The Lawrence University football team battled hard in their last conference game of the year against Ripon College. Ripon held strong and picked up the victory in the oldest college football rivalry in Wisconsin.
The Red Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives. The first touchdown came after a 61-yard screen pass to Ben Garland from Matthew Miller just two minutes into the game. Their next came right afterward on Josh Pasek’s 20-yard run to make the score 14-0. The touchdown run capped a six-play 65-yard drive.
The Red Hawks (8-2, 8-1 MWC) scored early in the second quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Jon Larsen. Larsen finished the game with 85-yards on 20 carries. The score remained 21-0 until just before halftime when Miller found Ted Bartels in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-0.
Ripon continued their scoring in the second half, taking advantage of Josh Kraemer’s interception. Ripon scored on a 7-yard touchdown run four plays later by Andrew Fink. The touchdown made the score 35-0.
Lawrence (0-9, 0-9) cut into the lead on a long pass play from freshman backup quarterback Max Granaroli to senior Derek Micke. Micke caught the short pass and ran the rest of the 45 yards down the sideline. Micke also led the team with six catches for 126 yards.
The Red Hawks answered after getting good field position off of the ensuing kickoff. Ripon took over on the Lawrence 28-yard line and scored in three plays. Miller ran in the touchdown from the 1-yard line, making the score 42-7.
Lawrence scored the final points of the game after freshman Zach Hintz gave the Vikings great field position on the Ripon 22-yard line after a 64-yard punt return. Senior Craig Ebert scored on a 2-yard touchdown run after rushing 13 yards on the previous play. Ebert had game highs of 23 carries for 116 yards.
Ebert continues to move up in the Lawrence record books, now in fourth place on Lawrence’s career rushing list with 2,354 yards. Ebert passed Greg Curtis of the class of 1986 to move up in the rankings.
The Vikings conclude their season at the Banta Bowl Saturday, Nov. 14 in a nonconference game against Minnesota-Morris.