RIPON, Wisconsin — The Ripon football program erased a nine-point halftime deficit, allowed zero points in the second half and defeated Grinnell 23-19 on Saturday afternoon at Hopp Stadium in the Midwest Conference opener for both teams.
 
Saturday's game did not lack fireworks despite the low score. Ripon (1-1, 1-0 MWC) had not one, but two 75+ yard passes called back in the first three plays of the game – the Red Hawks were first tagged with a holding penalty and then with an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. Alex Mosqueda caught both a 75-yarder and an 87-yarder, but Grinnell (0-2, 0-1 MWC) dodged both bullets and Ripon punted on its opening drive.
 
Following a Grinnell punt, Mosqueda rushed a punt return for 40 yards down to the Grinnell 35, putting the Red Hawks in business. On the next play, quarterback Jack Berens found Parker Campana for a 35-yard score, giving Ripon the early lead.
 
However, the Pioneers responded with a six-plus minute drive, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run to even things up at seven apiece midway through the first quarter.
 
Grinnell took the lead on its second drive of the second quarter. A seven-yard touchdown pass from Henry Baird to Lucky Carton put the visitors in front, though Zane Vetter blocked the PAT and kept it a six-point game.
 
After an errant snap on a punt by Ripon, Grinnell started its next drive inside the red zone, scoring three plays later on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was missed, and the Pioneers went up 19-7 with seven minutes left until half.
 
On an important three-minute drive with the half winding down, Ripon converted a 36-yard field goal thanks to Ben Crock and went into half down 19-10.
 
Ripon turned the tide in the second half on its second possession. After Nolan Perry forced a Grinnell fumble and recovered it himself, the hosts had the ball at the Grinnell 24. Two plays later, Berens scampered in for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season and Ripon crept within 19-17.
 
The score stayed that way until the fourth as neither team was able to grab control. Following a missed Grinnell field goal on its first possession of the final period, Ripon embarked on a memorable seven-play drive that produced four first downs. After an incomplete pass, Connor Ramage accounted for 79 yards on the drive, though Jeremy Timmons scored the go-ahead touchdown. The two-point conversion was missed, and Ripon led 23-19 with 9:51 left in the game.
 
From there, the Ripon defense took over. Vetter snuffed out a fake punt on Grinnell's next drive, and after a missed Ripon field goal, Grinnell got the ball back. The Pioneers drove inside the Ripon 15, but Desean Smith forced a fumble on a sack, recovered by Clay Ritschard, and Ripon was able to run more clock.
 
Grinnell had one last chance, starting a drive at its 38 with 17 seconds remaining. However, Baird's final pass was broken up near midfield by Amir Williams and Ripon started Midwest Conference play with a win.
 
Ramage was the workhorse for Ripon on Saturday, rushing 18 times for 134 yards. Berens had six carries for 38 yards and a touchdown, while Timmons rushed 11 times for 23 yards and a score. Campana led the air attack with two catches, 39 yards and a score.
 
Defensively, Ritschard had a monster game – the senior racked up 16 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Vetter had two tackles for loss and seven tackles overall, while both Wes Schneider and Gage Taylor recorded interceptions.
 
Ripon had a 168-35 advantage in yards on the ground, while Grinnell had 249 passing yards to Ripon's 47. Grinnell had the upper hand in time of possession (34:24-25:36), third-down conversions (9-of-19 to 1-of-11) and total offense (284-215).
 
NEXT UP: Ripon visits Illinois College on Saturday, September 21 for a 1 p.m. kickoff from England Stadium in Jacksonville.
 
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