‘It’s staying home’: Augie retains Key for third season

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Key to the City game has been played 12 times prior to Saturday, with USF leading the series 8-4. The Cougars were poised to win their ninth game in the rivalry, until Augustana’s fourth quarter comeback.

USF scored 14 unanswered points at two separate points in Saturday’s game, building a 28-10 lead entering the fourth quarter.

“This is generally, not always, but generally a four quarter game and I’m just proud of our young team having some grit and belief in finishing,” Augustana head coach Jerry Olszewski said.

The Vikings began to chip away with some defensive plays and some bounces going their way.

“The goal line stop was huge, then we went 99 (yards) on that. If that’s a field goal, obviously it’s a difference in the game,” Olszewski said. “The two point conversion that happened, the one’s kind of a broken play, lucky you know, but the kids played through it.”

Augustana scored 11 straight points to close the gap to 28-21. That’s when true freshman quarterback, Richard Lucero Jr., who was making his first start threw an interception.

“Even after the pick, he was positive. I just said ‘you’re going to win the game for us. So get you head up and let’s go to work’ and he did a great job on the last drive,” Olszewski said.

Lucero Jr. led the Vikings down the field in the final minutes, connecting with senior wide receiver Isaiah Huber for a touchdown.

“I saw man across the board and I just said ‘okay, I can roll the dice and throw to whoever I want’, because I trust my receivers that much,” Lucero Jr. said.

“Really it was a well placed ball and Isaiah Huber is a tough out as well. I knew that’s where he was going as soon as we made the call, he’s going to Isaiah,” Olszewski said.

“The coaches set us up for success. They put me in that position and I knew I was getting the ball,” Huber said. “Because I was in that situation and I wanted to make the play and I got it done.”

Sam Scholten ran in the two point conversion, followed by a defensive stop leading the Vikings to a 29-28 win, retaining the Key for a third straight season.

“So happy for the seniors. They were part of the beginning of this thing and even the guys that came back today, we weren’t real great when we started this series,” Olszewski said. “So it’s not coming back, it’s staying home.”

Augustana is now 6-0 on the season. They’ll host Concordia-St. Paul on Sautrday at 1 p.m.

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