RIVER FOREST, Ill. - Ripon fell behind by three touchdowns early in the third quarter of Saturday's season opener at Concordia-Chicago, and trailed 27-6 at the end of that period. The Red Hawks then showed what they were made of, rallying to score 24 fourth-quarter points, but it was not enough as they were on the losing end of a 40-30 score in what was just their second all-time meeting with CU-C and first since 1990.

Despite the 70 points scored in the game, just seven of them came in the first half as Rashad Lofton gave CU-C the first lead of the contest with a five-yard run three and a half minutes before halftime. The Cougars added a second touchdown on the first drive of the second half, capped by a 55-yard touchdown pass from Shane Virnala to Ryan Allison. That duo hooked up again nearly three minutes later for a 12-yard score.

Ripon would get on the board with eight minutes left in the third on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Griffin McNeal to Cameron Mignone, but the extra point was blocked. Concordia answered with a seven-play, 72-yard drive, capped by another Lofton TD, this time on a pass from Virnala.

Lofton gave Concordia a 33-6 lead when he caught Virnala's fourth TD pass of the day. Ripon then scored three touchdowns in an eight minute span, scoring on runs by Cody Chase, Logan Grahn, and Sam Georgeson. Concordia then dashed Ripon's comeback hopes when Lance Moise rumbled 90 yards for a score to put the game away. Dakota Wilcox added a 29-yard TD reception from McNeal with under one minute to play, but it was too little to late for the Red Hawks.

The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. Ripon held the advantage on the ground, 240-199, while CU-C did the honors through the air, 332-259.

McNeal completed 15-of-29 passes for 259 yards and two TDs, while running for 79 yards on 20 carries. Chase led the Red Hawks with 85 yards on 11 carries (7.7 ypc), including his eight-yard TD. Mignone led the team with four catches for 89 yards and a score.

Virnala completed 23-of-40 passes for 332 yards for Concordia, while Allison recorded game-highs of 10 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Moise paced the Cougars' ground game with 157 yards on 14 carries (11.2 ypc).

The Red Hawks will try to right the ship next weekend when they'll travel to La Crosse, Wis. to take on UW-La Crosse. That game will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and can be seen live at http://www.kqegtv.com/modules/web/index.php/id/344.