APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University football team delivered a victory for its new leader on Saturday when the Vikings pummeled Finlandia University 42-6 in the season opener on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
    It was the debut of Lawrence head coach Tony Aker, who was hired in late 2019 but had to endure a pandemic-induced wait before getting on the sidelines for a game. Aker becomes the first Lawrence head coach to win his season debut since the legendary Ron Roberts in 1965.
    The Vikings got a superb performance from quarterback D'Andre Weaver, who went 23-of-33 for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first Lawrence quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in a game since Luke Barthelmess did it against Knox College in November 2013.
    Wide receiver Cameron Wicks grabbed four passes for 101 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings. Tanner Morris caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns, and Nick Pastrone had four catches for 73 yards. Rookie receiver Logan Olson had four catches for 50 yards and his first career touchdown.
    The defense forced four Finlandia turnovers, and senior defensive back Terrell Myers had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned 35 yards for a touchdown. Zachary Allen and rookie Blake Sadusk paced the Vikings with nine tackles apiece, and Allen recorded an interception and a forced fumble. Zachary Adams was in the Finlandia backfield all day and finished with six tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, and a blocked kick.
    The defense limited Finlandia to just 187 yards and a meager 3.1 yards per play. The Vikings rolled up 348 yards of offense and averaged 5.5 yards per play.
    Lawrence wasted little time getting on the board after Myers picked off Rorke Landis on the game's third play. Myers returned the ball to the Finlandia six-yard line, and the Vikings scored two plays later on Weaver's touchdown pass to Olson.
    The Vikings then put together an 11-play, 56-yard drive for a touchdown on their next possession. Weaver hit Morris with a 20-yard scoring pass, and the Vikings led 14-0. Myers made it 20-0 at the start of the second quarter when he intercepted Landis and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
    The Lawrence defense forced a turnover on downs on the next possession, and the Vikings moved 71 yards in seven plays for another touchdown. Olson caught a 24-yard pass, and Wicks grabbed a 26-yard pass on the drive, which was capped by Prince Mukuna's two-yard for a 27-0 lead.
    In a game that had a little bit of everything, Lawrence picked up a safety when the ball was snapped well over the head of punter Carter Crouch, who grabbed it and ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
    The Vikings took the next drive 56 yards in four plays as Weaver connected with Wicks, who made a stellar catch and turned it into a 42-yard touchdown for a 35-0 lead.
    Both teams tacked on touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Weaver finishing a 39-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Morris.
    The game marked Lawrence's return to action for the first time since Nov. 9, 2019. It was the longest break between games for the Vikings since they played Nov. 8, 1916, and didn't play again until Oct. 12, 1918 due to World War I.
    The Vikings, who improved to 57-69-1 in season openers, hit the road next Saturday when they travel to Lake Forest College to open Midwest Conference play.