ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - After starting the season 3-0 for the first time in nine years, Carroll's football team suffered its first defeat of the 2023 season Saturday afternoon, losing a tight battle 23-19 at Augustana (Ill.). The last three meetings between these teams have now been decided by a total of 10 points. Despite the loss, Carroll out-gained Augustana in total offensive yards 461-392, while also holding the edge in passing yardage 364-237. 

Things looked great for Carroll (3-1, 2-1 CCIW) early on, as they broke a scoreless tie mid-way through the opening quarter on a six-yard run by quarterback Josh Raby, capping a 13-play, 73-yard drive. The Pioneers would add to that lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter when Jacob Laurent kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Pios a 10-0 advantage. Augustana (3-1, 2-1 CCIW) then got on the board with a field goal of their own from 37 yards out to cut the lead to seven, but Laurent answered with a career-high 44-yarder minutes later to push Carroll's lead back to 10. Augustana would make the score tighter later in the half, scoring on a 26-yard TD pass from Cole Bhardwaj to Jordan Vesey. The Pioneers nearly punched the ball in the end zone in the final minute of the half, but had to settle for Laurent's third field goal of the game, this time from 22 yards out, giving Carroll a 16-10 lead at the intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, Carroll pushed their lead to nine in the opening minute of the fourth on a 25-yard field goal by Laurent, breaking the Pioneers' single game record with four field goals in the contest, while pulling him within two of the program's career mark of 24. Augustana would answer on the ensuing possession with an 11-yard TD pass from Bhardwaj to Sean Schlanser to cut the Pios' lead to two. They would score again with three minutes remaining, earning the touchdown by going 98 yards in eight plays, capped by an 11-yard TD run from Mike DiGioloa, which proved to be the winning score. Carroll got the ball to the 14-yard line with 24 seconds remaining on the ensuing possession, but could not convert a 4th-and-10 to extend the game.

Raby completed 24-of-50 passes for 364 yards, with his top receiver Austin Eichstaedt catching 12 passes for 216 yards, marking Carroll's first 200-yard receiver since Eichstaedt accomplished that feat during the 2021 season. The Senior from Cudahy, Wis. was also active on special teams, blocking a punt that led to one of Laurent's field goals, which marks Carroll's fourth blocked kick of the season.

Defensively, Carroll was led by Elliot Mueller's eight tackles (six solo). Steven Lazaris added seven tackles and the team's lone sack, while AJ Moorer returned the Pios' only interception 31 yards.

Augustana tested Carroll's league-leading rush defense, gaining 155 yards on 31 carries (5.0 ypc). They were led by Tyler Rivelli's 87 yards on 17 totes (5.1 ypc). Bhardwaj completed 21-of-33 passes for 237 yards and two TDs for the Vikings.

Carroll will face their toughest test to date next weekend when they'll travel to defending National Champion North Central College, which is ranked number one in the latest Division-III Top 25 Poll. That game will begin at 6 p.m. in Naperville, Ill., and can be seen live at https://northcentralcardinals.com/watch/?Live=647&type=Live, with the radio call available at https://waukradio.com/, via WAUK 540 AM and 101 FM.