APPLETON, Wis. – The Illinois College football team spotted Lawrence an early lead and then ripped off 54 straight points to post a 54-7 win in the Midwest Conference opener for both teams on Saturday at The Banta Bowl.

IC improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the league while the Vikings dropped to 0-3 and 0-1.

IC 54 LU 7
The Vikings scored first to open a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, but from that point on, it was all Blueboys. 

Trevor Patton got the scoring parade rolling when he latched to a 2-yard pass from Jack Piening to even the score after the first quarter. 

IC exploded for 28 points in the second quarter to put the game out of reach. Piening found Cole Stuart from eight yards out before Landon Grapperhaus returned an interception 27 yards for a score. Timo Kato caught a 91-yard strike from Piening to make it 28-7. IC wrapped up the offensive onslaught for the quarter with a 5-yard scoring run from Ki'on Carson, and the Blueboys took a 35-7 lead into intermission.

The only scoring in the third quarter came on a field goal from Mia Gerger, who was also perfect on her seven extra point attempts on the day.

Carson opened the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run, and after a safety, the Blueboys' defense closed out the scoring when Jamarcus Jenkins swiped a Viking pass and returned it 39 yards for a score.

Piening, making the first start of his collegiate career, went 10-for-20 for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Skyler Young paced the ground attack with 74 yards on 14 carries while Carson and Stuart led a balanced receiving corps with two catches apiece. Eight different IC players had a reception on the day.

The Blueboy defense saw Kolton Jany, Blaze Helton, and Josh Hodge all with six tackles (Helton also had a sack and tackle-for-loss on the day). Maurice Evans added five stops for IC.

Up Next
The Blueboys are back in action Saturday when they welcome Lake Forest to England Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.