GRINNELL, Iowa — Quarterback Luke Barthelmess ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and receiver Tyler Mazur had another big day as the Lawrence University football team beat Grinnell College 24-14 in a Midwest Conference game Saturday at Rosenbloom Field.
Barthelmess ran 17 times for 103 yards and topped the 100-yard mark for the second time this season. Barthelmess also completed 14 of 29 passes for 207 yards. Barthelmess, who also topped the 100-yard rushing mark in the season opener against Cornell, became the first Lawrence back since Craig Ebert in 2008 to rush for more than 100 yards in a game twice in the same season.
Mazur caught six passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, and he ran 11 times for 40 yards.
The Vikings (2-6, 2-5 MWC) built a 17-0 lead and then used a 98-yard scoring drive in the third quarter to help put the game away.
Lawrence took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards in nine plays for a 7-0 lead. Ben Hartman had a 25-yard run to give the Vikings a first down at the Grinnell three-yard line, and Barthelmess hit Mazur with a touchdown pass on the next play.
After Grinnell (2-6, 2-6) gave up the ball on downs on its first possession of the game, Lawrence took over at its own 21. The Vikings got runs from Barthelmess of 19 and 27 yards, the latter giving Lawrence a first down at the Grinnell 12. Lawrence scored three plays later on Barthelmess’ five-yard run for a 14-0 lead.
Lawrence drove all the way to the Grinnell five-yard line on its next possession but had to settle for Cody Robel’s 23-yard field goal and led 17-0 at the half.
Grinnell scored on its first possession of the second half with a 62-yard drive for a touchdown. Quarterback Sam Poulos hit Jacob Meixler with an 11-yard scoring pass to trim the margin to 17-7.
After an exchange of punts, Lawrence took over at its own two-yard line with 5:22 left in the third quarter. The Vikings moved 98 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown with just 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The Vikings converted all three third downs on the drive and got a 24-yard completion to Dominque Dirden to the Grinnell one-yard line. Barthelmess scored three plays later to put Lawrence up 24-7.
Grinnell got a 68-yard touchdown pass from Poulos to Meixler to cut the lead to 24-14 with 6:28 left in the game, but the Lawrence defense held the Pioneers right there.
The Pioneers got the ball back but gave it up just four plays later, and Lawrence got a first down to run out the clock.
Lawrence hits the road again next Saturday with a game at Knox College.