APPLETON, Wis. -- A pair of big scoring plays late in the first quarter Saturday helped break the game open for Monmouth College, and the Scots went on to a 70-13 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
    Lawrence had battled the Scots to a draw and turned in a number of big defensive plays early in the contest to keep Monmouth off the board. The Scots got a 43-yard touchdown pass to take the lead and then picked up a 92-yard scoring pass to grab a 14-0 edge in the waning seconds of the opening period.
    That got Monmouth rolling as the Scots posted a 35-point second quarter to take command.
    Alex Lippert was the one of the offensive standouts for the Vikings as he caught six passes for 47 yards and both Lawrence touchdowns. Pat Thompson battled for a tough 60 yards on the ground on 16 carries for the Vikings.
    Lawrence quarterback Aidan Williams was harassed by the Scots all day and finished 15-of-35 passing for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
    Rookie defensive back Kolbe Gelvin posted the first double-digit tackle game of his young career as he recorded 20 stops, including 12 solo tackles. Fellow rookie Rex Pearson finished with seven tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss.
    Lawrence linebacker Byron Floyd recorded his first career interception, a diving catch near the Monmouth sideline, and finished with five tackles.
    The Vikings made several big defensive stands early in the contest to slow down Monmouth. On the opening possession, Lawrence stuffed McKade Brooks on a fourth-and-1 play to turn the ball over on downs. 
    The Scots were driving again on their next possession but Aidan Harrison jarred the ball loose from Nate Wrublik at the Lawrence 20-yard line. Carter Rivers recovered for the Vikings.
    After the Scots took a 7-0 lead and got the ball back, Lawrence stripped receiver Nick Obsaint, and Jon Pasquarello recovered for the Vikings at the Lawrence 38. The drive stalled for the Vikings, but Monmouth was pinned back after another fine punt from Ben Blumenthal. He had a long punt of 60 yards and averaged 41.4 yards per punt on the day.
    Monmouth then hit on a 92-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Bergren for a 14-0 edge late in the first. That isn't close to being the longest play in this rivalry as Lawrence scored on a 99-yard play against the Scots in 2006 and on a 96-yard play in 2001.
    Monmouth (2-1, 2-0 MWC) scored on all five of its possessions in the second quarter to take a 49-7 lead at the half.
    Lawrence put together its first scoring drive of the contest after a 46-yard kickoff return from Brody Roberts gave the Vikings the ball at the Monmouth 30. Williams hit Lippert with a nine-yard scoring pass four plays later.
    Lawrence notched its other touchdown early in the fourth quarter when the Vikings put together a 10-play, 65-yard scoring march. Lippert and Logan Olson both caught two passes to help set up the Vikings just outside the Monmouth 10-yard line. Lippert then made a nice catch for the touchdown on the next play to cut the margin to 63-13.
    Lawrence (0-2, 0-2) returns to action at home next Saturday when the Vikings host the University of Minnesota-Morris in a nonconference game.