Butterfield runs down MWC Player of the Week honor

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University football standout Ryan Butterfield was named the Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week after a huge game in the season finale.

Butterfield (McDonough, Ga./Strong Rock Christian) won the honor after running for more than 200 yards in this past Saturday’s game against Grinnell College on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

The freshman quarterback turned in the top rushing performance by a Lawrence player in more than a decade. Butterfield ran 24 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns and became the first Lawrence player in 13 years to rush for 200 yards in a game.

The last Lawrence player to hit the 200-yard mark was Justin Berrens vs. Ripon College in 2002. Butterfield’s 243 yards is the fifth-highest game rushing total in Lawrence history.

Butterfield had scoring runs of 79, 22 and 31 yards. The 79-yard run was a career-long for Butterfield and the longest play from scrimmage for the Vikings this season.

Butterfield also completed 15-of-37 passes for 191 yards.

On the season, Butterfield was 85-of-164 passing (51.8 percent) for 967 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He was the team’s leading rusher with 82 carries for 454 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry.

Butterfield is the second Lawrence player to win a MWC Player of the Week award this season. Colt Duncan was named Defensive Player of the Week after the Vikings’ 51-6 win over Maranatha Baptist University in week two of the season. Butterfield is the first Viking to win Offensive Player of the Week since quarterback Luke Barthelmess did it on Nov. 11, 2013. Barthelmess won the honor three times during the 2013 campaign.