APPLETON, Wis. — The Rockford University football team used a powerful running game to roll to a 52-17 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday.
It was the first football game played on the renovated Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
Chance Manning ran 32 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns for Rockford (1-0), and he caught two passes for 86 yards and a score. The Regents finished with 58 carries for 438 yards and rolled up 605 yards of offense.
Quarterback Adam O’Malley completed 7-of-13 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 10 times for 62 yards.
Lawrence (0-1) was limited to just 83 yards of offense, including just 25 through the air.
Rockford jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter with a trio of big plays. Pete Berry broke free for a 65-yard scoring run, Manning added a 40-yard TD run and Manning caught a 53-yard touchdown pass.
Manning added two more touchdown runs in the second quarter, and the Regents led 35-0 at the half.
Sophomore Alic Riedel got Lawrence on the board with an 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Riedel’s first collegiate touchdown.
Austin Tucker’s 64-yard fumble return set up Lawrence’s next score as the Vikings took over at the Rockford 16-yard line. Trevor Spina punched it in from a yard out two plays later to cut the lead to 45-14.
The Vikings later added a 24-yard field goal from Pat O’Mahoney to complete their scoring.