MOUNT VERNON, Ia. -- The Ripon College football program (3-2, 3-1 MWC) earned another Midwest Conference win this Saturday, Oct 11, defeating the Cornell College Rams (2-3, 2-2 MWC). Kicker Ben Crock (Mount Vernon, Iowa, Mount Vernon HS) would put the game away with a pair of late field goals, hitting from 41 yards and 30 yards to give Ripon a 22-14 win. 

Ripon would start out the game with a defensive momentum setter, earning a safety halfway through the first after the Rams would fumble out of their own end zone. The Red Hawks defense would hold strong in the first, with linebacker Drew Love (Wausau, Wis., Marathon HS) breaking up a pass and shutting down a short reception to counter Cornell's deepest drive. The Rams would miss a field goal, pushing the game into the second quarter with the visitors up 2-0. 

The Red Hawks would earn their first touchdown on the first drive of the second, helped down the field by successful rushes from running backs Treston Dekker (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan South HS) and Kevin Tortolero (Phoenix, Ariz., Sierra Linda HS), with Cornell committing two penalties to further advance Ripon's chances. Tortolero would find the end zone on a 2-yard rush, giving Ripon a 9-0 lead with ten minutes to play in the half.

Cornell would answer back immediately, scoring on their next drive after a pass interference penalty would call back a Ripon interception. After trading unsuccessful drives, Ripon would score again, with quarterback Aidan Keyes (Brooklyn, Wis., Belleville HS) completing a 28 yard pass to receiver Ryan Clayborn (Evans, Ga., Greenbrier HS), who would run the ball in for a 16-7 Ripon lead. 

After a scoreless third quarter, Ripon looked poised to hold their lead, but the Rams would score on the opening drive of the fourth, bringing the game within a possession at 16-14. The Red Hawks would respond relying on the ground game, rushing on 11 consecutive plays to land in field goal range. Crock would convert the 41 yard attempt to lengthen the Ripon lead to 5, with just over three minutes to play. The Red Hawks would stop the Rams at their own 34 yard line behind tackles from lineman Desean Smith (Lake Park, Ga., Lowndes HS) and defensive back Nolan Perry (Genoa, Ill., Genoa-Kingston HS), forcing a turnover on downs in prime position. Crock would again step up and convert, hitting a 30 yard field goal to push the Ripon lead to eight. After another turnover on downs, Ripon would assume victory formation, earning the 22-14 win. 

Linebacker Deven Soerens (Cedar Grove, Wis., Cedar Grove-Belgium HS) would be Ripon's top tackle earner for the contest, while lineman Gavin Engh (DeKalb, Ill., DeKalb HS) would earn the only sack of the game, forcing the quarterback down for a loss of five yards. Dekker would lead the Red Hawks in rushing yards, earning 98 on 19 attempts.

Ripon returns to action next Saturday, Oct 18, taking on the University of Chicago on the road. U-Chicago enters the contest 4-1 this season and 4-0 in conference, coming off a 66-0 win over Lawrence.