DECORAH, Iowa — The Luther football team won the first game of the season for the first time since 2014 defeating Lawrence University (WI) 30-7 on home turf. The win is also marks the first win since Sept. 28, 2024 against Anderson University (IN) (9-6). After falling behind 7-0 with 7:58 left in the opening quarter the Norse went on to score 30 unanswered points in route to victory.
The Vikings got on the board first after getting the ball on the Luther's 10-yard line after a muffed punt. Three plays later Lawrence scored on a 7-yard touchdown run. The Norse answered responded with a seven play, 70-yard drive which saw quarterback
Brett Liljedahl connect with
Bryce Buckley for a 27-yard touchdown pass to tie the game (7-7).
In the second quarter, the Luther defense forced a turnover on downs at the Luther 9-yard line. The offense took over as Liljedahl's 58-yard completion to
Anthony Thornton put the Norse in Viking territory. Then a 28-yard run by
Trent White gave Liljedahl the opportunity for another touchdown pass this time to
Aaron Moore. The touchdown and the extra point by
Sean Medcalfe gave Luther their first lead of the game. The Norse went into the locker room out in front 14-7.
Luther kept extending their lead in the third quarter, as Liljedahl hit Buckley for a 13-yard touchdown pass at 6:05 (20-7).
Eight seconds in the final frame, Medcalfe hit a 23-yard field goal (23-7). Later, the final scoring possession was when Luther marched down the field in seven plays for 37-yards and ended in a touchdown pass from Liljedahl to
Liam Henry. The final score was Luther 30, Lawrence 7. This was the first meeting between the two teams.
Liljedahl was 11-16 for 145 yards. His four touchdown passes marked a career high. White recorded 115 rushing yards on 17 carries which was a new career high. Defensively,
Tyler Ragan led the team with 7 tackles followed by
Jacob Whitehill with six and
Jermarion Williams,
De'Ontaye Smith, and
Dane Petersen each had five.
Luther put up 397-yards of total offense while holding Lawrence to 138.
The next game for Luther is on the road at Millikin University on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Decatur, Ill.
