ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team closed out MIAC Skyline Division play with a 42-34 loss to Augsburg University Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The two teams combined for 884 yards of total offense, including 434 passing yards for the Scots, who fall to 2-7 overall and 0-4 in the division. The Auggies are now 6-3 overall, 2-2 MIAC Skyline.

The first possession of the game set the tone for the first half, as senior quarterback Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) connected with senior receiver Nick Bice (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) on a flea flicker that went 75 yards for the touchdown on the first play of the game. Augsburg responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive that tied the score at 7-7. On the Scots' next possession, Nadeau capped a 68-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Bice on 4th-and-5 to regain the lead, 14-7. Not to be outdone, the Auggies went down the field and scored on a fourth down play, with Tyrone Wilson catching a 6-yard touchdown pass from Cade Sheehan to tie the score again.

Macalester's next possession extended into the second quarter, with Nadeau throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Michael Poker (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) for a 21-14 lead. Again Augsburg answered with a 71-yard drive that saw Sheehan throw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Smith. Looking to keep their string of scoring drives alive, the Scots wee forced to punt for the first time in the game. The Auggies took advantage, going 80 yards on six plays and scoring on a 32-yard reception by Braden Tretter to lead, 28-21. With time running down in the second quarter, Tramone Nevels intercepted Nadeau and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

Surprisingly, neither team scored in the third quarter. Both teams punted once, with Macalester turning the ball over on downs on one possession and Augsburg missing a field goal on another. Early in the fourth quarter, the Auggies ended a 55-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by DJ Monroe to lead, 42-21. The Scots did not surrender, answering with a 65-yard scoring drive. Poker made a highlight-reel catch in the end zone on a 10-yard pass from Nadeau to make the score 42-28.

On the ensuing kickoff, senior kicker Shomrik Mondal (Saratoga, Calif./The Harker School) kicked a line-drive off of an Auggie, and junior defensive back Ben Weese (Palmdale, Calif./Quartz Hill) pounced on the loose ball to give possession back to the Scots at their own 41-yard line. The Scots gained first downs on two separate fourth-down plays, including a 25-yard pass from Nadeau to Poker on 4th-and-20. On 3rd-and-13, Nadeau hit senior running back Logan Pampel (Johnson Creek, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran School) with a pass up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown to make the score 42-34 Auggies with 3:27 left. Macalester was unable to get another possession, as Augsburg ran out the clock to clinch the win.  

Nadeau completed 35-of-53 for 434 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Poker finished with 12 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns, while Bice racked up 178 yards on nine catches for two touchdowns. Pampel caught six passes for 86 yards and a score, and even had a sack on defense. Weese and senior linebacker Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) each had nine tackles, while senior defensive back Will Brazgel (Hartland, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) tallied seven tackles.

Sheehan threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 47 yards for Augsburg. Tretter caught eight passes for 130 yards, and Monroe rushed for 94 yards.

Macalester ends the 2023 season next Saturday, Nov. 11 with a home game against St. Scholastica as a part of MIAC Championship Week. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start at Macalester Stadium.