The Vikings may have won four of their last six match-ups with Grinnell before Saturday’s football game, but on this day they were dramatically outplayed.Grinnell was first to get on the scoreboard. QB Jeff Pederson capped a six play, 53 yard drive with a 23 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacob Peterson. Lawrence responded with a nine play, 53 yard drive of their own to tie the score at 7-7 when QB R.J. Rosenthal hit receiver Zach Michael with a 15 yard TD pass. With only 2:23 left in the 1st quarter, it was still anyone’s game.
Grinnell followed with a drive resulting in a 23 yard touchdown run by Pederson.
The second quarter began where the first quarter left: Grinnell increased their lead to 14 points when running back D. Chandler scored on a five yard run. Pederson then made it 27-7, when he ran in his second touchdown of the game from three yards out.
The second half was more even, with both teams scoring twice. Lawrence got within 12 points after J.C. Radcliff scored on a one yard run and Ned Connor returned a fumble for a touchdown, sandwiching a remarkable 50 yard TD pass thrown by Pederson to SE Ryan Brown.
Brown then caught a 47 yard pass from Pederson for this second TD of the day, giving Grinnell a final victory margin of 40-21.