LU punter Robert Campagna has been a busy man for the Vikings, averaging 5.2 punts per game
The St. Norbert Green Knights crushed the Lawrence University football team this past weekend 55-0. The Green Knights are ranked 12th nationally, and are 6-0 this season. The Vikings are now 0-6. The game started off well for the Vikings, under the rushing of Justin Berrens. Berrens rushed 30 times for 175 yards for LU. The Vikings and Green Knights traded punts early, but St. Norbert was quick to capitalize on a Viking mistake.
On fourth down, a bad snap got past Viking punter Robert Campagna, and the Green Knights took over on the Viking 11-yard line. Three plays later, Green Knight QB Ryan Hartman found Kyle Thompson for the TD, and a 7-0 lead.
The score quickly became 14-0 as Joe Masciopinto intercepted an R.J. Rosenthal pass and took it in for the touchdown. That’s where the first quarter ended, and the Vikings were still in the game. By the end of the second quarter, however, things would change mightily.
The Viking offense made headway behind Berrens’ rushing, but the Vikings could not get the critical first down, or get a break from the Green Knight defense. After a fourth down stop, an interception and an LU fumble, the Green Knights did not to run up the score. They followed all three Viking drives with touchdown drives, and pushed the margin up to 35-0. After a Campagna punt, the Green Knights scored again, but this time missed the extra point, making the score 41-0. That’s where it would stand at halftime.
The Vikings hoped to break the stifling Green Knight defense in the second half, but it was not to be. After a Rosenthal fumble, St. Norbert scored again, this time on an Adam Lewis rush, to make the score 48-0.
The Vikings could not find their passing game against the Green Knights. Rosenthal passed for only 69 yards and was intercepted four times. Backup Matt Wautier was one for five for five yards.
The Green Knights added one more score in the fourth to make the final 55-0. With the loss, the Vikings fell to 0-6 on the season.
The loss guaranteed the Vikings their fifteenth consecutive losing season. The last time the Vikings were above 500 was in 1987 when they were 6-3.
This week the Vikings will host their Homecoming game against the Monmouth Scots. Last season, Vikings wideout Zach Michael set single game records for catches with 15, and receiving yards with 279 in a 35-21 loss at Monmouth. Last week the Scots picked up their first win of the year with a 37-20 win over Grinnell. The Scots are now 1-4 in the MWC and 1-5 overall. The game will kick off at 1:30 in the Banta Bowl, and can be heard on 91.1 WLFM. The pre-game will begin at 1:00.