Football

Category: Football

Trio of Vikings chosen for All-MWC football squad

APPLETON, Wis. — Three Lawrence University football players have been selected for the All-Midwest Conference team.

Quarterback Luke Barthelmess (Appleton, Wis./Principia) and defensive back Sam Wagner (Salem, Wis./Burlington Catholic Central) were both chosen for the second team, and wide receiver Dan Dubnicka (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) received honorable mention.

Wagner was chosen for the all-conference team for the second consecutive year after receiving honorable mention in 2012. Wagner led the squad with 89 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss. Wagner, who finished fifth in the conference in tackles per game, also had one interception and six passes defensed. A two-way player, Wagner saw significant action at wide receiver. Wagner finished with 23 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 18.9 yards per catch.

Barthelmess was chosen for the all-conference team for the first time while completing a record-setting career at quarterback. Barthelmess completed 193 of 346 passes for 2,133 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished second in the league at 213.3 passing yards per game.

Barthelmess also ran 177 times for 889 yards and two touchdowns. Barthelmess, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry, finished eighth in the conference at 88.9 yards per game. Barthelmess also finished first in the league in total offense at 302.2 yards per game. Barthelmess also finished ninth in Lawrence history with 1,819 rushing yards.

Barthelmess, who is Lawrence’s career leader in a number of passing categories, completed 648 of 1,181 passes in his career. He finished fourth in conference history with 8,190 passing yards. Barthelmess’ 62 touchdown passes ranks seventh in league history.

Dubnicka was honored on the all-conference team for the first time. Dubnicka caught 49 passes for 662 yards and four touchdowns. He finished fourth in the conference at 4.9 catches per game and was fifth in the league at 66.2 receiving yards per game.

Red Hawks top Lawrence in trophy game battle

RIPON, Wis. — The Ripon College football team jumped out to a 21-point halftime lead and went on to a 48-28 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University in the 113th game in the state’s oldest college football rivalry.

With the win, Ripon retains possession of the Doehling-Heselton Memorial Trophy.

Quarterback Stephen Covalt led Ripon (7-3,by running 27 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. Amazingly, Covalt fumbled seven times on the afternoon, but only lost one fumble to the Lawrence defense. Eric Langman added 95 yards on seven carries and he scored twice for the Red Hawks. Covalt completed 8 of 12 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess completed 14 of 37 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Barthelmess also ran 16 times for 110 yards.

Barthelmess finished a stellar career as the most prolific passer in Lawrence history. Barthelmess’ 285 passing yards on the afternoon moved him past former Monmouth College star Rob Purlee (8,017) into fourth place in Midwest Conference history with 8,190 yards. Barthelmess now has 62 career touchdown passes and that ranks seventh in conference history. He moved past former Ripon star Brock Bauer (61) and is tied with former Illinois College standout Pete Jennings.

Defensive back/wide receiver Sam Wagner had a huge day for the Vikings. On defense, he recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. On offense, Wagner caught three passes for 119 yards, and included in that total was a 64-yard touchdown catch.

Ripon led 14-0 in the first quarter when Barthelmess connected with Wagner on the 64-yard scoring pass to cut the margin in half. Ripon then got two touchdown passes from Covalt in the second quarter to stretch the margin to 28-7 at the half.

Lawrence trimmed the lead to 28-14 when Barthelmess hit Tyler Lueck with a five-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the third quarter. Ripon countered by scoring the game’s next three touchdowns to seal the victory.

Lawrence got a one-yard touchdown run from Isaac Barthelmess and a two-yard touchdown pass from Luke Barthelmess to Dan Dubnicka to finish the scoring.

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Lawrence at Ripon preview

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team wraps up its season on Saturday when it travels to Ripon College for the renewal of the oldest college football rivalry in Wisconsin. The 113th game in the series, which dates back to 1893, kicks off at Ripon’s Ingalls Field at 1 p.m. The winner of the game takes possession of the Doehling-Heselton Memorial Trophy, which the teams have played for since 1988.

Preview

Barthelmess earns third MWC Player of the Week honor this season

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University quarterback Luke Barthelmess earned his third Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor in the wake of the Vikings’ victory this past Saturday.

Barthelmess (Appleton, Wis./Principia) threw the game-winning touchdown pass on the game’s final play to give Lawrence a 23-20 victory over Knox College in the Banta Bowl. With three seconds left, Barthelmess took the snap, scrambled to his right and then completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to his younger brother, Issac, who made a beautiful diving catch near the pylon.

