MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - Coming off their bye week, the Ripon College football team didn't display much rust, producing their highest point total of the season in a 26-21 victory at Cornell College. The Red Hawks also finished the game with their most rushing yards (222), most passing yards (144) and most total yards (366) this season. Ripon's defense was also sharp, forcing five turnovers, which led to 13 points for the team.
Cornell (1-2) was the first team to get on the board, scoring on a four yard pass from Daniel Brown to Charles Zilaitis midway through the first quarter. The next quarter belonged to the Red Hawks (2-1), as they scored 20 consecutive points on three second quarter touchdowns. The first came on a two-yard
Stephen Covalt run, before
Nathan Kuehl gave the Red Hawks their first lead of the contest on an 11-yard TD run.
Connor Greenwald added an eight yard score late in the half to give Ripon a 20-7 halftime lead.
Cornell didn't just lay down however, inching closer with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Riley Bell for the only points in the third quarter. The Rams took the lead early in the fourth when Brown connected with Ben Knake for a 26-yard strike on the first play of that drive. After neither team could finish off their next couple drives, Ripon got the ball back with two minutes remaining and went for it all on the first play of their drive, which saw Covalt connect with
Zach Rinehart for the 62-yard game-winning score.
Greenwald led all players with 149 rushing yards on 22 carries (6.8 ypc) and one touchdown. Covalt completed 5-of-15 passes for 144 yards and the winning touchdown, while also rushing for 15 yards and a score.
Nathan Silloway led the Red Hawks receivers with three catches for 77 yards. Ripon's defense was led by
Patrick Barany and
Cody Mitchell, who each finished with a game-high 10 tackles. Mitchell also intercepted a pass, while
Jordan Remsza recorded two interceptions, to go along with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Red Hawks will try to keep their winning ways going next weekend on Homecoming in what will be their first home game in nearly one month. That game will begin at 1 p.m. at Ingalls Field in Ripon.
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