Former Bulldog QB Michael Veldman passed for 430 yards and four touchdowns to lead his Gustavus Adolphus team to a 42-37 victory over host Augsburg  Saturday Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis.

 

Guided by a strong start and offensive onslaught, the Gusties (2-1, 1-0 MIAC) totaled 532 yards of offense to take down the Auggies (2-1, 0-1 MIAC).

 

Gustavus opened the game recording four scores, led by three touchdown passes from junior quarterback Veldman.  Veldman drove his team downfield on the Gusties second possession and found Brice Panning for an eight-yard TD in the first quarter.

 

Veldman stayed hot in the second quarter as he tallied two more TD passing scores, finding Josh Kirk for 11 yards and Cam Hufendick for four yards to help the Gusties take a 28-7 lead in the first half.

 

The game was a tale of two halves as the Auggies took advantage of a forced fumble in the third quarter and mounted a comeback. The game was nailed down late in the fourth when Drew Fredrickson intercepted an Augsburg pass to seal the win.

 

Veldman finished with a career-best game, totaling the most passing yards by a Gustie quarterback since 2014, completing 35 passes for 430 yards and four touchdowns. 

 

“He played well,” Head Coach Peter Haugen said of Veldman’s performance.

 

 “He made some really big throws and was extending plays with his arm.”

 

Veldman is a BHS graduate of 2015 in which he helped lead the Bulldogs to the first of back-to-back state championships.

 

Veldman first committed to NDSU, then transferred to G-A after his freshman year. He is the son of Gregg and Stacy Veldman of Becker.