CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago football team remained unbeaten in Midwest Conference play with a commanding 37-12 victory over the Ripon Red Hawks on Saturday afternoon. The win moves UChicago to 5-0 in conference play, the team's best start in conference since their National Championship season in 1913.

After a defensive battle early on, Ripon was able to get on the board first with a 42-yard field goal, taking advantage of a pair of UChicago turnovers.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Maroons were pinned at their own 2-yard line, and they faced a tough task backed up in their own endzone. After a three-yard run on first down, Jack Ruff dropped back and lofted a deep ball on a go-route to his top receiver, Luke Degner. Ruff dropped the ball in the bucket and Degner raced to the endzone for a 95-yard touchdown.

After forcing a pair of three-and-outs on defense, the Maroons extended their lead with their second big play of the game as Miles Parlet exploded through a gap on the left side and outran the Ripon defense for a 42-yard touchdown run.

Ripon answered quickly with a 71-yard touchdown pass just two plays later, and the teams would head into the locker room with a 14-10 advantage.

In the second half, the Maroons continued to dominate the game and put the points on the board to back it up. On the opening drive, UChicago drove right down the field with a nine-play touchdown drive, capping it off with a 12-yard touchdown run by Jake Lowry, but the Red Hawks would block the extra point and run it back for the defensive two-point conversion to keep the lead at one possession at 20-12.

The fourth quarter saw UChicago score on the final three drives of the game with a 23-yard field goal by Walter Kilgore, a 44-yard touchdown run by Jake Lowry, and a 3-yard touchdown run by Avondre Kelley to seal the 37-12 victory.

Jack Ruff led the team with 251 passing yards, and Jake Lowry added 167 yards and two scores on the ground. Luke Degner also led the team in receiving with five catches for 145 yards and a score.

On defense, Cole Ostendorf and Trevor Dong led the way with 7 tackles. Zach Meyer added 1.5 sacks, and Maceo Marshall recorded a sack.

With the win, the Maroons improve to 5-1 on the season and 5-0 in Midwest Conference play. UChicago hits the road next weekend as the team travels to Grinnell for a 1 PM kickoff.