DE PERE, Wis. -- The St. Norbert College football team jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and rolled to a 40-11 victory over Lawrence University on Saturday at Minahan Stadium.
For the second consecutive week, the Vikings (0-2, 0-2 MWC) were hurt through the air. St. Norbert quarterback Cody Craig completed 17 of 29 passes for 253 yards and five touchdowns. Lawrence limited St. Norbert (3-0, 2-0) to only 89 yards rushing on 39 attempts.
St. Norbert scored on its first three possessions, thanks to a pair of special teams miscues by the Vikings. Craig hit Nick Albert with an 8-yard scoring pass and connected with Judd O'Connell for a 21-yard touchdown before A.J. Phillips plunged in from a yard out to give the Green Knights a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.
The Green Knights were up 28-0 when Craig hit O'Connell with a 16-yard touchdown pass with just 33 seconds left in the first half for a 34-0 lead at the break.
Lawrence finally got on the board following a St. Norbert touchdown, a 78-yard pass from Craig to O'Connell, with 9:53 left in the third quarter. Pat Phillips' extra point was blocked and Derek Micke returned it for a defensive extra point. It was the second time Micke has accomplished that in his career.
The Vikings got their lone touchdown when Jesse Peterson dived in from a yard out with 13:34 left in the game. It was the first collegiate touchdown for Peterson, who capped a 20-play, 73-yard drive.
Lawrence added another two points when freshman linebacker Greg Pater tackled Anthony Nanne in the end zone for the safety. It was the first safety by the Vikings since a 1996 game vs. Carleton.
Sophomore linebacker Brian Janssen piled up a career-high 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Fellow sophomore linebacker Kevin Penza added nine tackles, including five for loss.
The Vikings hit the road again next Saturday when they travel to Grinnell.