ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team held the lead at the start of the fourth quarter but allowed 19 points in the final 12 minutes to fall to visiting Augsburg University, 32-21 in a MIAC game Saturday afternoon at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium. The Scots are now 2-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Auggies improve to 3-3, 3-2 MIAC.

Macalester had a balanced offense, gaining 144 yards on the ground and 167 yards passing while holding Augsburg to just 59 rushing yards. But it was the Auggies' aerial attack that proved difficult to stop, especially receiver Tyrone Wilson, who torched the Scots with nine catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

On the first possession of the game, Macalester forced a three-and-out and then senior linebacker Issam Rafidi (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) blocked the punt, with senior defensive back Jacob Degnan (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) recovering the ball at the Ausgsburg 14-yard line. Unfortunately the offense didn't get a first down, and the field goal attempt was blocked. On their next possession, the Scots drove the ball 49 yards on nine plays, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Jack Scully (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) for a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, senior cornerback Jude Wallin (Wayne, Pa./Radnor) intercepted Caden Rodkewich at the Augsburg 47, only to have the Auggies' Rashad Sherwood pick off Scully on the very next play. After a defensive stop, Macalester moved the ball 78 yards on five plays, with senior running back Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) dashing up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown and a 14-0 edge. Augsburg scored on the ensuing possession, with Jeremiah Moore throwing a halfback pass to Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 14-6 Scots.

On their first drive of the second half, the Scots had their punt blocked by RJ Chakolis, who picked the ball up and ran it 23 yards for a touchdown to make it a one-point game, 14-13. Near the end of the third quarter, Scully hit sophomore receiver Paxton Boyd (Newton, Mass./Newton South) with a 49-yard touchdown pass to extend Macalester's lead to 21-13. But on the second play of the fourth quarter, Rodkewich threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Wilson to make the score 21-19 Scots following a failed two-point conversion.

After Macalester had to punt on its next possession, Wilson scored again on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Rodkewich, giving Augsburg its first lead of the game, 26-21. With 10:45 on the clock, the Scots moved down the field to get into scoring position. First year running back Brennan Litchford (Milwaukee, Wis./Ronald Reagan) converted a 4th-and-1 with a five-yard run to the Augsburg 30-yard line. But the drive stalled, with Scully getting sacked on fourth down to give the ball back to the Auggies. Augsburg scored a late touchdown to make the score 32-21, and the Scots failed to get another first down to end the game.

Scully was 18-for-37 for 167 yards and a touchdown while also running for 26 yards and a score. Boyd finished with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Litchford rushed 18 times for 55 yards. Sophomore linebacker Dylan Jeppe (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) led the defense with nine tackles and a tackle-for-loss, while sophomore defensive back Jay Green (Roseville, Minn./Mounds Park Academy) had six tackles, a tackle-for-loss and a pass breakup. Senior defensive lineman Austin Mills (Eugene, Ore./Winston Churchill) also had a sack. For Augsburg, Rodkewich threw for 260 yards, including 181 yards on nine catches for Wilson, with Chakolis recording 17 tackles and two sacks.

Macalester hits the road to take on No. 7 Bethel on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in Arden Hills, Minn.