APPLETON, Wis. – It was not always easy, but the Carleton College football team overcame three turnovers to secure a hard-fought, 20-10 road triumph over Lawrence University. The Knights moved to 2-0 for the first time since 2013 and only the sixth time since 1997.
"It's always great to win in the road," said Carleton head coach Tom Journell. "I'm really proud of our team, and I'm really happy for our players. We faced a lot of adversity today, but we stuck together and grew as a program.
Lawrence (1-1) totaled 336.0 rushing yards in its season-opening win, but the Carleton defense limited the Vikings to only 75 yards on 33 carries. The Knights held their hosts to less than 200 yards of total offense and a 1-for-13 performance on third down. Carleton also accumulated five sacks, its highest figure since an eight-sack performance against St. Olaf on Oct. 17, 2015.
Sean Goodman collected a game-high 72 rushing yards on Saturday and added a two-yard touchdown run on Carleton's opening possession.
Mack Journell continues to improve his placement on the school's all-time lists after hauling in eight more passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. He now sits ninth and 11th, respectively, on the Carleton's career reception list (110) and touchdown reception (12) chart.
Emanual Williams added eight catches for 53 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Beau Nelson was 29-for-47 for 236 yards with the two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Both teams found the end zone on their first possessions of the game. Goodman capped off an eight-play, 68 yard drive with his two-yard plunge. The Vikings answered with a 71-yard drive, the bulk of the damage coming on a 39-yard scoring strike from D'Andre Weaver to Tanner Morris.
Lawrence added a field goal with under three minutes remaining in the first half and led 10-7 at the break.
The Vikings marched into Carleton territory on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Weaver fumbled, and Ed Kotula pounced on the loose ball. The Knights marched 69 yards on eight plays for the go-ahead score. Goodman began the drive with back-to-back rumbles up the middle for 17 and 18 yards. Later, Fletcher Metz had a five-yard reception on fourth-and-one to move the chains. Williams had three catches on the drive for 32 yards, including a 13-yard grab inside the pylon to put Carleton ahead for good.
That's when the Carleton defense took over again, forcing the Vikings into six consecutive three-and-outs.
With 5:02 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Knights took advantage of a short field following a Travis Brown punt return and eventually cashed in a five-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass from Nelson to Journell to seemingly seal the victory.
Lawrence fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Carleton ran out the clock.
Christian Cavan had seven tackles to pace the Knights defense. John Witte had two sacks of the Knights' five sacks.
UP NEXT FOR THE KNIGHTS: It will not only be the Battle for the Goat Trophy but also the 100th all-time meeting on the gridiron when Carleton visits cross-town rival St. Olaf College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.