Box Score
Michael Bates and
Cecil Brimmage turned in strong performances and the Illinois College football team fended off a late comeback bid by Ripon College on Saturday, but the Blueboys prevailed with a 44-28 win in Ripon, Wisconsin.
Bates threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while Brimmage ran for 179 yards and two scores. The Blueboys built a 21-point lead just before halftime, but Ripon closed to within three points at the start of the fourth quarter. Illinois College answered with a pair of quick touchdowns, however, to salt away the win.
"It was an extremely physical game, just as we anticipated. It was their homecoming and they were clearly fired up," Illinois College head football coach
Garrett Campbell said. "Our defense stepped up and created havoc at some critical times. Cecil ran extremely hard and our offensive line played with a lot of aggression."
The Blueboys racked up 407 yards of total offense, with Brimmage leading the way. The senior running back averaged 8.1 yards per carry on 22 totes. Bates threw for 174 yards and ran for another 48.
Ripon got on the scoreboard first Saturday, as Stephen Covalt scored on a 56-yard run on the Red Hawks' first offensive possession. A 34-yard field goal from
Matt Newman cut into Ripon's lead, and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Bates to
Kevin Fuller late in the first quarter gave the Blueboys a 10-7 lead.
Ripon knotted things up with a field goal early in the second quarter, but Bates and Brimmage scored rushing touchdowns, and Bates hooked up with
Bryce Heaton on a 34-yard touchdown pass to put the Blueboys ahead at 31-10.
Ripon came roaring back, though, as Covalt scored on three 1-yard touchdown plunges - the final one with 14:07 to play - to bring the hosts within three points of the Blueboys.
Zack Hanlon recovered a fumble and returned it 15 yards for a score less than a minute later and Brimmage gave the Blueboys some extra insurance with a 28-yard touchdown run moments later to conclude the scoring.
Andy Mills led the Blueboys with 12 tackles.
Kurt Frischman made five tackles, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Hanlon and
Dinari Ellis recovered fumbles and
Adam Hickson blocked a kick.
The Blueboys improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Midwest Conference play with the win. They travel to Appleton, Wisconsin, next Saturday for an MWC tilt with Lawrence University.
