The Lawrence University Football team lost its fourth game this season to Carroll College 45-14 last Saturday. However, LU wideout Zach Michael set both the career receptions and career receiving yard records for the Vikings.The Vikings went to Carroll and faced the Pioneers during their homecoming weekend. The Vikings and Pioneers were both 0-4 coming into the game, and both here hungry for their first win.
The Vikings and Pioneers traded punts in the first quarter until Vikings quarterback R.J. Rosenthal was sacked and fumbled. Carroll recovered and went fifteen yards in three plays as Brad Dement took the ball in from a yard out to give Carroll an early 7-0 lead.
After trading punts again, the Vikings struck, driving fifty-five yards on five Justin Berrens runs. Berrens took it to the house from five yards away and the game was tied at 7.
The game remained that way until the second quarter when, after a Carroll College interception, the Pioneers marched down the field. Rob Brester scored from 9 yards out and Carroll led 14-7.
After the Vikings punted on their next drive, Carroll advanced enough for D. J. Otto to kick and make a forty-yard field goal, and Carroll led 17-7.
The Vikings continued to turn the ball over, and after a fumble by Nick Korn, the Pioneers struck quick. Dement hit Matt Carroll for a twenty-seven yard scoring strike. The two-point conversion failed, and the Pioneers led 23-7 at the half.
The Vikings needed a quick defensive stop to begin the second half, but did not get it. The Pioneers struck on their first drive, as Adam Fletcher caught a twenty-three-yard strike for a touchdown to put Carroll up 30-7.
The Vikings struck right back as Michael caught a forty-yard touchdown from Rosenthal to close the gap to 30-14. However, that’s as close as the Vikings would get. The quarter ended 30-14, but Carroll controlled the fourth quarter.
On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, Brester ran in from 2 yards for his second TD of the game, and the two-point conversion was good this time, and Carroll took a 38-14 lead. Carroll would add one more touchdown from Adam Fletcher to make the final 45-14.
The highlight of the game for the Vikings came in the third quarter as Michael broke record for both the career receiving yards and career receptions on his touchdown catch. Michael, only a junior, will have one more season to add to his amazing totals. The record for career receptions was held previously by Ed Lamm (1990-93) and was 152. Michael now has 156. The record for receiving yards was 2,394 and was held by Paul Gebhart (1976-78) a Lawrence University Hall of Fame Member. Michael now has 2,427.
The Vikings’ next game is this Saturday at 2:00 against Beloit in the Banta Bowl. The Bucs are 1-2 in the MWC and are coming off their first win, a 44-28 victory over Monmouth. The Vikings lost a thriller to Beloit last season 15-13 as the would-be tying two-point conversion for the Vikings failed in the final moments of the game.
The Vikings and the Bucs can also be heard on 91.1 WLFM starting at 1:30 tomorrow.