The Lawrence University Football team played against St. Norbert College during Lawrence’s Fall Festival and Family Weekend on October 15. Despite losing 62-0 to St. Norbert, who is 4-0 in the Midwest Conference and 4-2 overall, the Vikings, 1-3 in the Midwest Conference and 2-4 overall, played a very hard game on Saturday. The Vikings lost the most ground during the second quarter, making it quick difficult for a comeback.
The first quarter was a back and fourth between the two teams that resulted in St. Norbert scoring with 4:01 left on the clock, making it 6-0. The Vikings did their best to hold off St. Norbert during the first quarter, only allowing the one touchdown. The second quarter was where the Vikings had trouble keeping the game within reach. St. Norbert was able to gain 35 points in the quarter, pulling their lead to 42-0. With 14:43 left to go in the second quarter, St. Norbert’s J.T. Crosby threw a 71-yard scoring pass to Samuel Staehling after an incomplete fourth down from Lawrence sophomore Ryan Butterfield. After Lawrence tried to rally back and defend, St. Norbert’s Elijah Fort was able to run for a 41-yard touchdown. St. Norbert would score three more times as the clock wound down, before heading into the second half of the game, where Lawrence was able to hold St. Norbert back better.
During the second half of the game against St. Norbert, the Vikings were able to drive twice, moving to the St. Norbert six on the first drive and the 17 on the second, but falling short to keep the Vikings scoreless. St. Norbert picked up 21 more points to end the game this last Saturday, seven during the third quarter and 14 during the fourth.
The Vikings’ quarterback, freshman Philip Santiago, ran nine times for a total of 56 yards. Santiago was 6-of-12 passing for 49 yards. Butterfield started the game at the quarterback position had 13 carries for 47 yards. Butterfield was 2-of-11 passing for four yards. The Vikings’ linebacker, sophomore Hunter Adams, finished with a game-high of 11 tackles, while junior Jake Gostisha, finished the game with nine stops. Gostisha was able to pick off his fourth pass of the season so far.
Despite the tough loss to St. Norbert, the Vikings are looking to pick themselves back up and improve over the last four games of the season. The Lawrence University football team’s next game is at Lake Forest College on Oct. 22. Lawrence will return to the home field on Oct. 29 to play their last home game against Grinnell College before heading back on the road for the first two weekends of November against Knox and Ripon.
