APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team routed Maranatha Baptist University 59-0 on Saturday night in a nonconference game at the Banta Bowl.
Lawrence quarterback Tanner Schuh played only the first half but ran for 99 yards and a touchdown and threw for 244 and two touchdowns as the Vikings (1-1) bolted a 28-0 lead at the half. Backup quarterback Chance Byrd completed 11 of 15 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns and ran 11 times for 46 yards and a score.
Taylor Mandich grabbed seven passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, including a 70-yard scoring pass in the first half. Dalton Sendelbach added 14 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings. Lawrence kicker Patrick O’Mahoney also tied the school record of Cody Robel and Kraig Krueger with eight extra points.
The Lawrence defense, which held Maranatha to just 76 yards, recorded its first shutout since beating Ripon College 26-0 in 1991. It was a team effort on defense with Tony Harth leading the way with six tackles, including a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Lawrence limited Maranatha (0-2) to 20 carries for a minus-32 yards on the ground.
The Vikings also intercepted five passes, one each by Alic Riedel, Dan Taylor, Nick Ulloa, Jake Walker and defensive end Gabor Bukszar.
Lawrence scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and four of its first five. Trevor Spina had a four-yard run for the first touchdown, and Schuh scored from three yards out on the next drive for a 14-0 lead.
After Mandich had his 55-yard touchdown catch called back due to a penalty, he hooked up with Schuh on a 70-yard scoring pass on the next play for a 21-0 lead. Mandich then caught a 23-yard scoring pass with 4:51 left in the second quarter to put the Vikings up 28-0.
Lawrence got a 21-yard field goal from O’Mahoney to make it 31-0 midway through the third quarter. The Vikings then picked up touchdowns on four of their next five possessions to complete the scoring. Byrd connected with Cole Erickson on an 11-yard touchdown pass and then hit Mandich from 21 yards out to push the lead to 45-0 after three quarters. Byrd had a 19-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, and Sendelbach finished the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown scamper.
The big bright spot for the Sabercats was linebacker Ethan Kennon, who recorded 21 tackles, including 15 solo.