the most of it. The Peacocks closed out a 6-play, 73-yard drive with just 3 seconds left in the half when Morales completed a 24-yard strike to David Esswein.
 
The Vikings and Heid struck for a score just over a minute into the third quarter; the Augie hurler called his own number and ran it over the goal line from one yard away. Upper Iowa answered with touchdown passes from Morales on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 44-28. UIU's senior quarterback hit MacTaggart who fought into the end zone for a 17-yard score and Jarred Edmonds for a 12-yard strike.
 
Wainman kicked his second field goal of the game from 43 yards in the final minute of the third and then Heid hit Heller in the endzone for the third time in the game.  The score was the sixth touchdown pass for Heid and capped off a 9-play, 89-yard drive.
 
UIU put the final points on the scoreboard when Dimitri Morales got out of trouble in the pocket and then used a pair of spin moves to reach the pylon and give the home team their fifth touchdown of the afternoon.
 
For the game, Heid led the Vikings with 466 yards passing on 30 completions with 6 touchdowns and added 87 yards rushing and a score on 14 carries. Charlie Hayes tallied 11 catches for 232 yards, while Heller snagged 10 catches for 147 yards and three touchdowns.  The Augie defense was spearheaded by Kirby Hora and Joe Schiller, who each posted 7 tackles.
 
Morales led the Peacock offense after coming into the game in the second quarter throwing for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns on 29 completions and adding 54 yards and a score on 17 carries. MacTaggart caught 9 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Jalen Amis caught 13 balls for 80 yards.  Edmonds caught 7 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown and Esswein had 5 for 67 and a score. Ryan Parmely ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to lead the ground attack. Defensively, Darius Cohen made 10 tackles and Tanner Thompson recorded 7.  Nate Roemer and Isaac Freese both registered sacks in the game.
 
Upper Iowa will close out their home schedule next Saturday, Oct. 29, with a 1:07 p.m. kickoff at Harms-Eischeid Stadium.  The Peacocks will host the Wildcats of Wayne State College on Senior Day in Fayette.