Lawrence University football standout Sam Wagner’s landmark kickoff return earned him Midwest Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors
Wagner (Salem, Wis./Burlington Catholic Central), a freshman slotback, picked up the award after returning a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in Lawrence’s 31-24 loss at the College of St. Scholastica in the opener on Sept. 4.
The return was a first in 107 seasons of Lawrence football. Wagner is the first freshman to return a kickoff for a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball in a collegiate game. After St. Scholastica kicked a field goal early in the first quarter, the Saints kicked off to Wagner, who took the ball, cut right and went untouched for the score.
Wagner also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, and he finished the game with six catches for 69 yards.
The Vikings open Midwest Conference play on Saturday when they host Knox College at 1 p.m. in the Banta Bowl.