Ripon, WI - The Prairie Fire led for a time in the first half, but the second half belonged to Ripon College in a 42-17 Midwest Conference win by the Red Hawks on Saturday.

Knox (0-5, 0-4 MWC), after trailing 14-3 with 4:31 to play in the first half, scored two touchdowns less than one minute apart in the second quarter for a 17-14 lead with 1:19 before halftime.

First-year quarterback Luke Oosterbaan (Palos Heights, IL, Marist) connected with first-year wide receiver Ilir Emini (Yorkville, IL, Yorkville) on a 42-yard score at the 2:15 mark of the second quarter.  The Prairie Fire quickly got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff and took advantage when junior Derek Mortensen (Crystal Lake, IL, Crystal Lake South) scored on a 4-yard run with 1:19 left in the opening half.

The Knox lead, however, was short-lived as Ripon (1-4, 1-3 MWC) responded just before intermission.  The Red Hawks marched 70 yards in 10 plays in just 1:06, capped by a 3-yard touchdown run by Connor Greenwald with five seconds remaining in the second quarter, to take a 21-17 lead into the half.

The Prairie Fire, who also got a 26-yard field goal from junior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) five minutes into the second quarter, did not score again.  Ripon, including the touchdown just before the break, scored 28 unanswered points to win for the first time this season.

The Red Hawks scored 14 second half points off of Knox turnovers – both of them interceptions. 

Ripon picked off Oosterbaan in the third quarter and turned the miscue into a 1-yard touchdown run by Max Hermann at the 5:13 mark.  The second interception with 7:32 to play in the game resulted in an 11-play, 62-yard drive that chewed up more than 6:30 and ended on Red Hawk quarterback Tom Sawyer’s 15-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left in the contest.

Sawyer also scored on a 1-yard run with 8:28 to play in the game that gave the hosts a 35-17 lead.

Herman had two other rushing touchdowns for Ripon.  He opened the game’s scoring with a 2-yard run at 14:53 in the second quarter to put the Red Hawks on top 7-0.  He also scored Ripon’s second touchdown 4:31 before halftime on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.

The Red Hawks rushed 82 times for 436 yards and tallied 520 total yards of offense.  The three players that scored for Ripon each ran for at least 100 yards: Sawyer (162), Greenwald (106), and Hermann (100).  Sawyer also completed 6-of-10 passes for 84 yards.

The Red Hawks had 32 first downs and converted 12-of-17 third down attempts.  The Prairie Fire defense was on the field for nearly 45:00 of the game.

Knox threw for 183 yards and ran for 94.  Oosterbaan completed 9-of-18 passes for 183 yards and rushed for 13.  Mortensen led the ground game with 16 carries and 77 yards.  Junior Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) led the receivers with four catches for 66 yards.  Emini had three receptions for 67 yards and junior tight end Neal Moon (Kahoka, MO, Clark County R-1) caught a pair of passes for 50 yards.

The Prairie Fire defense had five players record double-figure tackles.

Senior linebacker Mike Hendrick (Smithton, IL, Freeburg) led the way with 19.  Junior linebacker Matt Hendrick (Smithton, IL, Freeburg) made 15 stops, senior defensive lineman Patrick McGinty (Bridgeton, MO, Pattonville) had 12, senior defensive back Mike Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South) also had 12, and senior linebacker Will Grumke (Kirkwood, MO, Kirkwood) added 11.

Knox also got a strong effort from senior defensive lineman Lloyd Scott (Chicago, IL, Mount Carmel).  He had seven tackles, including one for a loss, as well as a forced fumble and a sack.

Besides leading the defense, Mike Hendrick’s three punts averaged 43.3 yards.

The Prairie Fire returns home to face Beloit College (0-5, 0-4 MWC) on October 6 at 1:00 p.m.  The game is designated as a “Paint the Bowl Purple” and “Play for the Cure” event.  A canned food drive will also be held to benefit the FISH Food Pantry of Galesburg and the Center for Community Service.

The first 500 students entering the Knosher Bowl prior to the game with Beloit receive a free “Paint the Bowl Purple” t-shirt.  All proceeds raised as part of “Play for the Cure” will go to the American Cancer Society.

Cornell College defeated the Buccaneers 48-8 on Saturday at Beloit.  The Rams held Beloit, who turned the ball over four times, to nine first downs and 204 total yards of offense.

The game will be streamed live at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/knox.portal#

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