Football

APPLETON, Wis. — An enduring friendship helped bring Phil Grams to the Lawrence University football coaching staff, and it now has given him a big role in the future of the Vikings.

Grams has been named the offensive coordinator for the Vikings, and he replaces Mark Speckman, his long-time friend and collaborator in the “Fly” offense. Speckman announced in December he was leaving Appleton to be the assistant head coach at the University of California Davis, a Football Championship Subdivision program.

“Phil has a great passion for the game, for the Fly offense and for our team,” Lawrence coach Rob McCarthy said. “He’s a great fit for what we’re doing here, and the direction we want to go. Phil’s expertise in the Fly offense keeps the continuity for the players, and they are excited about that.”

Grams joined the Lawrence staff in 2016 as the running backs coach. He had come to Appleton earlier in the year to work a football clinic with Speckman, and McCarthy broached the subject of joining the Lawrence staff.

“We had the Fly clinic here last spring, and it seemed like a good opportunity,” Grams said. “Then Rob asked me about coaching here. When my wife and I were on the airplane flying back, we said, ‘There’s no way we’re moving to Wisconsin,’ but things just worked out.”

Grams’ wife, Sandy, also joined the staff at Lawrence and works in the Annual Giving office. Their youngest son, Matt, attends Appleton North High School. When Speckman left for UC Davis, Grams was eager for the chance to begin calling the plays for the Vikings.

“I was practically in tears when Rob offered me the (offensive coordinator) job. This is where we want to be,” Grams said. “We love the family atmosphere Coach McCarthy has created with the team and with the football coaches’ families.”

A native of Rockford, Ill., Grams had been living in Sacramento, Calif., for more than 25 years. He amassed an impressive record as a high school head coach and assistant coach in the Golden State.

While running the Fly offense as the head coach at Capital Christian High School in Sacramento, Grams compiled a record of 48-11, including a 22-0 mark in league play. Grams’ teams won four Golden Empire League championships and captured a San Joaquin Section title.

Grams won 2012, 2013 and 2015 Golden Empire League Coach of the Year honors and was the 2014 Max Preps Small School Coach of the Year in Northern California.

Grams also spent 10 years at Granite Bay (Calif.) High School. While at Granite Bay, Grams worked with current Lawrence offensive line coach Mike Lynch as the Grizzlies ran the Fly offense. Grams’ record as an assistant coach is 100-19.

Grams’ ties to California also provide a seamless transition in terms of recruiting. He will concentrate his recruiting efforts on the West Coast, the area for which Speckman was responsible.

“Phil has the California connection with his ties to the West Coast,” McCarthy said. “That will continue to be a strong recruiting area for us.”

Grams is eager to see what lies ahead for a team that posted a 2016 record of 3-7, a two-win improvement over the previous season.

“I am so happy, super pleased to be able to continue what we’ve started here,” Grams said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to be the one calling the offense with this great group of young men.”

APPLETON, Wis. — Three Lawrence University football players have been chosen for the All-Midwest Conference team in a vote of league coaches.

Linebacker Jake Gostisha (Appleton, Wis./East) was a first-team selection, and offensive tackle Jackson Straughan (Heber City, Utah/Wasatch) and cornerback Terrell Myers Jr. (Marietta, Ga./Marietta), were both named to the second team.

Gostisha, a junior, was chosen for the second consecutive year after earning second-team honors in 2015. Gostisha piled up 107 tackles on the season and finished third in the Midwest Conference at 10.7 tackles per game.

Gostisha is the first Lawrence player to record 100 tackles in a season since 2003, and his 107 tackles is the most for a Viking since Jacques Hacquebord had 112 in 2003. Gostisha recorded six double-digit tackle games during the season and had a career-high 15 tackles vs. Grinnell.

Gostisha, who had 6.5 tackles for loss, tied for the conference lead with five interceptions. He also picked up two pass breakups, forced one fumble and recovered another.

Myers was one of just three freshmen named to the all-conference team. He recorded 36 tackles, including 1.0 TFLs, and had a team-high seven pass breakups. Myers recorded a season-high eight tackles at Knox.

Myers also was one of the league’s most dangerous return men and was named the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week following a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Illinois College.

Myers led the conference and was fifth in NCAA Division III by averaging 32.6 yards per kickoff return. That broke the Lawrence record of 28.5 set by College Football Hall of Famer Scott Reppert in 1982.

Straughan, a senior tackle, was chosen for the second team for the second consecutive season. Straughan, who was paired with four freshmen starters, helped the Vikings finish third in the conference in rushing at 203.9 yards per game.

RIPON, Wis. — A big first half, capped by an interception return for a touchdown, led the Ripon College football team to a 34-6 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University on Saturday at Ingalls Field.

Ripon (2-8, 2-6 MWC) retained possession of the Doehling-Heselton Trophy in the state’s oldest college football rivalry. This was the 116th meeting between the teams in a rivalry that began in 1893.

Ripon quarterback Cameron Gruenwald ran 26 times for 121 yards, and Cody Chase had 16 carries for 113 yards to pace Ripon. Gruenwald was just 1-for-5 passing with an interception.

Lawrence quarterback Philip Santiago was 13-for-27 passing for 95 yards and two interceptions. Lawrence (3-7, 2-6) was limited to just 198 total yards.

Ripon put together scoring drives of 65 and 47 yards and led 14-0 early in the second quarter. Lawrence took the ensuing kickoff and Jake Ryan, who finished with a game-high 13 tackles, returned it to the Ripon 48-yard line.

Lawrence converted a fourth-and-five play with a 21-yard pass to Cam Boerm to the Ripon 10. The Vikings faced fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line, and Santiago plowed into the end zone to cut the lead to 14-6.

