SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Peacocks made history on Saturday with their first-ever road win in Sioux Falls, S.D. after earning a hard-fought, 21-20 victory at Augustana University. Upper Iowa was outgained for the game, and both teams turned it over twice, but they still found a way to win on a cold, windy afternoon. UIU trailed in the fourth quarter, but scored a go-ahead touchdown and held on with key stops down the stretch to preserve the win. With the victory, Upper Iowa is 5-3 at the eight-game mark for the third time in the last four years. UIU still has not lost back-to-back games this season, and improve to 2-2 in the NSIC South. Augustana drops to 3-5, and 1-3 in division play.

It was a unique game to say the least on Saturday. The teams combined for 19 penalties, the wind was gusting at 30 miles per hour, and field position was affected all afternoon. The game began with a long drive by the Vikings, as they moved the ball 55 yards in 11 plays to eat up the first 5:32. However, the first drive set the tone for the theme of the day, as Upper Iowa's defense held on a fourth down to keep the Vikings from scoring.

The Peacocks' first drive of the day did not go as planned, as junior quarterback Brent Lammers was intercepted on a pass that hit off wide receiver Jesse Vizzini, and Augie's John Waters took it back 21 yards for the touchdown down the left sideline. Augustana held the early 7-0 lead, but the visitors would respond.

After a UIU punt, the Peacocks took advantage of the wind. A third-down stop forced a punt, and the Viking punter was only able to get off a nine-yard net punt that was downed at the Augustana 37-yard line. Upper Iowa took over in great field position, and would capitalize. UIU moved the ball into the end zone in eight plays, and Lammers capped it off with two straight completions to Skyler Lehman, with the latter good for a six-yard touchdown to tie the game, 7-7.

Field position and turnovers proved to be a big difference in the game. In the second quarter, the Peacocks had great field position on two different possessions, but both ended in Nate Skare punts. Skare averaged 39 yards a punt, with a long of 62 yards which sets a new career-high. The senior punter was a big factor in the game, and is now averaging 40 yards for the season in 53 swings of the leg.

With the game tied at seven, a Skare punt pinned the Vikings at their own three-yard line, and disaster would strike for the home team. On the very next play, the ball was fumbled on a Keith Schwickerath strip, and recovered by UIU's Mitchel Siech at the seven-yard line. Two plays later, Antoine Conner scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Peacocks a 14-7 lead.

The Vikings answered, however, on the very next possession, taking the ball 62 yards in three-plays that was capped by a 42-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ryan Rubley. The game was tied just before halftime, but the Vikings got another chance to reclaim the lead. Augie moved the ball on a key three-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a career-long field goal attempt for Jeff Glassburner. The Viking kicker made a 42-yard try with the wind at his back to give the home team a 17-14 halftime advantage.

In years past, trailing at halftime at Kirkeby-Over Stadium would have been too much to overcome for the Peacocks. But on Saturday, the team turned to their defense to have a chance to win the game. The unit was up to the challenge, as they would hold Augustana to just three more points the rest of the game, and 100 second-half yards. Augustana's run game was a strong point for the team in the game, as they outrushed the Peacocks 257-111. However, the Vikings had trouble getting things going in the second half, as the Peacock defense was all over the field.

As the midway point of the third quarter, the Vikings moved the ball on an 11-play, 49-yard drive, but the UIU defense held on to force a field goal. Glassburner connected on a 34-yard try to put the home team up 20-14. The game would stay that way headed to the fourth quarter, and UIU was beginning to make their final move.

Lammers, with the wind at his back, sent a pooch-punt down to the Augustana 12-yard line early in the quarter, and that began to change field position again.  UIU looked as though they would go for it on 4th-and-5, but decided to change the field. Augustana would punt it right back, but it gave the Peacocks the ball at the Augie 49-yard line to start the next drive.

Three plays later, Lammers kept the ball on a zone-read, and sprinted through a hole on the left side for a 40-yard touchdown run to give the Peacocks the fourth-quarter lead, 21-20. UIU needed more stops defensively to win the game, and they would get them.

After the Vikings forced their second turnover of the game on a sack-fumble at the Peacock 43-yard line, UIU buckled in. Facing a 3rd-and-9 at the Upper Iowa 17-yard line, Rubley was sacked by Isaac Freese for a loss of eight yards to push the ball back to the 25-yard line. Going into the 30-mph wind, Glassburner was not able to get enough on the ball, and he missed the potential go-ahead score to the keep the game 21-20 with 2:58 remaining. But the Vikings would get another chance.

Upper Iowa ran clock, and punted back to Augustana with 1:58 to play. UIU needed one more defensive stop, and they would get it. On a 4th-and-2, Tanner Thompson helped make the play on a slant route that ended the game, and the Peacocks walked out of Sioux Falls with their first road win ever at Augustana.

For the game, UIU was outgained 300-221, but held strong when it counted defensively. Augustana went just 3-19 on third down, and 2-5 on fourth down for the game. The Vikings passed for only 43 yards as well, and struggled when it counted to move the ball through the air.
 
Lammers finished the day 15-of-26 through the air for 110 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Lammers added 46 yards on the ground as well. Ryan Parmely rushed for 66 yards on 16 carries, but had a 58-yard touchdown brought back on a chop-block penalty. Jarred Edmonds led the way for the receivers, hauling in four catches for 44 yards.

Defensively, Jordan Rommes and Mitchel Siech were all over the place, with 10 tackles apiece. Siech added a tackle for loss and a forced fumble to round out his spectacular day. Tate Thompson added nine tackles, while Schwickerath added 8 and a tackle for loss. Freese tallied two sacks, while Nate Roemer and Jesse Hyneck added tackles for loss as well.

The Peacocks will return home next weekend as they search for their fourth winning season in the last five years. Upper Iowa will host Southwest Minnesota State University at Harms-Eischeid Stadium for Homecoming at 2 p.m.