The Ripon College football team used its impressive ground game to post a 63-7 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday at the Banta Bowl.
In the 110th meeting between the teams, Ripon had 390 rushing yards and retained possession of the Doehling Heselton Memorial Trophy. Ripon (7-3, 6-3 MWC) has now won the last 11 meetings in the state’s oldest college football rivalry.
T.J. Pierce paced Ripon’s ground game by running 20 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jake Marshall had six carries for 100 yards and two scores. He also completed 8 of 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence (2-8, 2-7) was limited to only 166 yards of offense and got its only score in the final minute of the game. The Vikings were hurt by four turnovers on the day.
Ripon led 21-0 after the first quarter. The Red Hawks got a big early punt return to take over at the Lawrence 16 and scored three plays later on Pierce’s 7-yard run.
An interception allowed Ripon to start its next drive at the Lawrence 18. Marshall connected with Ben Garland on the next play to go up 14-0. Ripon then put together an eight-play, 89-yard drive, capped by Garland’s 16-yard touchdown catch.
In the second quarter, Ripon got touchdown runs of 54 and 27 yards from Marshall, who threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Craig Bednarek to build a 42-0 lead at the half.
Ripon put three touchdowns on the board in the second half, including one by kicker Jacob Garhart when the Red Hawks faked a field goal to go up 49-0.
Lawrence’s lone score came Jeremiah Johnson capped 10-play, 90-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown catch from Tyler Mazur. Johnson finished his Lawrence career five catches for 94 yards.