APPLETON, Wis. — A big play jump-started the Knox College offense and a long scoring drive sealed the Prairie Fire’s 20-6 non-conference win over Lawrence University on Saturday at Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
Knox (2-1) got a 79-yard run on the second play of third quarter to set up its first touchdown, and the Prairie Fire went on a drive that ate up 7:10 of the fourth quarter to grab a two-touchdown lead.
Nick Edlund ran 20 times for 156 yards, and Jared Zanger scored all three touchdowns for Knox.
Lawrence quarterback Ryan Butterfield was 7-for-14 for 80 yards and ran seven times for 35 yards. Quarterback Kemani Pittman, who splits time with Butterfield, was 7-of-12 passing for 55 yards.
The game was scoreless at the half after Knox dodged a bullet early in the game. Lawrence (1-3) took the opening kickoff and drove right down the field. Butterfield had nine-yard touchdown run called back on a penalty, and Lawrence later faced fourth-and-2 at the Knox three-yard line. Butterfield’s pass just missed Trevor Spina at the goal line and Knox took over on downs.
Knox took the opening kickoff of the second half, and Edlund broke free for a 79-yard run on the second play. He was pushed out of bounds at the Lawrence one-yard line, and Zanger scored on the next play for a 7-0 lead.
The Prairie Fire took over after a punt later in the third quarter at the Lawrence 42. Aided by a personal foul penalty, Knox moved to the Lawrence 12, and Zanger ran it in from there for a 13-0 edge.
Lawrence got on the board with a nice scoring drive early in the fourth quarter. Lawrence looked like it had been stopped when it faced fourth-and-6 at the Knox 34, but Butterfield faked a punt and raced 22 yards to the Knox 12. The Vikings then benefited from a pass interference penalty to get a first down at the two-yard line. Dalton Sendelbach barreled into the end zone on the next play to cut the lead to 13-6.
Knox took the next possession and moved 79 yards in 12 plays, eating up more than seven minutes in the process, to grab a 20-6 lead. Zander scored a two-yard run with 3:27 left to seal the victory.