Box Score APPLETON, Wis. – The Grinnell College football team rallied from a 13-10 halftime deficit to knock off Lawrence University 24-21 Saturday in Midwest Conference play.

Quarterback Sam Poulos '16 passed for a career-high 363 yards and Jacob Meixler '15 had 203 receiving yards, fifth-best in school history, as the Pioneers improved to 2-5 in the MWC and 2-6 in all games. Lawrence fell to 0-7 and 0-8.

Defensively, the Pioneers were equally up to the task, making three goal-line stands.

Poulos completed 20-of-40 passes for two scores, while Meixler had 20 catches and one TD. Emmi Sandoval '16 added seven catches for 93 yards.

Defensively, David Ternes '15 had 16 tackles, Seth Gustafson '14 added eight and Andrew Clark '14 and Kevin Hwang '14 had seven each. Clark and Jacob Beecher '16 each had an interception.

Lawrence jumped on top 7-0 on its first drive, but Grinnell tied it at 7-all on the final play of the first quarter on a 75-yard pass play from Poulos to Meixler. Graham Fisher '16 kicked the point after.

Grinnell's defense stepped up early in the second quarter when Daniel Ryerson '15 stopped a Lawrence runner on fourth-and-1 at the Pioneers' 5-yard line.

Grinnell made it 10-7 on Fisher's field goal with 3:32 left in the second quarter. The nine-play, 91-yard drive included a 41-yard pass from Poulos to Meixler and 21-yarder to Sandoval.

However, Lawrence came back with a touchdown to lead by three at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, the hosts drove to Grinnell's 1-yard line when Ternes stopped a Viking for no gain on a fourth-down play.

A Clark interception in the third period set up Grinnell's next touchdown, which came on a nine-play, 69-yard drive. Sandoval had a 33-yard pass reception on a series that was capped by a 1-yard TD run by Jacob Bernholtz '17 with 1:19 left in the period. Fisher's extra point made it 17-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, it was again Ternes who stepped up. After Lawrence had drive down to Grinnell's 2-yard line, on a fourth-down play he sacked the Vikings' quarterback to give possession back to Grinnell.

Later the fourth period, Grinnell made it 24-13 with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Poulos to Jake O'Polka '15 with 7:24 left. Poulos began the drive with a 17-yard completion to Sandoval, and the drive ended with Fisher's extra point kick.

Lawrence did add a touchdown and two-point conversion, but the Pioneers came away with the victory.

Grinnell plays at St. Norbert College next Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m.