It was the 59th touchdown pass of his career, which ties Barthelmess with All-American Jim Petran for the Lawrence record. On the day, Barthelmess was 30 of 47 for 312 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. On the final drive, Barthelmess was 5-for-8 passing for 69 yards.

This is the third time this season and the second consecutive week that Barthelmess has been named a conference player of the week. Barthelmess earned the honor last week against Grinnell College and picked up the honor in the second week of the season for his performance against Lake Forest College.

Lawrence wraps up its season when the Vikings travel to Ripon College on Saturday for the 113th meeting in the oldest college football rivalry in Wisconsin.

Touchdown pass on final play lifts Lawrence past Prairie Fire

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University quarterback Luke Barthelmess found Isaac Barthelmess on a 17-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play Saturday to lift the Vikings to a dramatic 23-20 Midwest Conference victory over Knox College in the Banta Bowl.

The touchdown pass capped a 69-yard drive in the final 49 seconds and was the 59th of Luke Barthelmess’ career, which ties him with All-American Jim Petran for the Lawrence record.

Lawrence (1-8, 1-7 MWC) was staring at a three-point deficit after Derek Mortensen finished an 11-play, 83-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run that gave Knox (1-8, 1-7) a 20-17 lead with just 57 seconds left.

The Vikings took over at their own 31-yard line with 49 seconds left, and Luke Barthelmess hit Sam Wagner with a 13-yard pass. The Lawrence quarterback then really took advantage of what the Knox defense was giving him.

With the Prairie Fire focusing on Wagner, Luke Barthelmess completed three consecutive passes to freshman Trevor Spina along the sideline and he stepped out of bounds to stop the clock each time. Spina caught a 16-yarder to the Knox 40, then caught a 13-yarder to the Knox 27 and grabbed a 10-yarder to the Knox 17 with just three seconds left.

After both teams used their final timeouts, Luke Barthelmess dropped back to pass and scrambled to his right. He threw to his brother Isaac, a freshman running back, near the corner of the end zone for the touchdown with no time on the clock.

Luke Barthelmess completed 30 of 47 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Barthelmess also ran 12 times for 81 yard and a touchdown. Dan Dubnicka caught eight passes for 98 yards to lead the Vikings, and Spina and John Doran both had six catches for 68 and 58 yards, respectively.

Mortensen had a huge game for the Prairie Fire as he carried 42 times for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Knox quarterback Luke Osterbaan was 8 of 19 passing for 96 yards.

Knox grabbed the early lead when it converted after a Luke Barthelmess interception. Will Ruzicka intercepted at the Lawrence 36 and returned it to the 21-yard line. Mortensen ran it in from 14 yards out two plays later, and Knox led 7-0.

Lawrence came up with a turnover of its own when it stopped Mortensen on fourth-and-one at the Lawrence 36 on Knox’s next possession. Two plays later, Luke Barthelmess hit Dubnicka with a 41-yard pass to the Knox 15. He connected with Spina on the next play for the touchdown and the score was tied 7-7.

Zach Eichhorst then intercepted Oosterbaan on the next drive and returned it 13 yards to the Knox 12. The Vikings couldn’t punch it in, but freshman kicker Pat O’Mahoney converted a 30-yard field goal, the first of his career, and Lawrence led 10-7.

Lawrence stretched the lead to 17-7 in the third quarter. The Vikings marched 61 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Luke Barthelmess finished the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run with 5:05 left in the third.

Knox trimmed the lead to 17-14 with the help of another Ruzicka interception. Taking over at their own 43, the Prairie Fire got a 30-yard run from Mortensen, and he then scored two plays later on a 27-yard run.

Knox looked like it was going to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter when it drove all way to the Lawrence two-yard line. Facing fourth-and-goal from the two, Knox handed the ball to Mortensen, who was tackled for a loss by Wagner.

Wagner led the Lawrence defense with 13 tackles, including 10 solo and 2.0 tackles for loss. Brandon Taylor picked up 12 tackles, including nine solo, and Dan Taylor had nine stops for the Vikings.

Lawrence wraps up its season next Saturday when it travels to Ripon College for the renewal of the oldest college football rivalry in the state.

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Barthelmess picks up national football honor

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University quarterback Luke Barthelmess has received honorable mention on the USA College Football Offensive Team of the Week.

Barthelmess (Appleton, Wis./Principia) was chosen for the honor after rushing for more than 100 yards and throwing for more than 300 in Lawrence’s tough 24-21 loss to Grinnell College this past Saturday. Barthelmess also was chosen as the Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Barthelmess joins teammate Andy Paider (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) who was honored by USA College Football earlier this season.

