Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - Making his first start as a Red Hawk, sophomore quarterback Steven Covalt rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns, stepping in for an injured Tom Sawyer, but that was not enough, as Ripon dropped its second consecutive game, 44-28 to Illinois College. Despite the 16-point differential, Illinois College outgained Ripon in total offense by just 13 yards (407-394).

Covalt's first touchdown came on the very first drive of the game, running 56 yards for the score on a fourth-and-one play. Illinois College would kick a field goal on their first possession and would later get the ball back and take the lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Michael Bates to Kevin Fuller late in the opening quarter.

Ripon's Jordan Remsza tied things up early in the second with a 28-yard field goal, but Illinois College would score the next 20 points on touchdown runs by Bates and Cecil Brimmage and a 34 yard TD pass fom Bates to Bryce Heaton. Ripon put an end to that run on the final play of the first half when Covalt scored on a one-yard plunge to cut Illinois College's lead to 31-16 at halftime.

Covalt scored again from one yard out with just over two minutes left in the third quarter, but after the extra point was blocked, Ripon trailed 31-22 entering the final quarter.

Ripon cut the Blueboys lead to three just one minute into the final quarter when Covalt scored his fourth and final touchdown of the day again from one yard out, which was set up by an interception by Dakotah Kirchenwitz. After Illinois College went three and out on the ensuing possession, Ripon got the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead, but the Red Hawks fumbled on the initial play of their drive. The ball was scooped up by IC's Zack Hanlon and returned 15 yards for the touchdown, giving the Blueboys a 37-28 advantage. They would tack on an insurance touchdown later in the quarter when Brimmage scored his second TD of the game, this time on a 28-yard run.

"We just made some simple mistakes and had some missed opportunities," Ripon Head Football Coach Ron Ernst said. "We have to be more consistent as a team and eliminate our mental mistakes."

Ripon finished the game with 321 rushing yards. Connor Greenwald was second on the team with 73 yards on 14 carries (5.2 ypc), while also leading the team in receiving with three catches for 28 yards. Covalt completed six of his 15 passes for 73 yards. Defensively, Kirchenwitz recorded the only takeaway for the Red Hawks, while tying for the team lead in tackles with seven. (five solo).

Brimmage led Illinois College with 179 yards on 22 carries (8.1 ypc). Bates added 48 yards on 10 carries, while also completing 13-of-24 passes for 174 yards. The Blueboys saw six different receivers record at least one reception. Andy Mills led the defensive effort with a game-high 12 tackles (six solo), to go along with one pass breakup.The Blueboys recovered two Ripon fumbles on the day to win the turnover battle, 2-1.

"Our players really played hard today. They battled all game and competed to the very end, which is something we can be proud of," Ernst said. "We're going to get things fixed and get after it next week."

The Red Hawks will now look forward to Knox College next weekend. That game will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Galesburg, Ill. and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal#.