RIPON, Wis. — The Ripon College football team pulled away over the final 20 minutes and posted a 50-20 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday at Ingalls Field.
Ripon retained possession of the Doehling-Heselton Trophy in the 111th meeting between the teams. Lawrence vs. Ripon is the oldest college football rivalry in Wisconsin.
Lawrence (1-9, 1-8 MWC) had closed to 33-20 midway through the third quarter, but Ripon (6-4, 5-4) scored the game’s final 17 points.
Michael Crusan paced Ripon’s rushing attack with six carries for 112 yards. T.J. Pierce had 15 carries for 103 yards, and quarterback Matt Miller had 14 carries for 101 yards.
Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess was 19 of 38 passing for 292 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Barthelmess finished the season with 22 touchdown passes, breaking the Lawrence record of 20 set by All-American Jim Petran in 1977.
Junior wide receiver Tyler Mazur caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Mazur finished with 16 touchdowns (11 receiving, five rushing) to tie the Lawrence season record held by All-America running backs Brad Olson and Scott Reppert.
The Ripon defense, which allowed 430 yards to the Vikings, made some key stands or the outcome could have been different. Ripon stopped the Vikings on downs at its own 32-yard line, its own 26, its own 16 and its own nine-yard line.
Ripon got on the board with an early touchdown, but Lawrence quickly countered when Barthelmess hit Mazur with a short pass that he turned into a 36-yard touchdown with some nifty running along the sideline.
The Red Hawks built the lead to 21-6, but Shawn Martin capped an 11-play, 60-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to trim the margin to 21-13 midway through the second quarter.
Ripon got two field goals, including a school-record 54-yarder, from Jacob Gahart to take a 26-13 lead at the half.
Ripon led 33-13 when Jon Bruehl hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Barthelmess midway through the third quarter to cut the lead to 33-20. Bruehl finished with six catches for 141 yards.
Ripon then scored on three of its next four possessions to seal the victory.