SAINT PAUL, Minn. - After each of their first four games were decided by five points or less, including three by a single point, the Ripon College football team was able to breathe easy for much of the day in Saturday's Midwest Conference North Division opener. The Red Hawks defeated defending MWC champion Macalester College 23-0, marking Ripon's first shutout victory since 2009, which was a span of 61 games. That also snaps Macalester's streak of 10 consecutive victories against MWC teams and is the Scots first conference loss since joining the MWC prior to last season.
Ripon (4-1, 1-0 MWC North) was outgained in total offensive yardage for the fifth time in as many games (223-184), but once again received a lift from their defense.
Bradley Knoblock recorded three interceptions in a game for the second time this season, making him just the second player in school history to do so. The Red Hawks defense allowed just 12 first downs in the game, while holding Macalester (2-3, 0-1 MWC North) to 78 yards passing and 145 yards rushing.
The Red Hawks scored at least three points in all four quarters. They got the scoring started mid-way through the first quarter when
Nathan Kuehl caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from
Stephen Covalt to cap a 13-play, 70-yard drive. Ripon added another touchdown in the second quarter on a one-yard run by
Connor Greenwald, but a missed extra point would give Ripon a 13-0 lead, which is where it would stand at halftime.
With six minutes left in the third quarter, Ripon began to put the game on ice, as Knoblock returned his second interception of the day 25 yards for a touchdown and a 20-0 Red Hawks lead.
Jordan Remsza would tack on a 20-yard field goal with just under three minutes remaining to cap the scoring.
In addition to his three picks, Knoblock also broke up two additional passes and recorded three tackles (two solo), including one for a loss.
Cody Mitchell led the defense with nine tackles, with three of them going for a loss.
Ripon finished the game with 141 rushing yards. They were led by Kuehl's 53 yards on six carries (8.8 ypc), while Greenwald added 52 yards on 18 totes. Kuehl also caught two passes for 16 yards, including his touchdown.
Macalester was led by Zandy Stowell's 93 yards on 16 carries (5.8 ypc) and two catches for 11 yards.
The Red Hawks will now return home for next weekend's monumental showdown with St. Norbert, who is tied with Ripon atop the MWC standings. That game will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ingalls Field in Ripon.
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