APPLETON, Wis. -- The Monmouth College football team scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions in the second quarter to breeze out to a 34-0 lead at the half and coasted to a 44-7 win over Lawrence University on Saturday in the Banta Bowl.
Freshman quarterback Alex Tanney passed the Scots (1-1, 1-0 MWC) to the victory, as he completed 24 of 31 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence (0-1, 0-1) limited Monmouth to only 58 yards rushing on 42 carries, but the Vikings had no answer for the Scots' no-huddle offense.
Monmouth led 13-0 when it got the ball back late in the first quarter. The Scots went on a 14-play, 73-yard drive that consumed 5:03 on the clock, with Jeff Davis running it in from 2 yards out to give Monmouth a 20-0 lead.
The Vikings went three-and-out on their next possession, and Monmouth got the ball back at the Lawrence 45. Tanney hit Matt Shepherd with a 9-yard scoring pass four plays later to put the Scots up 27-0.
After another three-and-out and a punt for no yards, Monmouth took over at the Lawrence 20. Tanney needed only three plays to score, as he connected with Nick Wright for a 16-yard scoring pass to give Monmouth a 34-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first half.
Lawrence got its lone score when Eric Aspenson hit Josh Scheck with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 7:07 left in the contest. It was the first collegiate touchdown for Scheck, a sophomore wide receiver.
Lawrence was limited to only 172 total yards, despite holding the ball for 32:52. Aspenson completed only 10 of 28 passes for 109 yards. He also threw three interceptions.
Kevin Penza paced the Vikings with 13 tackles, and Sam Laes, Andy Frelich, and Mike Gostisha had 10 apiece. Matt Frelich had eight tackles, including four for loss and 2.5 sacks, and he blocked a field goal.
The Vikings return to action next Saturday at St. Norbert College.