Football

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University’s Ryan Butterfield picked up a national football honor when he was named Rookie of the Week by USA College Football.

Butterfield (McDonough, Ga./Strong Rock Christian), a freshman quarterback, earned the honor after a huge game in the season finale against Grinnell College.

Butterfield turned in the top rushing performance by a Lawrence player in more than a decade this past Saturday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl. 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.

Butterfield was chosen as the Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week as well.

APPLETON, Wis. — Four Lawrence University football standouts have been chosen for the All-Midwest Conference team in a vote by league coaches.

Alic Riedel (Appleton, Wis./East) was selected for the first team and Jackson Straughn (Heber City, Utah/Wasatch),

Jacob Lueck (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard East) and Jake Gostisha (Appleton, Wis./East) were all picked for the second team.

A sophomore defensive back, Riedel was chosen as the return specialist after averaging 21.3 yards per kickoff return, which was good for third in the conference. Riedel posted 21 kickoff returns for 448 yards and a touchdown. He had an 81-yard return for a score against Rockford University in his first career kickoff return. He picked up a 57-yard kickoff return against Ripon College, a 45-yard return at Beloit College and a 38-yard return against Grinnell College.

Riedel also had 12 punt returns for 56 yards, an average of 4.7 yards. Riedel also started every game at cornerback and piled up 55 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.

Straughn, a junior offensive lineman, was in his first season of playing on the offensive side of the ball. He started every game at tackle and became the Vikings’ top lineman this season. He helped the offense average 3.9 yards per carry on the ground this season.

A junior linebacker, Lueck piled up a team-best 92 tackles this season, and his average of 9.2 tackles per game ranked fourth in the league. Lueck, who posted a career-high 17 tackles against Macalester College, also had 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He added two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

Gostisha, playing his first season at defensive end, made an immediate impact. Gostisha finished second on the team and fifth in the Midwest Conference with 88 tackles, an average of 8.8 per game. Gostisha picked up a career-high 13 tackles against Ripon.

Gostisha ranked fifth in the league with 10.5 tackles for loss and 10th with 4.0 sacks. He also picked up his first career interception vs. Grinnell.

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.

APPLETON, Wis. — The Grinnell College football team hung on for a 34-27 win over Lawrence University on Saturday at the Banta Bowl.

The game was part of the Midwest Conference Championship Weekend that pitted teams in intra-divisional contests.

Grinnell (2-8) made a pair of stands deep in its own territory in the final three minutes to preserve the win. The Pioneers won despite giving up more than 500 yards of offense to Lawrence (1-9).

Lawrence quarterback Ryan Butterfield became the first Viking to rush for more than 200 yards in a game since Justin Berrens did it against Ripon College in 2002. Butterfield ran 24 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Butterfield also completed 15-of-37 passes for 191 yards.

Lawrence piled up 319 yards on the ground and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. Donnel Haley chipped with nine carries for 65 yards for Lawrence. The Vikings finished with 510 yards of offense.

Grinnell quarterback Sam Poulos was 22-of-36 for 269 yards and five touchdowns. Henry Cummings and Emmi Sandoval each caught five passes, including two touchdowns catches apiece, for the Pioneers.

After a wild first half that saw the teams combine for 61 points, both teams went scoreless in the second half.

Lawrence had a pair of great scoring chances late in the contest. Butterfield connected with Terrence Simon on a 24-yard pass play to the Grinnell 29-yard line with seven minutes left. Simon then made a fourth-down catch for a short gain to give Lawrence a first down at the Grinnell  17. After a pair of short running plays, Butterfield was unable to connect with Simon on the next two plays and Lawrence turned it over on downs with 2:55 remaining.

The Vikings defense forced a three-and-out and Lawrence got the ball back at the Lawrence 43 with 1:47 left. Butterfield raced for 13 yards and a first down and was hit late out of bounds so 15 more yards were tacked on, giving the Vikings a first down at the Grinnell 32.

On third-and-10, Cole Erickson caught a pass from Butterfield and raced 18 yards to the Grinnell 14. After Butterfield ran to the Grinnell 10, the Vikings were hit with two penalties to move the ball back to the 20.

Out of timeouts, Butterfield went for Simon in the end zone, and despite the fact the defender appeared to hit Simon before the ball arrived, no penalty was called. This came on the heels of the officials picking up a flag for looked to be pass interference in the end zone earlier in the drive.

Facing third down, Butterfield hit Dante Reese for a gain to the Grinnell 10, but the Vikings were unable to run another play before time expired.

Defensive end Jake Gostisha recorded a game-high 12 tackles and had an interception in the end zone for the Vikings. Linebackers Jacob Lueck and Dan Rothbauer had 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, for Lawrence.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first half and combined for 47 points in the second quarter.

