RIPON, Wis. - St. Scholastica more than doubled Ripon's total yardage during Saturday's season opener (298-144), but the Red Hawks held the advantage in the only stat that matters - the scoreboard - winning 17-16 to snap St. Scholastica's 19-game regular season winning streak. Ripon's defense picked up the slack, forcing five turnovers including four interceptions, with three of those coming from Bradley Knoblock, which ties a school record.

"All week, we talked to the players about creating plays and making things happen and I was very proud of our team in terms of their playmaking ability, which also showed some of our Senior leadership that we have," said Ripon Head Coach Ron Ernst.

The Red Hawks (1-0) got on the board first with a 30-yard field goal by Jordan Remsza late in the first quarter to cap a 12-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. St. Scholastica (1-1) would tie the score with a 37-yard field goal mid-way through the second period, and would take their first lead of the game just three and a half minutes before halftime on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Dakota Paulson to Nick Murphy.

The Saints extended their lead to 16-3 in the opening minutes of the third quarter when Mason Bloomquist returned a Ripon fumble eight yards for a touchdown. The ensuing extra point was blocked by Knoblock and scooped up by Decker Thompson, who took it the other way for two points, cutting the Saints' lead to 16-5. On St. Scholastica's next drive, Thompson made another huge play, intercepting a pass and returning it 48 yards for a touchdown.

Still trailing by a score of 16-11 midway through the fourth quarter, the Red Hawks were handed a golden opportunity when St. Scholastica snapped the ball over their punter's head for a loss of 44 yards, setting the Red Hawks up with a first and goal from the four-yard line. Three plays later, Ripon's offense found the end zone, albeit unconventionally, when Nathan Kuehl recovered a fumble and scrambled three yards to pay dirt for a 17-16 lead.,That lead would be challenged late in the contest, as it looked as if St. Scholastica had thrown a go-ahead 33-yard touchdown, but an offensive pass interference call would negate the play and Ripon's defense held, allowing the Red Hawks to run out the clock.

Connor Greenwald led the Red Hawks with 63 yards rushing. The Red Hawks finished with 93 yards on the ground, while passing for 51. Brandon Bartel added a sack for the defense, while Thompson and Tony Michelon each recorded half a sack. Chris Weaver recovered St. Scholastica's only fumble, while Austin Schleisner led the Red Hawks with nine tackles (six solo).

Paulson led St. Scholastica with 53 rushing yards, while completing 13-of-23 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown. Nick Murphy led all receivers with two catches for 90 yards and the score.

"Going into the game, we knew St. Scholastica was a very good team, and starting the season with a tough opponent like them will hopefully sharpen us up a little bit moving forward," Ernst said. "I'm very happy to come out of this game with the victory."

The Red Hawks will be in action again next weekend when they'll travel to Rockford University. That game will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rockford, Ill.