BELOIT, Wis. -- The Lawrence University football team used a stout defense and the running of Hunter Carlson on Saturday to lead the Vikings to a 24-10 Midwest Conference victory over Beloit College at Strong Stadium.
    Lawrence held Beloit to a minus-7 yards rushing and forced five turnovers while Carlson ran 34 times for 141 yards to lead the offense.
    Lawrence quarterback Aidan Williams was 19-of-32 for 215 yards passing, and Alex Lippert had seven catches for 94 yards. Carlson also caught two passes for 62 yards. 
    Linebacker Jon Pasquarello led Lawrence with nine tackles, and Jacob Stanley had six stops, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. The Lawrence defense held Beloit to 22 carries for a minus-7 yards on the ground.
    With the game tied at 10-10, the Vikings (1-5, 1-4 MWC) converted a turnover into a touchdown and then returned an interception for another touchdown to seal the victory. It was Lawrence's first win since a 43-21 win over Beloit on Oct. 23, 2021.
    Lawrence's Rex Pearson recovered Bryan Casado's fumble at the Beloit 36-yard line early in the fourth quarter to set up a scoring drive. Riding Carlson's running, Lawrence had moved to to the Beloit 10, but Williams was sacked for a 13-yard loss. Beloit (1-5, 1-4) was flagged for pass interference on the next play, and Lawrence took advantage.
    Williams hit Asher Lin with a four-yard scoring pass on the next play to give the Vikings a 17-10 lead. It was the first collegiate touchdown for Lin, who is a first-year player, and he finished with three catches for 13 yards.
    On the ensuing drive, Beloit quarterback Jacob Shafer had his pass intercepted by Jahlan Paul to snuff out that drive. On Beloit's next drive, it was Paul who came up with an even bigger play. Paul intercepted Shafer at the 50-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to give Lawrence a 24-10 lead with 3:48 remaining in the game.
    It was Paul's sixth interception of the season and the first collegiate touchdown for the first-year player.
    Beloit took the kickoff and drove to the Lawrence 16-yard line, but Jesse Santos recorded his first career interception with a pick in the end zone to kill any hopes of a comeback by the Bucs.
    After a scoreless first quarter, Lawrence got on the board midway through the second quarter. Beloit had an eight-yard punt to give the Vikings the ball at the Beloit 20. Aided by another pass interference penalty, Lawrence moved to the Beloit seven-yard line. Kebron Miles ran it in from a yard out three plays later to give Lawrence a 7-0 lead. It was Miles' first collegiate touchdown.
    Beloit got a 19-yard field goal on the final play of the opening half to cut the lead to 7-3 at the break.
    The Bucs then pinned Lawrence at its own one-yard line after a 57-yard punt, but the Vikings moved the ball down the field.
    On the second play of the drive, Williams connected with Lippert on a 41-yard pass to the Lawrence 46. With Carlson and Miles grinding out yards on the ground, the Vikings moved all the way to the Beloit 10 before the drive stalled. Ben Blumenthal then connected on a 27-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead. Lawrence drive the ball 89 yards in 16 plays and had the ball for 8:11.
    Beloit came back to tie it at 10-10 on a Shafer scoring pass to Dominic Guzman late in the third quarter.
    Lawrence hits the road again next weekend as the Vikings make the long trek to Illinois College.