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SID: Karen Madsen (605) 274-4335
Fax: (605) 274-5298
E-mail: madsen@cars.augie.edu
Web Site: www.augie.edu/athletics

November 13, 2000

VIKING FOOTBALL 2000

AUGUSTANA (7-4) capped the 2000 season with a 24-7 win over the University of Northern Colorado Saturday, November 11, at blustery Howard Wood Field.

Neither snow, wind, or cold could ground Augie's air game as senior quarterback Eric DeGraff passed for 352 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings outgained the Bears 439 yards to 303.

The Vikings stormed to a 24-7 halftime lead and it held up as conditions worsened in the second half.

Augie scored on its second possession, marching 53 yards in three plays. DeGraff finished off the drive with a 3-yard run. Casey Coulter upped the advantage to 10-0 with a 30-yard field goal, his eighth of the season.

After UNC cut the margin to 10-7, DeGraff hooked up with junior wide receiver Ryan Nodland for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Junior wide receiver Matt Holmlund caught a four-yard touchdown pass from DeGraff nine seconds before the end of the half to finish the scoring.

Defensively, Lucas VanGilder, Justin Viger, Jeff Martini, and Steve Olinger each intercepted a pass for the Vikings. Viger also recovered a fumble and had two tackles for losses. VanGilder was credited with seven solo tackles and an assist.

THE VIKINGS' 7-4 finish was their first winning record since the 1992 team posted an 8-3 mark. This year's 5-4 finish in conference play was the first winning mark in the league since the 1992 team went 6-3.

AUGUSTANA is ranked 27th in Division II in Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette.

SENIOR QUARTERBACK Eric DeGraff was named North Central Conference offensive player of the week for his effort against UNC. He passed for 352 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown.

ERIC DEGRAFF is Augustana's career leader in touchdown passes with 69. He is also the career leader in total offense (10,128), passing yards (9,503), pass completions (813), and passing attempts (1,309).

DeGraff holds the NCC career record for pass completions with 676. He also holds the record for pass attempts with 1,090.

JUNIOR wide receiver Matt Holmlund holds the Augustana career record for touchdown receptions (28) and is the Vikings' career leader in receptions with 222. He has caught 16 touchdown passes this year to become the single season record holder. He now holds the school record for receiving yards in a season with 1,365. Jeff Rusk set the record of 1,063 in 1983. Holmlund has caught 104 passes this season, erasing Chad Gomarko's mark of 78 set in 1997. Holmlund is now Augie's career leader in receiving yards with 2,696. Tom Brown set the mark of 2,421 between 1982-85. He set the North Central Conference record with 12 touchdown receptions in a season, and the conference season record for receptions with 77.

Junior wide receiver Ryan Nodland now has 171 career receptions.

IN THE CONFERENCE: Augustana finished first in passing offense with 296.7 yards a game, first in total offense per game with 410 yards, and first in first downs with 189.

The Vikings were third in scoring offense at 28.1 points a game, fifth in scoring defense at 20.1 points a game, sixth in pass defense at 193.9 yards a game, sixth in rushing offense at 113.3 yards a game, seventh in rushing defense at 175.4 yards a game, and seventh in total defense at 369 yards a game.

Individually, Eric DeGraff was first in passing, averaging 280.6 yards a game. He was first in total offense at 295.4 yards a game.

Matt Holmlund was first in receptions per game with 8.56 and in receiving yards per game with 105.9. He was second in touchdowns with 12.

Ryan Nodland was third in catches per game with 5.11 and third in receiving yards per game with 73.7.

Roman Evans tied for first in interceptions with five.

AUGUSTANA placed three players on the 2000 North Central Conference All-Academic football team. They are senior offensive lineman Ryan Sather, Anoka, MN; senior quarterback Eric DeGraff, Alleman, IA; and junior linebacker Matt Christensen, Yankton, SD.

JIM HEINITZ (63-78-1) completed his 13th season as Augustana's head coach. He was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992. The 1992 season is among the most memorable in Augustana athletic history as the Vikings posted an 8-3 record after going winless in 1991. The South Dakota Sportswriters Association named Heinitz Men's College Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992, and he was selected the Kodak College Coach of the Year in Region Four in 1988. Heinitz served three years as Augie's offensive line coach before being named head coach in 1985. He resigned to enter private business after the 1992 season, but returned to Augustana in January, 1996. In 1988 and 1989 Augustana made its only appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. During the Heinitz years the Vikings have had three eight-win seasons. A two-time All-NCC linebacker at South Dakota State University, Heinitz coached football at the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Washington High School, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, and Rapid City Stevens High School before coming to Augie. Jim and his wife, Becky, have three childrenÑStacy Scholten, Adam, and Heather.

COACHING STAFF

• Mike Freidel, defensive coordinator, fourth season.
• Kent Kessinger, offensive coordinator, fifth season.
• John Kelling, receivers, fourth season.
• Don Pierson, special teams coordinator, 14th season.
• Paul Lasley, offensive backs, recruiting coordinator, first season.

NCC STANDINGS

AUGUSTANA QUICK FACTS
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Founded: 1860
Enrollment: 1800
Stadium: Howard Wood Field (9,000)
President: Bruce Halverson
Athletic Director: Bill Gross
SID: Karen Madsen
Nickname: Vikings