APPLETON, Wis. – Tony Gomez topped the 100-yard rushing mark and scored two touchdowns while Cornell's defense stiffened after intermission in Saturday's 31-21 Midwest Conference football victory over Lawrence inside the Banta Bowl.
 
The Rams (1-1 overall, 1-0 MWC) recorded their 11th consecutive series win over Lawrence and came out of the MWC opener victorious for the seventh year in a row.
 
Locked in a 14-14 game with the upset-minded Vikings (0-2, 0-1) at halftime, Cornell set the tone for the final 30 minutes on its first offensive drive of the second half. Junior wideout Gavin Soukup raced 48 yards to the end zone on a TD pass from John Smith that pushed the Rams ahead 21-14, and Cornell never looked back.
 
The Rams carried momentum to the defensive side, limiting Lawrence to 45 yards on its first five possessions of the second half while coming away with a pair of interceptions.
 
Gomez capped his big day with a 20-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, stretching Cornell's advantage to 28-14 with 9:47 remaining. The senior running back had a 12-yard scoring run in the opening period.
 
Gomez carried 20 times for 136 yards with a long run of 30 yards. It was the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career. BooBoo Browning added 59 rushing yards on only seven attempts for a Cornell offense that outgained the Vikings, 422-273.
 
Smith finished 15-of-24 passing for 188 yards and two TDs. He connected with Dakota Seastrom on a 7-yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter that gave Cornell a 14-7 lead.
 
Cole Reed led Cornell's receiving corps with nine receptions for 89 yards. Soukup netted 64 yards on three catches. Seastrom had three receptions for 43 yards.
 
Junior linebacker Luca Schoensee posted a team-high eight tackles. Julius Jenkins and Caleb Smith had one sack apiece. Anthony Hoffman and Carson Gill each collected an interception.
 
Lawrence's lone points of the second half came on a 5-yard TD pass with three seconds left in regulation.     
 
Sophomore kicker Mitchell Frahm went 4-for-4 on PATs and nailed a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
 
Coming up – The Rams welcome MWC foe Lake Forest (2-0, 1-0) next Saturday, Sept. 21, for the home opener at Van Metre Field at Ash Park. Kickoff is 1 p.m.