Football

What started as a competition has turned into a partnership that is poised to produce prolific results.

Luke Barthelmess and Tyler Mazur came to Lawrence University fall football practice set to battle for the starting quarterback job with the Vikings. After several weeks of practice, Barthelmess got the nod at quarterback, and Mazur moved to a starting spot at wide receiver.

“It is a show of their internal character that they went from competitive to cooperative,” Lawrence head coach Chris Howard said. “In the best interests of the team, we made the decision on the position, and we asked each one to support the other one.”

In the first two weeks of their quarterback/wide receiver partnership, all they are doing is leading the nation in various statistical categories. In the wake of Lawrence’s 62-42 victory at Knox last week, Mazur broke or tied three school records, and Barthelmess broke two school records and a Midwest Conference mark.

“What I think is really cool between Tyler and myself is that ever since last year when this started, we’ve had a professional approach to it and off the field we’re great friends,” said Barthelmess, who was 28 of 39 for a record 549 yards and a record six touchdowns against Knox. “It doesn’t make sense that we’re as close as we are.”

That symbiotic relationship that can build between quarterback and receiver is in effect between these two stellar athletes. Mazur, a triple threat catching, running or throwing the ball, caught eight passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns, which tied a school record. He also ran for another score to set records of five TDs and 30 points in a game.

“At the beginning of camp, I had the attitude I wanted to win the quarterback spot but overall I’m having fun playing football. I’ve embraced that idea. Luke and I have gotten to working really well together,” Mazur said.

“It’s a huge team effort. If they need me to try and catch the ball, that’s what I’m going to do. If they need me to come in for that wildcat package, I’ll do my best to score that way. I have fun doing it.”

With a receiving corps that also features Kaukauna’s Jon Bruehl, Green Bay’s Taylor Mandich, Sam Wagner and newcomer Dominque Dirden, the Vikings were looking to amass a potent offense. Throwing Mazur, with his versatility and stunning athletic ability, into the mix only sweetens the pot.

“We only have so many quality athletes and we can’t have quality athletes sitting on the bench,” Howard said in reference to Mazur. “In the past we’ve had talented individuals. In the past we had a guy or two guys, but we now have five or six bonafide playmakers. The issue is to spread the ball along and make them happy.”

Lawrence had nine different players catch a pass against Knox last Saturday in one of the most prolific offensive explosions in school history with 656 total yards.

“The whole object of the offense is to stress defenses in ways that we can rather than line up and pound people in ways that we can’t,” Howard said. “From a coaching world, we have a lot to work on but the path is developing. We have a certain vision of what we want our offense to be and we have a certain vision of what we want our defense to be. Our offense is closer to that vision right now.”

Barthelmess likes the progress the team has made in the opening two weeks, but he’s looking for more.

“I’m looking forward to it when things really start to sync up,” Barthelmess said. “Whenever this thing starts to really click, we might do some special things.”

Honors pour in

In the wake of the Vikings’ victory at Knox, Barthelmess, Mazur and kicker Cody Robel, an Appleton native, all picked up awards.

Mazur was named to both the D3football.com and Beyond Sports Network national teams of the week. Barthelmess also was chosen for the BSN team and was chosen as the MWC Offensive Player of the Week. Robel, who tied the school record by going 8-for-8 on PATs, was named the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Lawrence also leads the nation in passing offense (454 yards per game). Barthelmess leads the nation in passing yards per game (442) and total offense per game (495). Mazur is tops in the nation in scoring per game (21).

Bohrer chosen

Lawrence volleyball standout Clare Bohrer was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vikings to a 3-2 mark on the week. Bohrer piled up 52 kills on the week and had a .159 hitting percentage. She also picked up 24 blocks, eight aces and 18 digs. She led the Vikings to a fifth-place finish at the UW-Oshkosh Classic and was named to the all-tournament team.

Larson nets award

Lawrence women’s tennis star Beth Larson was named the MWC Player of the Week after posting a perfect record at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. The senior from Maplewood, Minn., lost only five games total in singles as Lawrence defeated Dominican (Ill.), Edgewood and Lake Forest. She also teamed with Jenni Roesch for a 3-0 mark in doubles.

Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a weekly notes package written by Lawrence University Sports Information Director Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.

