ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team was unable to overcome a slow start in a 42-21 loss to Augsburg University in a Skyline Division game Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The Scots fall to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the division, while the Auggies improve to 4-2, 1-0 Skyline.
Augsburg used a balanced offensive attack, with 226 yards passing and 231 yards on the ground. Macalester, thanks in large part to junior running back
Logan Pampel (Johnson Creek, Wis./Lakeside Country Lutheran), ran for a season-high 131 yards, including 114 from Pampel. The Scots ended up with 311 yards of total offense.
It was all Augsburg early on, as the Auggies scored three touchdowns in the game's first 16 minutes. Cade Sheehan hit Isaiah Thompson with a 27-yard touchdown pass on Augsburg's first possession. The Auggies drove into Macalester territory on their second possession, but senior defensive back
Troy Barksdale (Bolton, Mass./Nashoba Regional) picked off Sheehan at the 2-yard line. On the second play of the Scots' ensuing drive, a pass by junior quarterback
Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) was deflected in the air and intercepted by Camdin Carlson-Mathies, who returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.
Another touchdown pass from Sheehan on the second play of the second quarter put the Auggies ahead, 21-0. Later in the quarter, Macalester put together a nine-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Pampel catching a 5-yard touchdown pass from Nadeau for the Scots' first points. Augsburg responded with a scoring drive of their own, with Sheehan throwing his third touchdown pass for a 28-7 advantage. Late in the quarter, both teams threw interceptions, with sophomore defensive back
Cameron Latvis (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) intercepting Sheehan right before halftime.
On its first possession of the second half, Macalester drove 95 yards on 17 plays, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nadeau to senior receiver
Ty Bruckner (Bel Aire, Kan./Wichita North) to make the score 28-14. The defense tightened up in the third quarter, stopping Augsburg on a pair of fourth down plays, and senior defensive back
Jacob Davis (Orlando, Fla./University) forcing and recovering a fumble early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Scots were unable to score any points following the stops, and Augsburg broke through for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead, 42-14. Macalester closed out the game with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Nadeau pass to first year running back
Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) for a 15-yard touchdown.
Nadeau was 21-of-44 for 180 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Sierra caught five passes for 74 yards, and Bruckner also had five receptions for 28 yards. Pampel rushed for a career-high 114 yards on 26 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Davis led the defense with 12 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Latvis and senior defensive back
Nathan Gottlieb (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) each had eight tackles. Sheehan finished with 226 yards passing and four touchdowns.
Macalester hosts No. 14 Bethel in another MIAC Skyline Division game on Saturday, Oct. 22. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.
