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Lucky Carton
Cory Hall
6
Lawrence LAW 0-8 , 0-7
63
Winner Grinnell GRN 2-7 , 2-6
Lawrence LAW
0-8 , 0-7
6
Final
63
Grinnell GRN
2-7 , 2-6
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LAW Lawrence 6 0 0 0 6
GRN Grinnell 10 31 8 14 63

Game Recap: Football | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell football team shatters several school records in drubbing of Lawrence

Pioneers pile up 63 points while snapping 6-game losing streak

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's football team found the perfect remedy for a wet and gloomy day - breaking records.

The Pioneers shattered several school records Saturday afternoon at Rosenbloom Field as they blasted Lawrence University 63-6 to snap a six-game losing streak.

The game was played in true late-season football weather, with cold conditions that saw a light rain turn heavy and then convert to snow.

Individually, Lucky Carton '26 set a new Pioneer record for rushing touchdowns with five and Ben Bortel '29 established a new mark for kicking points in a game with 13. Carton's rushing touchdown total beat the previous mark of four by three people, most recently Nate Wineinger in 2004. Bortel's point total beat the previous best of 12 by three people, most recently Mike Bogard in 2012.

On the team front, school records were established for rushing yards with 464 and rushing touchdowns with seven. Previous marks were 368 yards against Illinois College in 1985 and six touchdowns against Monmouth College in 1985.

The point total of 63 ranks third in the modern era, while Bortel's field goal total of two is also third. Bortel is also fifth for extra points in a game with seven and Noah Davidoff '28 and Luke Konczal '29 had 361 punting yards and a 53-yard interception return, respectively, both 10th all-time. Davidoff averaged 43.8 yards on four punts, including a 54-yard boot.

While piling up 530 yards of total offense, the Pioneers defense held Lawrence to a mere 43 yards. Grinnell also held a 15-minute advantage in time of possession.

Grinnell boasted from 100-plus rushers for the first time in years, as Bennett Destino '27 had 129 yards on the ground and Carton posted his third 100-plus performance of the season with 122.

The tackle total was well-distributed for Grinnell, with Adrian Stubbs '28 posting four stops and Peyton Williams '27, Jack Phillips '29, Adam Whalen '28, Hayden Lyday '29, Rory Leonard '28 and Breck Bishop '26 coming up with three each.

Grinnell took the opening kickoff and immediately went to work, putting together a 13-play, 62-yard drive that was capped by Carton's 2-yard TD run.

Lawrence returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and Bortel booted a 41-yard field goal on the Pioneers' next drive, making it 10-6 after one period.

The Pioneers narrowly missed a school record in the second frame by putting up 31 points, three shy of the mark established against Illinois College in 1998.

Grinnell's first touchdown of the period, a 4-yard run by Sam Eaton '26, was set up by Leonard's recovery of a Lawrence fumble. Carton followed with a 19-yard score on the Pioneers' next drive, making it 24-6. Carton added an 11-yard touchdown after that and Bailey found Seth Semmen '26 on a 20-yard scoring play later in the frame. 

Grinnell recovered its short kickoff immediately after that and a few plays later, as the clock ran out to end the half, Bortel sent a 46-yard field goal through the uprights. That kick is sixth-longest in program history.

Carton added a 2-yard touchdown in the third period as the rain gave way to snow and Davidoff ran for the two-pointer, making it 49-6. Destino had a 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth period and Carton broke the school record with his 2-yard score eight minutes later.

The Pioneers improved to 2-6 in the Midwest Conference and 2-7 overall, while Lawrence fell to 0-7 in the league and 0-8 in all games.

Grinnell finishes its season next Saturday when Cornell College visits Rosenbloom Field. The Senior Day affair begins at noon.






 
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