Scots Knock Off Vikings 70-13

Eight different Monmouth players score touchdowns

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (09/16/2023) — The Monmouth College football team racked up 660 total yards and 70 points on Saturday in a 70-13 road win over Lawrence University. The Scots (2-1, 2-0) had touchdowns from eight different players, including four first-time scorers in the win.

The first Monmouth drive was stopped on downs at the Lawrence 14 and the second one ended in a fumble at the Vikings 20. Monmouth's offense got going late in the first quarter as Carter Boyer (Carthage, Illinois) hit Jackson Bergren (Monmouth, Illinois) for a 43-yard touchdown. Cody Szelc (Riverview, Florida) hit the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Jermaih Glenn-Louis Charles (Bloomington, Illinois) got the ball back with an interception at the Vikings 33 but the Scots fumbled on the next play. Late in the quarter the Scots were pinned inside the 10 after a punt and a penalty. Boyer hit a wide-open Bergren for a 92-yard touchdown catch and run for a 14-0 lead.

"We played really sloppy game early with two turnovers and a failed fourth-down conversion in the red zone," said head coach Chad Braun "We played much better as the game went along but honestly the bye week comes at a great time for us to get healthy as we are banged up after the first couple of games."

The second quarter started with a Tanner Tomaschke (Greenville, Illinois) sack and Lawrence losing 13 yards on a punt. Starting on the Vikings 13-yard line, McKade Brooks (Astoria, Illinois) capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run. The Scots got the ball back after a punt and Boyer hit Nate Thornton (Peoria, Illinois) for a 37-yard touchdown. Leading 28-0, the Scots ran down the field on the next drive and Brooks scored on a 7-yard run. The defense stopped the Vikings again and Josh Salter (Springfield, Illinois) scored on a 1-yard run for a 42-0 lead. Lawrence used a big kick return and a penalty to get inside the red zone for the first time. They scored to cut the Monmouth lead to 42-7. Da'Von Patterson (Ponte Vedra, Florida) returned the ensuing kick 74 yards for a touchdown and Monmouth took a 49-7 lead into the locker room.

After an interception on the first possession of the second half, the Scots forced Lawrence to punt. Nate Wrublik (Lemont, Illinois) had a big carry and Boyer hit Bergren for a first down. The Scots moved inside the red zone and Wrublik scored for a 56-7 lead.

Ashton Summers (Mt. Zion, Illinois) took over at quarterback on the next drive. Blake Regenold (Downs, Illinois) and Jeremiah Austin (Winter Haven, Florida) had nice runs to get the Scots across the 50. The drive continued into the fourth quarter and Regenold ran the ball into the red zone. Summers completed a pass to Kendall Muegge (Hamilton, Illinois) to the five and then hit Lucas Kessinger (Cambridge, Illinois) for a touchdown. After Szelc made eight extra points, Alec Hesson (Plattsburg, Missouri) made his first career extra point for a 63-7 lead. Lawrence scored and missed the extra point. Brayden Deen (Andalusia, Illinois) took over at quarterback for the next drive. Dane Olson (Havana, Illinois) and Deem picked up first downs on runs and a penalty moved the ball into the red zone. Olson scored from 15-yards out for a 70-13 lead and 3:12 to play. Lawrence ran out of time on their next drive and the game ended.

"We have to learn to practice and play with an edge after a win," said coach Braun. "I thought we had a great week of practice leading up to the Chicago game and it showed on the field. We have to get back to practicing like that again next week."

Boyer completed 15 passes for 332 yards. Bergren had six catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns and Thornton had three catches for 67 yards and a score. Wrublik ran for 100 yards and a touchdown while Brooks had 82 yards and two scores. Tomaschke led the Scots with seven tackles and a sack while Anthony Cikauskus (Oswego, Illinois) also had a sack.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: The 70 points are the 5th most in a game in school history and the most since scoring 78 against Illinois College on Nov. 1, 2008. The record is 81 from 1900. The 660 total yards are seventh most in a game in school history. The Scots have won 19 straight against Lawrence. Boyer passed Hayden Nelson for seventh in career pass completions. He also passed both Brik Wedekind and Mitch Tanney to move into fourth on the Monmouth career passing yards list. Boyer passed Mark Reed in career touchdown passes and now ranks seventh with 40 career TD passes. With his 18th career touchdown reception, Thornton ranks ninth on the Monmouth career list. Wrublik had his first career 100-yard rushing game. Summers completed his first career touchdown pass. Olson, Patterson, Salter and Kessinger scored their first collegiate touchdowns. Next week is a Midwest Conference bye week. The Scots next game is Saturday, Sept. 30 at Illinois College.