RIPON, Wis. - Playing in a constant rain for much of the day, the Ripon College football team defeated Beloit College 14-12 Saturday afternoon, snapping Ripon's season-long two-game losing streak. The Red Hawks outgained the Buccaneers in total offensive yards (432-295), while gaining a season-high 376 yards on the ground. Ripon was able to overcome four turnovers and a last-minute comeback by Beloit to secure the victory and move Head Coach Ron Ernst within one win of tying the Midwest Conference football record for career coaching victories.

"It was an ugly game at times and the weather was a factor for both teams," Ernst said. "The weather hampered what we were trying to do offensively, but I'm real proud of our defense and the way they stepped up in key situations."

Neither team scored until one and a half minutes remained in the second quarter, when Beloit's Joey Werner scored from two yards out. After the extra point was blocked, the Buccaneers took a 6-0 lead into halftime.

Ripon (5-3, 2-2 MWC North) put one of their best drives together to start the third quarter, going 67 yards on 10 plays, which was capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from Grifin McNeal to Nathan Kuehl, giving Ripon a 7-6 advantage. The Red Hawks would add to that lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when McNeal found Nathan Silloway in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass. The score would remain 14-6 until the final two minutes, as Beloit tried to mount a comeback. The Buccaneers scored on a four-yard pass from Danny May to Mike Nolden with just over one minute left in regulation, setting up a two-point conversion attempt that would tie the game and likely send it to overtime. That conversion never came however, as Jordan Remsza stepped up for the Red Hawks, stopping Beloit just inches from the goal line to preserve the victory.

"That was the ball game right there and it was as big a play as any during the game," Ernst said. "As we've done for most of the season, we made some big plays at the right times."

Making the first start of his career, McNeal completed 8 of his 16 passes for 56 yards and the two scores, while adding 112 rushing yards on 22 carries (5.1 ypc). Connor Greenwald added 81 yards, while Brent Anderson carried the ball 10 times for 70 yards.

"It was a good day for the offense, especially when you consider that for much of the game, we had five freshmen on the field at a time," Ernst said. "Those players really stepped up and played well and I'm very proud of them."

Ripon's defense was led by Austin Schleisner, who recorded a team-high 13 tackles. Tyler Updike and Dakotah Kirchenwitz each intercepted a Beloit pass, while Remsza forced a fumble and recorded six tackles.

Beloit was led by Mason Dixon's 60 yards on nine carries. May completed 13-of-25 passes for 149 and the late touchdown, while Nolden recorded game-highs of six receptions for 54 yards.

The Red Hawks will travel to Lawrence University next weekend for what is the oldest college football rivalry in the state of Wisconsin. Ripon has defeated Lawrence 15 years in a row, giving the Doehling-Heselton trophy a home for the last decade and a half. Saturday's game will begin at 1 p.m. in Appleton, Wis., as Coach Ernst attempts to tie the conference record for career coaching victories.

"Our goal is to finish 7-3," Ernst said. "We've been playing well enough to win and our goal is to finish our season strong."