RIPON, Wis. - The gray, overcast sky forshadowed what was to come Saturday afternoon at Ingalls Field. Despite outgaining St. Norbert in total offense, 345-240, the Green Knights still managed to come away victorious, 38-28, putting them in the drivers seat for the final two weeks of the season.

Ripon (5-3, 5-2) started the game out on a bright note, looking like a team on a mission to snap St. Norbert's (8-0, 7-0) 14-game winning streak, which matches the nation's longest in Division III football. The Red Hawks moved the ball with ease during the first drive of the game, going 80 yards in 11 plays, capped off by a three-yard run by Matt Birschbach. The momentum continued to roll Ripon's way when on St. Norbert's first offensive play of the game, Chris Kellett intercepted a Cody Craig pass, as the Green Knights tried to go for the big play right off the bat.

That jubilation was quickly followed by disappointment. After a three-and-out, Ripon punter Mac Schumann mishandled the punt deep in their own territory, causing him to fall on the ball. That set up St. Norbert's first touchdown, a six-yard run by A.J. Phillips.

The two teams went back-and-forth all day. Bob Faulds put the Red Hawks up again, as he scampered 34 yards for the score, which was promptly followed by another Phillips run on St. Norbert's ensuiing possession, knotting up the score at 14 after one quarter of play.

The Red Hawks wouldn't be deterred though. Fullback Bill Olm put Ripon up once again with 6:44 to go in the half on a 14 yard run. St. Norbert hung with Ripon once again though, using an Alec Getschow one-yard plunge to tie the score once more. The Green Knights got the ball back once more after a Steve Kraft interception set them up in field goal range with about one minute remaining. Kicker Bob Forstrom booted a 41-yard kick through the goal post with 39 seconds left in the half, giving St. Norbert their first lead of the game, 24-21.

The scoring died down a little in the second half, as the field got sloppier from the rain. There wasn't anything sloppy about the first score of the half though. With 12:11 left in the third quarter, Faulds threw a jump ball for Ted Bartels, who hauled it in for the 27-yard score, putting the Red Hawks in front once more.

That would be Ripon's final lead of the game however. With about seven and a half minutes left in the third, Ripon went three-and-out and were forced to punt again. The Green Knights then showed why they are still undefeated, because of their big play ability. Schumann's punt was blocked by Zach Behnke at the 27-yard line and rolled all the way to the goal line where Behnke picked up the loose ball and dove into the end zone, putting St. Norbert up for good.

The steady light rain that was falling caused sloppy conditions, which in turn caused sloppy play by both teams. In all, there were nine turnovers, four by the Green Knights (all interceptions) and five by the Red Hawks (three interceptions and two fumbles). Ripon rushed for 250 yards on the day, but it was not enough, as
St. Norbert now needs to defeat Beloit College and Illinois College to earn their seventh conference championship in the last eight years.

Ripon will try to get back on the winning track next week against Grinnell in the Red Hawk's final home game of the season. The game can be heard live on WRPN-AM, as well as streaming live on WRPN's website, www.wrpnam.com.