RIPON, Wis. - Following its 34-6 win over Lawrence University, the Regents' football team hit the road on Saturday to square off against its second Midwest Conference opponent in as many weeks. Rockford looked to improve to 2-0 this year with a win in its first ever meeting against the Ripon College Red Hawks.
The Rockford offense wasted little time going after the Ripon defense as quarterback Andrew Stochl (Fox Lake, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) completed a 52-yard pass to wide receiver Milton Phillips Jr. (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) on the very first play of the game. Two plays later, Pete Berry (Ocala, Fla./Vanguard) punched the ball into the end zone from 1-yard out giving Rockford a quick 7-0 lead.
The Rockford defense would not be outdone as they created turnovers on Ripon's first two offensive positions. With the Red Hawks threatening in the red zone on their opening drive, senior defensive back Jacob Gorsuch (Rockford, Ill./Jefferson) intercepted a Steven Covalt pass in the end zone to turn away the Red Hawks. Following a Rockford punt, the Regents' defense was back at it again generating its second turnover in as many drives. This time it was junior defensive back Reginald Haynes (Chicago, Ill./Prosser Career Academy) who picked off Covalt for his second interception of the season.
After both teams turned the ball over on downs, Ripon finally found the end zone late in the second quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run to pull with a point at 7-6.
With just over four minutes remaining in the first half, the Rockford offense went back to work looking to extend its lead. Following a pair of 15-yard penalties, which helped push the ball deep into Ripon territory, running back Kendrick Cooley (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) took control of the drive. Cooley carried the ball twice in the red zone accounting for 19 yards including a 9-yard touchdown scamper to give Rockford its largest lead of the day at 14-6. However, Ripon answered back in the final 90 seconds with a touchdown of its own as the game entered the half all knotted up at 14-14.
The Red Hawks controlled most of the second half as the Rockford offense could not seem to get on track. Ripon opened the half with a 9-play, 49-yard drive which was capped off with a 21-yard field goal giving the Red Hawks their first lead of the day at 17-14. The two schools then traded possessions over the next quarter until Ripon took advantage of Rockford turnover deep in its own territory. Three plays later, the Red Hawks scored the only touchdown of the second half on 1-yard run to increase their lead to 24-14 with just 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately the Rockford offense was unable to find any rhythm on its final three possessions as the Regents fell by a final score of 24-14.
Defensively Rockford played very well forcing three turnovers and stopping the Red Hawks on downs three additional times. Senior Jacob Gorsuch was involved in two of the three turnovers along with recording 6 tackles. Gorsuch intercepted a pass early in the first quarter and forced a fumble which was recovered by freshman Kalab Polky (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Christian) late in the third quarter. Reginald Haynes also recorded 6 tackles for Rockford along with grabbing the Regents' other interception. Linebackers Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) and Kendell Lee (Poplarville, Miss./Poplarville) led the Regents in tackles with 12 each.
The football team returns to the field on Saturday, September 20th for its homecoming game against Trine University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Sam Greeley Field.
