CHICAGO, Ill. - Ripon allowed 35 unanswered points Saturday afternoon, en route to a 35-6 loss to University of Chicago. Despite the final score, Ripon was only out-gained 325-293 in total yardage. The Red Hawks finished the game with 235 rushing yards, while holding Chicago to just 87 yards on the ground, marking the 23rd consecutive game in which they have gained more rushing yards than their opponent.

Things couldn't have started better for Ripon (5-3, 2-2 MWC), as they marched 84 yards in 12 plays on the game's opening possession, which was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Tyler VanDeVelde to give the Red Hawks a 6-0 lead with eight and a half minutes remaining in the opening quarter. That lead lasted until the final minute of the period, when Nick D'Ambrose scored from four yards out to give Chicago a 7-6 advantage.

Chicago (5-3, 3-1 MWC) broke the game wide open with a three-touchdown second quarter, all of which were scored in the final seven minutes. Zack Olson scored on a 56-yard reception from Marco Cobian, before the Maroons added a one-yard touchdown run with one and a half minutes remaining in the first half. A three-and-out on Ripon's ensuing possession, and a subsequent 38-yard punt return set Chicago up for another touchdown pass of four yards from Cobian to Matt Quaglia with eight seconds remaining to give Chicago a 28-6 halftime lead. The only points of the second half came on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Chicago with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Cormac Madigan led Ripon with 74 yards, while Austin Bunders added 62 yards on eight carries (7.8 ypc) in addition to 66 yards on three receptions, including a long of 54. VanDeVelde finished with 44 yards on 11 carries (4.0 ypc). Madigan also completed 5-of-15 passes for 90 yards.

Defensively, Lane Barnes recorded a team-high 10 tackles, while adding to his league-leading forced fumble total with his fifth of the season. Freshman Devin Smith recorded an interception for the third consecutive game, while Bennett Groves also intercepted a pass, his team-leading fourth of the season, which is now tied for the conference lead.

Chicago was led by Cobian, who completed 13-of-18 passes for 206 yards and two scores, while also rushing for 14 yards. D'Ambrose led the Maroons with 62 yards on 19 carries.

Ripon will try to rebound next week in what will be their final conference game of the season against Lawrence, which is the oldest college football rivalry in the state of Wisconsin, dating back to the 1893 season. That game will begin on Saturday at 1 p.m. from the friendly confines of Ingalls Field in Ripon, and can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.