RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College football program (2-2, 2-1 MWC) suffered their first conference defeat of the season this Saturday, Oct 4, against the Lake Forest Foresters (1-3, 1-2 MWC). Freshman receiver Ryan Clayborn (Evans, Ga., Greenbrier HS) would lead all Red Hawks in yardage, recording 60 yards on 6 receptions. 

The Red Hawks trouble would start slow. After an initial three and out from the hosts, Lake Forest mounted a grinding, ten minute long drive to earn their first touchdown of the game as the first quarter drew to a close. The second quarter started out in better position for Ripon, after linebacker Ryan Barajas (Bosque, N.M., Belen HS) forced a Lake Forest fumble, recovered by defensive back Gage Taylor (Burlington, Wis., Burlington HS) at the Forester's 46. Despite the positive positioning, the Red Hawks would turn the ball over on downs four plays later. 

Lake Forest would again mount a slowly progressing drive for their second score of the game, working their way up field with short passes and rushes to take a 14-0 lead with a minute to play in the half. Taylor would respond to the score with a 61 yard return off the Lake Forest kickoff, taken down at the Forester's 32 as the half wound down. Despite the field positioning, Ripon would find themselves stopped at the 7 yard line, going into halftime down 0-14. 

After a missed field goal in the third quarter, Ripon would give Lake Forest the ball at the Forester's 35 yard line. Lake Forest would complete a deep pass just three plays later to take a 21-0 lead over the visitors, with Ripon going three and out on the next set of downs. Lake Forest would score once more in the third before scoring twice in the fourth to end the game in a 38-0 Lake Forest win. 

Ripon football returns to action on the road next weekend, taking on Cornell College in Iowa. The Rams also enter the contest 2-2 this season with a 2-1 MWC record, coming off a 26-19 win over Beloit.