RIPON, Wis. – The University of Chicago football team mounted a second-half comeback on the road at Ripon College on Saturday, but a late field goal by the hosts handed the Maroons a 19-16 loss.

The setback brings UChicago's record to 5-2, and its record against Midwest Conference opponents to 4-2. The Red Hawks are undefeated at 7-0 overall and 6-0 in MWC play, putting them atop the league alongside Monmouth College.

The first half proved fruitless for the visiting Maroons. On its first drive, UChicago's punt attempt went awry, as the fumble was recovered in the end zone for a two-point safety. Both offenses were held in check for much of the first quarter, and both teams' field goal units failed to cash in on promising drives. UChicago's attempt was preceded by senior safety Braedon Junker's forced fumble on the scrambling Ripon quarterback that was recovered by fellow senior defensive lineman Banks Platford near midfield. In the second quarter, Ripon found its rhythm in the run game and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to go ahead 16-0.

The second half, however, saw UChicago answer. The defense dug back in, and after trading punts, the offense turned in their first scoring drive. Facing fourth-and-goal to close out the third quarter, senior quarterback Wesley Gow found first-year wideout Luke Degner in the back corner of the end zone with a throw that demanded accuracy and a catch that required tremendous coordination to stay in bounds. To secure the two-point conversion, the Maroons turned to a gadget play: senior wide receiver Michael Janis took a hand-off on an end-around, recovered his own fumble, then completed a pass to sophomore wideout Diego Solis.

Then later in the fourth quarter, Gow connected with senior running back Nicholas D'Ambrose in the flat on third-and-long. D'Ambrose took it to the house from 20 yards out, breaking numerous tackles on the left sideline. A Gow scramble picked up the tying two-point conversion to make it 16-16.

However, the Red Hawks could not be contained for the whole half. A 65-yard drive in the final minutes ended with a go-ahead 20-yard field goal with less than a minute left in the game. The hosts then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and recovered it to secure the result.

The Maroon offense totaled 175 rushing yards and 139 passing yards. The Red Hawks were kept just below the 100-yard passing mark but countered with 231 rushing yards. However, UChicago's defense was stout on third downs, letting Ripon convert only twice out of 11 attempts. Platford's sack and fumble recovery were part of his five-tackle afternoon. Junker led the way with eight tackles and junior linebacker William Skowronski tallied seven tackles of his own.

D'Ambrose paced the rushing attack with 144 yards on 25 carries, while adding three catches for 34 yards. Gow completed 14 of 25 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Gabe Solis (55 yards) and Degner (47 yards) accounted for 11 total receptions.

NEXT GAME:

• Saturday, Oct. 29 @ 1:00 PM – Grinnell College at UChicago