Ripon drove back down the field and Chase scored from four yards out to push the lead back to 20-6. Lawrence got great field position late in the first half after a short punt gave the Vikings the ball at the Lawrence 47.

Lawrence moved the ball to the Ripon 31, but Santiago’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by Lane Barnes and returned 69 yards for a touchdown and a 27-6 lead. Lawrence drove back down the field but missed a 36-yard field goal on the half’s final play.

The Vikings had another good chance to get back into the game following Cole Erickson’s 79-yard punt that was downed at the Ripon three-yard line. Erickson’s punt broke the school record of 75 yards set by Phil Haas vs. Cornell way back in 1949.

The Vikings forced a three-and-out and another short punt gave Lawrence the ball at the Ripon 28. Santiago went for the end zone on the next play, and his pass was picked off by Armando Mosqued to end the threat.

Lawrence’s Cullen Ellis picked off Gruenwald later in the half for his first career interception, and Hunter Adams finished with 11 stops for the Vikings.

Box score

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team renews the oldest college football rivalry in the state when it travels to Ripon College on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Both teams are coming off tight losses where a rally fell just short. Lawrence fell 33-27 at Knox, and Ripon dropped a 31-28 decision at Cornell.

Preview

GALESBURG, Ill. — The Lawrence University football team’s rally came up short Saturday and Knox College held on for a 33-27 Midwest Conference victory in the Knosher Bowl.

Lawrence (3-6, 2-5 MWC) got a late touchdown to cut Knox’s lead to six, and the Vikings’ defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back. Knox intercepted a pass on the second play of the final drive to seal the victory.

Lawrence quarterback Philip Santiago went 17-for-33 passing for 170 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Santiago also carried the ball 16 times for 97 yards and a pair of scores. Cam Boerm caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings.

Running back Braeden Westfall and quarterback Matt McCaffrey did all the damage for Knox (2-7, 2-5). Westfall had 29 carries for 176 yards, and McCaffrey ran 19 times for 52 yards. McCaffrey completed 17-of-25 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

Knox took control of the game by scoring 19 unanswered points to turn a 14-7 second-quarter deficit into a 26-14 lead in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Lawrence then moved 81 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown to get back into the game. Boerm caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to trim Knox’s lead to 26-21 with 11:12 left in the game.

The Prairie Fire answered with a 65-yard scoring drive of its own. Malik Hamilton caught a 15-yard pass from McCaffrey to push the lead back to 33-21 with 7:43 left.

Lawrence methodically marched down the field with another 13-play drive that went for 81 yards and a touchdown. Santiago did the honors with a one-yard plunge that trimmed the lead to 33-27.

After the Lawrence defense forced a punt, the Vikings got the ball back near midfield. A sack on the first play pushed the ball back to the 30-yard line, and Santiago was intercepted on the next play.

Lawrence jumped out to the early lead when Santiago hit Boerm with a 19-yard touchdown pass to cap an eight-play, 78-yard drive for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Quinn Sharp then intercepted Santiago and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Lawrence quickly grabbed the lead back when Santiago scored on a one-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to cap a 48-yard drive for a 14-7 edge.

Box score

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team hits the road this weekend as the Vikings travel to Galesburg, Ill., to face Knox College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. The Vikings are coming off a 53-7 win over Grinnell, and Knox looks to rebound from a 55-17 loss to Lake Forest.

Preview

APPLETON, Wis. — A powerful ground game and big plays led the Lawrence University football team to a 53-7 Midwest Conference rout of Grinnell College on Saturday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Lawrence posted 442 rushing yards with a pair of 100-yard rushers, and the Vikings finished with 622 total yards. The win was No. 500 in Lawrence football history, which dates back to 1893.

Rookie running back Wasonu Allen had eight carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns for Lawrence (3-5, 2-4 MWC). Freshman quarterback Philip Santiago ran six times for 140 yards and a touchdown. Santiago also completed 7-of-12 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Donnel Haley added 76 rushing yards on just nine carries for the Vikings.

Jacob Bernholtz had 22 carries for 96 yards to pace Grinnell (0-8, 0-6).

Linebackers Dan Rothbauer and Jake Gostisha spearheaded a Lawrence defense that limited Grinnell to 291 total yards. Rothbauer finished with 19 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss. Gostisha had 15 tackles, including 1.0 TFLs, an interception and a pass breakup. Safety Dante Reese collected his second interception on the season and finished with four tackles.

Lawrence got on the board with 6:50 left in the first quarter when Santiago broke through up the middle and went 80 yards for the touchdown. The 80-yard run ties the second-longest run from scrimmage in Lawrence history and gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead.

After Gostisha’s interception stopped the next Grinnell drive, Santiago hit Chris Shaw with a 74-touchdown pass and Lawrence led 13-0 late in the first quarter.

The Vikings tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter as Trevor Spina sprinted in from five yards out and Santiago hit Cam Boerm with a 20-yard scoring pass for a 25-0 lead.

Lawrence led 25-7 at the half but quickly expanded that lead in the third quarter. Santiago found Cole Erickson on a 31-yard touchdown pass on Lawrence’s first drive of the quarter. Allen then burst up the middle on a 23-yard touchdown run, and the Vikings led 39-7 after three.

Reese’s interception set up the next Lawrence touchdown as the Vikings took over at their own 33-yard line. Freshman Jack Marinich capped a nine-play, 67-yard drive with his first career touchdown on an eight-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter for a 46-7 edge.

Allen capped the scoring with a spectacular 54-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Box score