Rock Island Today

Augustana University's football team will have some climbing to do if it wants to prove itself in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) this season.

The Vikings are ranked sixth in preseason poll, just behind Elmhurst and well behind Wheaton, which is predicted to win the CCIW title and make their fourth consecutive NCAA Division III championship appearance. The Thunder took the No. 1 spot with a 1-point margin over defending champion North Central.

Each CCIW coach votes for the eight other schools in the conference in order of where he expects them to finish. They do not vote for their own teams.

Augustana coach Steve Bell

Augustana went 2-6 in the CCIW and 3-7 overall last year. Coach Steve Bell returns for a third season and returns standouts Zachary Fuller and Luke Bleyer, juniors who shared quarterback duties last season and threw for more than 1,000 yards each. 

Fuller completed 121 of 242 passes for a total of 1,520 yards and 10 touchdowns. He gave up only five interceptions. Bleyer completed 90 of his 151 throws for 1,035 yards, recording four touchdowns and four interceptions. 

Their combined 211 of 393 pass completion numbers broke the school record.

Running backs Ryan Pitra and Bobby Jarosz return for their junior and sophomore seasons, respectively. Both led the Vikings in rushing yards, with Pitra gaining 443 yards on 133 carries and scoring four touchdowns. Jarosz carried the ball 56 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns. 

The squad will have to overcome the loss of graduates Jack Asquini and Frank Kalble.

Asquni led the team in tackles as a middle linebacker three years in a row, with a total of 112. He had 52 solo stops and 60 assists, with 14 tackles for a loss. All were team highs. His career total tackles rank No. 3 in school history. 

Kalble was second in tackles as a strong safety. He had 80 tackles -- 45 solo, 35 assisted -- and with Asquini was named to second-team All-CCIW. 

John Asquini, returning as a defensive back, had four interceptions as a safety last year and will be counted on to help fill the void left by the other defensive stars. Grant Burke also returns for his senior season at linebacker. 

Senior kicker Jacob Stytz converted all 22 of his point-after attempts and rides a string of 62 in row. He succeeded on nine field goals in 12 attempts, with a long of 46 yards, and averaged a school record 41.7 yards. 

Also on the VIkings roster are Riley Donald (WR), Danny Oliger (TE), Antonio Cannon (RB), Trevor Spicer (RB), Luke Phelan (DB) and Griff Jenkins (DB). 

The Vikings open their season on Sept. 2 against SUNY Cortland in New York. Their first home game is Sept. 16 against conference rival Carroll.