Augsburg College Football 1999 Season in Review

MINNEAPOLIS -- The 1999 football season was a history-making year for the Augsburg College football team. The Auggies finished the season duplicating last year's 6-4 overall (5-4 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) finish -- marking just the second time in college history that Auggie squads have finished with above-.500 records three years in a row. The last time Augsburg had three straight winning seasons was in 1927-29.

Head coach Jack Osberg also finished the year on a winning note, as the Auggie mentor finished his ninth season with an overall record of 46-45 -- becoming the first head coach in school history to have an above-.500 career winning percentage. His 46 wins are the second-most in school history, behind legendary coach Edor Nelson's 58 wins (58-118-10) from 1947-69.

The Auggies accomplished this feat with a young lineup -- just 11 seniors -- and a more-balanced offensive attack to go with a defense that earned a reputation as one of the most tenacious in the MIAC.

Brian Warden (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran HS), in his first year as the Auggies' starting halfback, made the most of his opportunity, setting a single-season school record with 232 carries and becoming the first Auggie since 1993 to rush for more than 800 yards in a single season. His 858 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns were both the fifth-most in a single year in school history. Warden earned All-MIAC first-team honors.

Warden also provided the most dramatic highlights of the season for the Auggies. His 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped the Auggies survive in the season-opener, a 29-27, three-overtime win at Mayville State (N.D.), and in the final game of the season, against Concordia-Moorhead at the Metrodome, Warden through a halfback pass 40 yards to Mark Johnson (So., Hastings, Minn.) with 1:34 remaining for the game-winning touchdown in the Auggies' 7-5 win. The victory was the Auggies' fourth straight over the Cobbers and knocked Concordia out of Division III playoff contention. The Warden-to-Johnson toss also was named the "National Pass Play of the Week" in the Compaq College Football Plays of the Week competition.

Johnson, a transfer from South Dakota State, led a corps of receivers whose aim was to provide balance in a passing attack that was in its first season without record-setting receiver (and 1998 Division III national player of the year) Scott Hvistendahl. Johnson became the Auggies' clutch receiver, leading the team with 594 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Damien Rochon-Washington (Jr., Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) and Desman Oakley (Jr., Indianola, Iowa) also proved to be top receivers, with 434 and 268 receiving yards, respectively. John Rotter (Jr., Montgomery, Minn./Montgomery-Lonsdale HS), in his first year as the Auggies' starting fullback, proved to be competent both as a rusher and receiver (247 yards on a team-high 34 receptions).

Augsburg threw for 2,184 yards this season, behind the arms of Paul Tetzloff (Jr., Faribault, Minn.), who tossed 101 completions for 1,352 yards; and John Goodale (So., Buffalo, Minn.), who filled in for two games and threw for 792 yards. Offensive lineman Todd Boerboom (Jr., Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis HS) earned second-team All-MIAC honors.

Augsburg's defense was its strength all season long, forcing 26 sacks and 36 turnovers (23 interceptions, 13 fumbles). Keying the defense was free safety Jake Kern (Sr., Faribault, Minn.), who earned All-MIAC first-team honors for the third straight year. He also earned All-West Region second-team honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette magazine. For the second year in a row, Kern led the Auggies in tackles (82 total, 65 solo), while picking off two passes. He finished his career with 221 tackles (144 solo), 12 interceptions and 17 pass breakups.
In addition to his prowess on defense, Kern was also a special teams force, blocking two punts this year -- including one recovered by Chad Olson (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) in the end zone for a touchdown in Augsburg's 30-20 loss to MIAC contender St. Thomas.

Kurt Werk (Jr., Herman, Minn./West Central Area HS) paced Augsburg's linebacking crew with 72 tackles (44 solo), while Matt Chappuis (So., Faribault, Minn.) had a breakout season in his first year as a starting defensive end, with 62 tackles (33 solo) and team highs of 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. After just two seasons, Chappuis is already fifth on the school's career sack record list, with 13.5. Chappuis earned All-MIAC second-team honors.

Jason Van Houten (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) was named to the MIAC's all-conference first team with an outstanding season on the defensive line, with 37 tackles (24 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks -- both second-most on the team. He finished his career with 16.5 sacks, third-most in school history.

Brent Peroutka (So., Faribault, Minn.) earned All-MIAC second-team honors with a strong season at defensive back, with five interceptions and 40 tackles (21 solo). Joining him as a young force in the secondary was Nate Loughran (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS), who tied a single-game school mark with three interceptions in the season-opening win at Mayville State, en route to a seven-interception campaign -- second-most in a single year in school history. He added 51 tackles (41 solo).