APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University football team made it two victories in a row with a 19-14 Midwest Conference win Saturday at Beloit College.
Lawrence (2-2, 2-1 MWC) stunned the homecoming crowd of 2,587 at Strong Stadium by hitting on some big plays and holding the Buccaneers scoreless in the second half. The Vikings, fresh off a 28-26 win over Carroll College on Sept. 27, jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first half. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and went 70 yards in 12 plays to open the scoring. Justin Berrens, who ran 35 times for 164 yards, ran the final 21 yards for the touchdown. After forcing Beloit (1-4, 0-4) to punt, the Vikings hit on a big play. Freshman quarterback Eric Aspenson, who was 9 of 22 for 162 yards, hooked up with Zach Michael on a 71-yard touchdown pass on Lawrence's next possession and the Vikings led 13-0. Beloit rallied in the second quarter, getting a 2-yard touchdown run from Scott Weber and a 6-yard scoring run from Seth Feldner to grab a 14-13 lead at the half. That was all the Bucs would get, as the Lawrence defense stiffened in the second half. Lawrence got a 17-yard punt return from Michael on the last play of the third quarter to give the Vikings a first down at the Lawrence 25-yard line. Senior wide receiver Craig Garvey grabbed a 10-yard pass from Aspenson for a first down, and then Berrens simply pounded the Bucs. He ran the ball five consecutive plays for 31 yards, and that's when Garvey caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Aspenson to give Lawrence a 19-14 lead with 11:39 left in the game. The defense then took over for Lawrence. Jacques Hacquebord recovered a Beloit fumble on the next possession, the Bucs went three-and-out on their next possession, and sophomore cornerback Nate Semenak sealed the win with an interception in the final seconds. Lawrence outgained Beloit 374-285 for the game. This marks the first time Lawrence has won two consecutive games since Nov. 6, 1999, when the Vikings beat Ripon College 25-22. It is Lawrence's first road victoring since a 25-12 win at Lake Forest on Oct. 13, 2001. The Vikings are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they host undefeated St. Norbert College at 1:30 p.m. in the Banta Bowl.