RIPON, Wis. - In what was a game of momentum shifts and twists and turns, Ripon defeated the University of Chicago 36-29, erasing a 15-point deficit in the final 13 minutes, highlighted by the game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds remaining. Chicago out-gained Ripon in total offense (355-334), but Ripon forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, all of which came in the game's final quarter, which proved to be the difference.

"I'm so proud of all of our players and coaches," Ripon Head Coach Ron Ernst said. "This may have been the best fourth quarter we've ever played. Twenty-two points in the fourth quarter shows the character that our players have."

In addition to owning the fourth quarter, Ripon (3-5, 2-2 MWC) also owned the first, getting out to an early 14-0 lead. The Red Hawks broke a scoreless tie less than one minute into the contest, as quarterback Julian Patton scored from three yards out, which was set up by a 53-yard run up the middle by Brandon Barnes. Ripon doubled their lead with just under 10 minutes left in the opening period when Patton found Cameron Mignone for a five-yard touchdown, capping a 12-play, 65-yard drive.

The middle two quarters belonged to Chicago (4-4, 2-2 MWC), as they proceeded to score 29 consecutive points. They first got on the board with eight and a half minutes left in the second quarter on an eight-yard TD run by Chandler Carroll. The Maroons would cut Ripon's lead to one just before halftime on a 14-yard pass from Campbell Garrett to Andrew Falk, which was followed by a failed extra point.

Chicago's first lead came at the end of the opening drive of the second half, which saw the Maroons march 61 yards in four plays, capped by a 32-yard touchdown from Garrett to Riley Trettel. Carroll added his second TD of the game mid-way through the third quarter on a 41-yard reception from Garrett. Mike Kurzydlowski added a 31-yard field goal to put Chicago up 29-14 with four minutes left in the third.

Ripon took the ensuing possession 73 yards in 13 plays, culminating in another three-yard TD by Patton with 13 minutes remaining in the contest. That's when things got interesting, thanks to Ripon's defense stepping up in a big way. With six and a half minutes left, Lane Barnes stepped in front of a Garrett pass and returned it 61 yards the other way for a Red Hawks pick-six. One two-point conversion later (from Patton to Mignone), and the game was tied at 29.

After the two teams traded possessions, Ripon's offense got the ball back on their own 41-yard-line with 1:05 remaining. After a pair of rushes, and a 25-yard reception by Mignone, Patton found Sam Shroyer streaking down the sideline for the game-winning 26-yard touchdown. That marks Shroyer's first career reception, after the sophomore began this season as the starting quarterback.

"Our players made great plays," Ernst said. "When you play with emotion and passion, you're going to be able to make those type of plays. It was great to see our players have as much fun as they did and get this win."

Brandon Barnes led all players with a career-high 98 rushing yards on 22 carries (4.5 ypc), while Brent Anderson gained 91 yards on five carries (18.2 ypc). Patton rushed for 45 yards and two TDs, while completing 4-of-11 passes for 71 yards and two more scores.

In addition to Lane Barnes' pick-six, Ripon also got interceptions from Cameron Gruenwald, Jared Zeman, and Armando Mosqueda, which sealed the win with eight seconds remaining. Brandon Bartel recorded one sack to give him 17.5 for his career, which breaks the school record, which had stood for 20 years.

"Brandon has been one of the top defensive linemen in the conference the last four years," Ernst said. "He is very tough to block, has a great work ethic, and is one of those players that always has his motor running."

Bartel is one of 12 seniors that saw their final game on the Ingalls Field turf be a memorable one that will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in program history.

"It was so much fun to see our seniors go out like they did," Ernst said. "Our seniors have always provided great leadership and this group is no different. I'm very proud of each and every one of them."

Ripon will try to keep this momentum going next weekend when they'll face Lawrence University in what is the oldest college football rivalry in the state of Wisconsin for the battle of the Doehling-Heselton trophy. That game will begin at 1 p.m. at the Banta Bowl in Appleton, Wis., and can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.