LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Lawrence University football team won the statistical battle on Saturday at Farwell Field, but six turnovers doomed the Vikings in a 28-14 Midwest Conference loss to Lake Forest College.
The Vikings had only 218 yards of offense, but Lawrence (0-5, 0-5 MWC) limited Lake Forest (1-5, 1-4) to only 175 yards on the day. Lawrence's defense, which forced four turnovers itself, also gave up only two rushing yards on 32 carries for the Foresters.
Both teams got on the board courtesy of their defenses in the first half.
Lawrence quarterback Nick Maxam's first pass of the day was intercepted by Tanner Compton and returned 27 yards for a touchdown to give Lake Forest a 7-0 lead. Brian Janssen countered for Lawrence when he intercepted Geoff Sobey at the Lake Forest 11-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
Sam Ausloos was then intercepted by Will Christensen and he returned it to the Lawrence 35. Sobey hit Brock Stenberg with a 9-yard scoring pass four plays later give Lake Forest a 14-7 lead late in the first half.
A fumbled punt return midway through the third quarter set up Lake Forest's third touchdown. Kevin Davis recovered the fumble at the Lawrence 12-yard line, and Sobey found Dan Carter on a 12-yard scoring pass three plays later to put the Foresters up 21-7.
Another Lawrence fumble late in the third quarter was recovered by Hamid Khan at the Lawrence 33-yard line. Sobey, who was 12 of 31 passing for 173 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, hit Pat Jarvis with a 31-yard scoring pass two plays later and Lake Forest led 28-7.
The Vikings put together a solid drive early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 28-14. Lawrence moved 46 yards in six plays, with Maxam connecting with Nick Thackston on a 19-yard scoring pass with 7:48 left in the game.
That was as close as the Vikings would get. Lawrence drove to the Lake Forest 4-yard line but ran out of time before it could post another score.
Maxam finished the game 9 of 21 for 123 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Ben Hartman had a solid game on the ground with 11 carries for 46 yards.
Jeff Nichols led the Lawrence defense with six tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. Mike Gostisha had a team-high 9 tackles for Lawrence, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Eric Follett, Greg Pater, Brian Janssen, Matt Frelich and Jeremy Reider all had a sack for the Vikings. Kyle Gauthier also got his second interception of the season for Lawrence.
The Vikings return to action next Saturday when they host Knox College in the Hall of Fame Game.