Green Knights Ground Red Hawks In Shutout Win

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, October 7, 2017 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

RIPON -- St. Norbert College turned in a stellear defensive performance as the Green Knights foiled Ripon College's Homecoming with a 17-0 Midwest Conference North Division win at Ingalls Field.

The Green Knights (3-2, 1-0 MWC North) held the Red Hawks to 125 yards of total offense and eight first downs to post the shutout and win for the 18th time in the last 19 meetings. Ripon's deepest penetration into St. Norbert territory was the 33-yard line in the third quarter.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Spenser Thompson-Meyers gave St. Norbert a 3-0 lead when he converted a 27-yard field goal with 13:41 left in the second period. Neither team would get a first down the rest of the quarter until St. Norbert converted three late in the period, but lead would remain 3-0 at halftime.

On St. Norbert's second series of the third quarter, a scrambling Jack Becker hit Matt Galanopoulos cutting across the field, which turned up the sideline into a 32-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead with 10:22 left in the quarter.

Ripon would get its best field position two series later, but stalled at the St. Norbert 35.

The Green Knights salted the game away with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that melted 6:29 off the clock midway through the fourth quarter. Aided by a personal foul on what would have been a three-and-out, St. Norbert converted three first downs on a series climaxing on a 3-yard touchdown from Becker to Samuel Staehling.

St. Norbert outgained Ripon 228-125 and had 14 first downs to the Red Hawks' eight. Becker completed 16 of 29 passes for 155 yards. Staehling caught six passes for 39 yards, while Galanopoulos caught four for 60 yards.

Ripon, which punted on 11 of its 13 possession, got 38 yards rushing on two carries by Brent Anderson. Julian Patton completed 5 of 16 passes for 38 yards.