Lawrence University football standout Tyler Mazur was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after a record-setting performance.

Mazur (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg), a junior wide receiver/quarterback, caught eight passes for 220 yards and tied the school record with four touchdown catches in Lawrence’s 62-42 victory at Knox College on Sept. 10. Mazur also ran for a score and broke the Lawrence record for touchdowns and points in a game.

Mazur tied the record of four touchdown catches, which was set by Zach Michael vs. St. Norbert College in 2003. Mazur grabbed a 92-yard touchdown pass, the fourth-longest pass play in Lawrence history, to give the Vikings the lead for good in the second quarter. He then added 72-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter. He also had touchdown catches of four and 14 yards. Mazur’s 220 receiving yards is the fourth-highest game total in school history.

Mazur also ran three yards for a touchdown to give him a school-record five touchdowns on the afternoon. He broke the record of four, which was shared by four players. Mazur’s 30 points broke the record of 25, which was set by Carl Stumpf against Ripon College in 1953.

Mazur, who leads the nation in scoring and is 10th in receiving yards per game, is the second Lawrence player in as many seasons to be named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Sam Wagner (Salem, Wis./Burlington Catholic Central) was chosen for the team in 2010.

Both Mazur and quarterback Luke Barthelmess (Dow, Ill./Principia) were chosen for the Beyond Sports Network Team of the Week this week as well.

Lawrence (1-1, 1-0 MWC) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Monmouth College.

Lawrence University football standouts Luke Barthelmess and Tyler Mazur have been chosen for the Beyond Sports College Network Team of the Week.

Barthelmess (Dow, Ill./Principia) and Mazur (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) both had record-setting games in Lawrence’s 62-42 Midwest Conference victory at Knox College on Sept. 10.

Barthelmess, a sophomore quarterback, completed 28 of 39 passes for 549 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran 18 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

Mazur, a junior wide receiver/quarterback, caught eight passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Mazur also had one carry for three yards and a touchdown.

Barthelmess’ 549 passing yards broke the Midwest Conference record of 532, which was set by Knox’s Bob Monroe back in 1986. It also shattered the Lawrence record of 466, which was set by Lawrence Hall of Famer Bill McNamara vs. Coe College in 1986. The six touchdown passes broke the Lawrence record of five, which was set by Eric Aspenson vs. Knox in 2007.

Mazur’s five touchdowns set a Lawrence record, breaking the mark of four, which was held by four players. Mazur also finished with 30 points, which breaks the Lawrence record of 25, which was set by Carl Stumpf vs. Ripon College in 1953.

Mazur’s four touchdown catches ties the Lawrence record, which was set by Zach Michael against St. Norbert College in 2003. The 220 receiving yards is the fourth-highest total in Lawrence history, trailing only Michael (279), Ron Wopat (241) and Paul Gebhardt (227).

Lawrence (1-1, 1-0 MWC) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Monmouth College.

Lawrence University football players Luke Barthelmess and Cody Robel have been chosen as Midwest Conference Players of the Week.

Barthelmess (Dow, Ill./Principia) was the Offensive Player of the Week and Robel (Appleton, Wis./West) was the Special Teams Player of the Week. Both players had big games in Lawrence’s 62-42 victory at Knox College on Sept. 10.

Barthelmess broke a Midwest Conference record and two Lawrence records in Lawrence’s win at Knox. Barthelmess completed 28 of 39 passes for a Lawrence and MWC record 549 yards. Barthelmess broke the MWC passing yards record of 532, set by Knox’s Bob Monroe in 1986, and the Lawrence record of 466, set by Bill McNamara in 1986. Barthelmess’ six touchdown passes also broke the Lawrence record of five, set by Eric Aspenson in 2007.

Barthelmess also ran 18 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

Robel tied a pair of Lawrence records with eight PATs in the victory at Knox. Robel was 8-for-8 on extra points and tied the school record for PAT attempts and conversions. Robel is now 9-for-9 on PATs this season.

Lawrence (1-1, 1-0 MWC), which piled up 656 yards of offense at Knox, returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Monmouth College.

The Lawrence University football team travels to Knox College on Saturday to kick off the Midwest Conference season. The game begins at 1 p.m. in the Knosher Bowl in Galesburg, Ill.

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