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OSHKOSH, Wis. - The Red Hawks came as close as a team can come to winning, without getting a 'W' on Saturday afternoon against the heavily-favored UW-Oshkosh Titans. Ripon dominated the game in nearly every offensive category, with the exception of the final score, losing 14-13, in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute of play, when Ripon could not convert on a two-point conversion that would have given them the lead.
The Red Hawks ran all over the UW-Oshkosh defense, racking up 287 rushing yards on the day, including 161 from quarterback Tygh Walters. Ripon also out-gained the Titans in total yards, 331-248. The one stat that Ripon did not lead in was turnovers. The Red Hawks turned the ball over four times, including a fourth quarter interception in the red zone, while the Titans didn't commit a single turnover.
After a scoreless first quarter, UW-Oshkosh got on the board in the opening minute of the second period. They took a 7-0 lead on five-yard run by quarterback Craig McClelland. Ripon's next two possessions ended in turnovers, but as was the case for most of the day, the Red Hawk defense was able to keep them in the game by stopping the Titan offense. Ripon's first trip inside the twenty-yard line came later in the quarter, but resulted in a failed fourth-down conversion, ending the drive eight yards away from a touchdown. Ripon stopped the Titan's offense one final time before the half, and they headed to the locker room trailing by a touchdown.
Ripon still trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter, with a feeling that they had UW-O just where they wanted them. The quarter didn't start out as they had hoped however, as Walters was intercepted on the 10-yard line to end Ripon's first drive of the final period. After a three-and-out by the Titan offense, Walters got a chance to redeem himself, and he did just that. He led the Red Hawks on an eight-play, 48 yard drive, which culminated in a 12-yard run by Walters. The extra point tied things up, making it a brand new ball game.
UW-O finally generated some offense on the ensuing drive. A 13-yard run by Justin Budiac gave the Titans a first-and-goal at the eight yard line with under three minutes to play, but once again, the Ripon defense was defiant, stopping the Titans from scoring on the first three plays inside the ten. On fourth down and UW-O on the one-yard line, they looked to Joey Fisher, who punched it in for a 14-7 lead with 2:05 to play.
With the heart and determination that Ripon displayed on Saturday, the Red Hawks felt like the game wasn't even close to over. Walters showed that was the correct assessment, connecting on a 25-yard pass to Josh Pasek, who scampered to the Titan's 17 yard line. Five plays later, Ripon found themselves on the one-yard line with 47 seconds left in regulation, when they gave it to Scott Perkins, who pounded the ball into the end zone to bring the Red Hawks within one. The Ripon coaching staff then took a 'no guts, no glory' approach, as they sent their offense back on the field for a two-point conversion and the win. It wasn't meant to be however, as Walters was stopped short of the goal line with 44 seconds left on the clock. The ensuing onsides kick was recovered by the Titans, who took a knee to wrap up the victory.
In addition to Walters' 166 yards on the ground, Andrew Fink carried the ball nine times for 69 yards, while Perkins rushed for 43 yards. Vince Spratte led the Ripon defense with nine tackles and one pass breakup, while Jeff Trinka recorded six and a half tackles. Chris Kellett chipped in with five and a half tackles, including one for a loss.
The Red Hawks will look for their first win of the season next Saturday, when they'll host Lake Forest College in their 2008 home opener, in which they will play their first-ever game on Ingalls Field's brand new FieldTurf. That game will begin at 1:00 p.m. and can be seen live via pay-per-view webcast on www.midwestconference.tv.
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