APPLETON, Wis. – Last year, Grinnell College's football team won an overtime thriller against Lawrence University.
In 2022, the Pioneers decided that a dominating win in regulation was in order.
Grinnell scored a touchdown in the second period and never looked back on its way to a 28-7 victory at the Banta Bowl Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers' defense was stellar all day, holding an opponent to its fewest points since beating Trinity Bible College 46-0 on Sept. 8, 2018.
Grinnell (1-1, 1-1 Midwest Conference) limited the Vikings to just 232 yards while piling up 376 yards itself.
Grayson Woodhouse '24 had a hand in all four Grinnell touchdowns, throwing two TD strikes and rushing for two more scores.
Woodhouse finished with a yardage double-double, getting 187 yards through the air on 14-of-20 completions and rushing for another 103.
Nick Rhinehart '25 caught seven of those passes for 117 yards and a score.
On the other side of the ball,
Adam Khater '23 had eight tackles, including five solos,
Clayton Burton '23,
Keaton Fitzgerald '26 and
Hugh Werner '25 made six stops each and
Tim Johnson '24 had four tackles. Burton and Johnson each had sacks, Burton also had an interception and
Brandon Tennicott '26 a fumble recovery.
Grinnell's first scoring drive took only one play, a 57-yard TD strike from Woodhouse to Rhinehart. Rhinehart booted the extra point, making it 7-0 with 10:07 left in the opening half.
After going into the locker room up 7-0, Grinnell came out on fire on its first drive of the second half, putting together a seven-play, 75-yard series that was capped by Woodhouse's 27-yard TD strike to
Garrett Wilson '25. Rhinehart again had the extra point, making it 14-0 with 11:24 left in the period.
After Lawrence (0-2, 0-1 MWC) cut into the lead early in the fourth period, Grinnell went 75 yards in six plays for a score. Woodhouse, who had a 64-yard run on the drive, sneaked in from a yard out for the score. Rhinehart's kick made it 21-7 with 10:50 left in the game.
Grinnell secured the win with 3:41 left in the game when Woodhouse scored from 2 yards out. Rhinehart's kick accounted for the final scoring.
Grinnell has a bye next weekend before hosting Beloit College on Oct. 1. Kickoff at Rosenbloom Field is set for 1 p.m.
