ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the 2019 finale, the Hamline football team lost the battle for the Hammer trophy, 12-9 to Augsburg on Saturday afternoon at Klas Field. The Pipers scored first in the game, but were unable to answer two Auggie touchdowns, allowing Augsburg to take home the win.
 
The Hammer has now gone back and forth between the two opponents for the past seven games, with neither team being able to win two in a row since Augsburg had a four-game winning streak from 2010-2013. Despite the loss, the Pipers remain 44-34-2 in their all-time series history with the Auggies.
 
HU was the first to find the end zone in the game, when first year Kaden Smith recovered an Augsburg fumble and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Senior Riley Bakken drilled the extra point to put the Pipers up 7-0.
 
Smith came up with another big play during the next Auggie drive, intercepting a pass and returning it 45 yards. A penalty brought the ball back to the Augsburg 41, but Hamline now had the ball in Auggie territory.
 
The Auggies retaliated, though, recovering an HU fumble to put themselves on the Hamline 21 yard line. Augsburg running back Quran Al-Hameed gained 10 yards on his next carry, setting up his own 11-yard touchdown run the following play. First year Chip Kindt blocked the extra point, however, to allow the Pipers to hold onto their lead 7-6.
 
Al-Hameed, who finished with almost 200 rushing yards, scored again for Augsburg in the third quarter, once again running 11 yards to reach the end zone.
 
The next Hamline drive was stopped short of a first down on fourth and three and the ball was handed back to the Auggies. HU's defense came up big again, finding a way to hold Augsburg when they had the ball with a first down on Hamline's four yard line, keeping the score 12-7.
 
The Pipers were forced to punt on their next drive, but got the ball back with 3:36 still left in the game. Hamline was into Auggie territory, but an interception by Augburg's Austin Kincade gave the ball back to the Auggies with time running low.
 
Augsburg decided to run down the clock and ran the ball into their own end zone with 26 seconds left, giving Hamline two points on a safety. This only gave HU 25 seconds left to get down the field after the kickoff, which proved to be not enough time, leaving the score 12-9 as time expired.
 
Junior Connor Leavens tallied over 223 passing yards in the game, including a 44-yard pass to senior Tanner Lunceford, who ended the day with 125 receiving yards.
 
On defense, first year Carson Reinard led the way with 16 total tackles while also forcing a fumble. Smith and senior Monty Stenroos also ended with double-digit tackles, compiling 13 and 12, respectively. Smith, in addition to his fumble recovery and interception, also contributed to a sack.
 
Hamline finished the season with a 1-9 record and graduate eight seniors from their roster.