Butterfield had a 22-yard scoring run to tie the game at 7-7 and then ripped off a career-long 79 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 13-13. Butterfield then ran 31 yards to put the Vikings up 20-19.

Simon had a two-yard scoring run to put Lawrence up 27-19, but Grinnell scored two touchdowns in the final 3:02 of the half to grab a 34-27 lead at the break.

Box score

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team wraps up the 2015 season when it takes on Grinnell College as part of the Midwest Conference Championship Weekend. The Vikings and Pioneers are meeting for the second time this season, and Lawrence will be looking to avenge a 28-20 loss at Grinnell back in early October. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Preview

APPLETON, Wis. — The Ripon College football scored 21 points in the first quarter Saturday and went on to a 43-15 Midwest Conference North Division victory over Lawrence University at Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Ripon (6-3, 3-2 MWC North) retained possession of the Doehling-Hesleton Memorial Trophy in the oldest college football rivalry in Wisconsin.

In the 115th meeting between the teams, Ripon rushed 57 times for 404 yards on its way to 521 total yards of offense. Connor Greenwald ran 13 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Red Hawks.

Lawrence quarterback Ryan Butterfield connected with Terrence Simon on a pair of touchdown passes. Butterfield went 10-for-20 for 124 yards, and Simon had three catches for 41 yards. Running back Donnel Haley ran 12 times for a career-high 74 yards for the Vikings (1-8, 0-5).

Three Vikings recorded double figures in tackles as Jake Gostisha and Jacob Lueck finished with 13 tackles apiece. Alic Riedel had 11 stops and intercepted a pass for the Vikings.

It was Riedel who got the game started on a great note as he returned the opening kickoff 57 yards to the Ripon 35. The drive ended with an interception, and Ripon took control.

The Red Hawks scored on an 11-play, 75-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. After a three-and-out, Ripon went 38 yards in eight plays for a 14-0 advantage. After a second three-and-out, Ripon quarterback Griffin McNeal hit Nathan Silloway for 51 yards and a touchdown for a 21-0 edge.

Ripon was up 28-0 when Larwrence drove 73 yards in just five plays. Cole Erickson made a leaping catch for a 30-yard gain on the first play, and Butterfield hit Simon with a 31-yard scoring pass four plays later to cut the margin to 28-8.

Ripon led 36-8 at the half and were up 43-8 when the Vikings took advantage of a turnover in the fourth quarter. Lawrence’s Nick Ulloa recovered a fumbled punt at the Ripon 18-yard line with 12:06 left.

Butterfield found Corey Fisher for 14 yard to the Ripon four-yard line, and Lawrence scored three plays later when Simon caught a seven-yard scoring pass with 10:34 remaining.

Lawrence wraps up its season next weekend when it faces Grinnell College in the Midwest Conference 11th-place game on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Box score

APPLETON, Wis. — The state’s oldest college football rivalry is renewed on Saturday when Lawrence University takes on Ripon College at Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in the 115th meeting between the two schools.

In addition, the Lawrence Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be conducting a food drive to benefit COTS, a Fox Cities organization that benefits the chronically homeless. Anyone who donates a canned food item receives $1 off admission for Saturday’s game. Cash donations for the food drive are also welcome.

Preview

DE PERE, Wis. — The St. Norbert College football team used its strong running attack Saturday to post a 63-6 Midwest Conference North Division victory over Lawrence University at Schneider Stadium.

The undefeated Green Knights (8-0, 4-0 MWC North) rushed for 508 yards on the afternoon. St. Norbert was led by Brandon Carter’s 136 rushing yards, and Elijah Fort scored three touchdowns for the Green Knights.

All-purpose back Terrence Simon ran 11 times for 64 yards to pace Lawrence (1-7, 0-4). Lawrence’s two quarterbacks were limited to just 95 yards passing in the cold, wet conditions.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, and Lawrence picked up a touchdown just before halftime.

The Vikings moved 75 yards in 10 plays on their scoring drive. Simon had an 11-yard run, and Dalton Sendelbach broke loose for 14 yards a few plays later to move into St. Norbert territory.

Quarterback Ryan Butterfield then hit Jacob Berman for 19 yards to the St. Norbert 18. On the next play, Butterfield connected with Sendelbach for 14 yards to the St. Norbert four. Berman ran it in for the score on the next play.

Lawrence trailed 46-6 at the half, and St. Norbert added a pair of second-half touchdowns and a field goal to round out the scoring.

Box score

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team heads to Midwest Conference North Division rival St. Norbert College on Saturday. The Vikings will be looking to hand the undefeated Green Knights their first setback of the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Schneider Stadium.

Preview