APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University football team dropped a 33-14 nonconference decision to Martin Luther College on Saturday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl. 
    In the season opener for both teams, Martin Luther grabbed a 23-0 lead at the half and hung on from there.
    Lawrence's Hunter Carlson made his first collegiate start at quarterback and rushed seven times for 75 yards. He completed 7-of-17 passes for 51 yards. Anthony Martin-Sweet ran 10 times for 46 yards for the Vikings, and Asher Lin was the top receiver with two catches for 43 yards.
    Kolbe Gelvin piled up 10 tackles to lead the Vikings, and Jon Pasquarello had nine stops, including 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Rex Pearson made four stops for the Vikings with 3.0 tackles for loss. 
    Defensive back Maurice Fluker, playing in his first game for Lawrence, got the Vikings on the board late in the third quarter. Fluker picked off Martin Luther quarterback Brady Turriff at the Knights' 35-yard line and returned it for a touchdown. Fluker's first career interception and touchdown cut the lead to 30-7.
    Lawrence also scored late in the game after a snap went over the head of Martin Luther punter Thomas Balge. Balge picked up the ball but was tackled at the Martin Luther 22, and the Vikings had the ball deep in Knights territory.
    On a fourth-down play from the Martin Luther 22, Lawrence quarterback RJ Connell was forced from the pocket and heaved the ball toward the end zone. Dan Torrence won the battle for the ball and a Lawrence touchdown with 2:06 remaining. It was Torrence's second career touchdown.
    Turriff was the key for the Knights as he completed 13-of-20 passes for 222 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
    Lawrence hits the road next Saturday when the Vikings open Midwest Conference play at Monmouth College.