Barthelmess, a senior who recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, ran 17 times for a season-high 131 yards. He also completed 32 of 50 passes for a season-high 337 yards and three touchdowns. Barthelmess now has 57 career touchdown passes, just three shy of breaking Lawrence’s career record of 59, set by All-American Jim Petran.

It was the sixth 100-yard rushing game of Barthelmess’ career, and he was just one yard shy of tying his career high of 132 rushing yard, which he set in the 2012 season opener against Cornell College.

On the season, Barthelmess has 149 carries for 698 yards and a touchdown. He ranks eighth in the Midwest Conference at 87.2 yards per game. He has completed 149 of 262 passes for 1,536 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ranks fourth in the league at 192 passing yards per game.

Lawrence plays its final home game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Knox College in the Banta Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Barthelmess picks up another MWC Player of the Week honor

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University quarterback Luke Barthelmess has been named the Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Barthelmess (Appleton, Wis./Principia) was chosen for the honor after rushing for more than 100 yards and throwing for more than 300 in Lawrence’s tough 24-21 loss to Grinnell College this past Saturday.

Barthelmess, a senior who recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, ran 17 times for a season-high 131 yards. He also completed 32 of 50 passes for a season-high 337 yards and three touchdowns. Barthelmess now has 57 career touchdown passes, just three shy of breaking Lawrence’s career record of 59, set by All-American Jim Petran.

It was the sixth 100-yard rushing game of Barthelmess’ career, and he was just one yard shy of tying his career high of 132 rushing yard, which he set in the 2012 season opener against Cornell College.

On the season, Barthelmess has 149 carries for 698 yards and a touchdown. He ranks eighth in the Midwest Conference at 87.2 yards per game. He has completed 149 of 262 passes for 1,536 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ranks fourth in the league at 192 passing yards per game.

Barthelmess also was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week following Lawrence’s game against Lake Forest College in the second week of the season.

Lawrence plays its final home game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Knox College in the Banta Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Goal-line stands key Grinnell’s win over Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — The Grinnell College football team made three goal-line stands and used that to secure a 24-21 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University on Saturday at the Banta Bowl.

Grinnell (2-6, 2-5 MWC) won despite rushing for only 14 yards and having the ball for less than 22 minutes. Lawrence (0-8, 0-7) rolled up 25 first downs and 513 yards of offense, but the Vikings were stopped three times deep in Grinnell territory.

Grinnell quarterback Sam Poulos went 20-for-40 for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Meixler caught 10 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown and Emmi Sandoval caught seven passes for 93 yards.

Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess ran 17 times for 131 yards, and he completed 32 of 50 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Sam Wagner caught six passes for 106 yards for the Vikings.

Lawrence grabbed a 7-0 lead when it drove 45 yards in six plays on its first possession of the game. Barthelmess hit Tyler Lueck with a 27-yard scoring pass. Grinnell tied it on the final play of the first quarter when Poulos found Meixler, who raced 75 yards for the score.

Grinnell made its first big stand on the ensuing possession. Facing a fourth-and-one at the Grinnell five-yard line, Isaac Barthelmess was stopped short and Lawrence turned the ball over on downs. Grinnell drove down the field and Graham Fisher kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

Lawrence immediately grabbed the lead back when it drove 65 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Luke Barthelmess found Dan Dubnicka with a 27-yard scoring pass, and Lawrence led 13-10 at the half.

The Vikings appeared poised to stretch the lead when they moved deep into Grinnell territory early in the third quarter. Luke Barthlemess ripped off a 42-yard run on the drive, and the Vikings later had first-and-goal at the Grinnell two. The Vikings ran it up the middle four times, but Grinnell held and took over at their one-yard line.

The Pioneers then took the lead late in the third quarter with a nine-play, 69-yard drive. Two key holding penalties on Lawrence kept the drive alive, and Jacob Bernholtz had a one-yard scoring run to give the Pioneers a 17-13 lead.

Lawrence took the ensuing possession and drove to the Grinnell five-yard line. Facing fourth-and-one at the Grinnell two, Luke Barthelmess was sacked, and the Pioneers got the ball back.

Grinnell tacked on its final score midway through the fourth quarter when Poulos hit Jake O’Polka with a 62-yard scoring pass for a 24-13 edge. Lawrence fumbled on its next possession, but the Vikings got the ball back and moved down the field. Luke Barthelmess hit Isaac Barthelmess with a 10-yard scoring pass to cut the lead to 24-21 with 1:26 left.

Grinnell recovered the ensuing on-sides kick to seal the win.

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