RIPON, Wis. – The Macalester College football team grinded out a Midwest Conference victory against Ripon College in a defensive battle, 16-8 Saturday afternoon at Ingalls Field. The win is the third in a row for the Scots, who are now 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Red Hawks fall to 1-4, 1-2 MWC.

After a scoreless first half that saw the teams combine for 10 punts, Macalester moved the ball 55 yards on 12 plays in its first possession of the second half, ending in a 26-yard field goal by senior Ben Haltmaier (Short Hills, N.J./Pingry School). After forcing another Ripon punt, the Scots drove 56 yards, including a 45-yard catch by senior receiver Tre Nowaczynski (Hales Corners, Wis./West Allis Central), for the game's first touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Cody Petrich (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) ran the ball in from the two yard line for a 10-0 lead.

The defense stepped up again on the Red Hawks' next possession, as junior defensive back Chance Carnahan (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) picked off Samuel Shroyer's pass at the Ripon 24. Another Haltmaier field goal made the score 13-0 Macalester.

On the Scots' first possession of the fourth quarter, the drive stalled at the Ripon 26, where Haltmaier attempted a 44-yard field goal. The kick was short, and the Red Hawks tried to return the ball from out of the end zone. Nowaczynski knocked the ball out of the returner's hands, and first year long snapper Billy Retza (Crivitz, Wis./Crivitz) pounced on the ball at the Ripon seven yard line. The Scots were unable to get in the end zone, however, settling for Haltmaier's third field goal of the day to lead, 16-0.

With 3:16 remaining, Ripon began its only scoring drive of the game, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Griffin McNeal to Cameron Mignone with 2:30 on the clock. After a failed on-side kick attempt by the Red Hawks gave Macalester the ball at its own 43 yard line, the Scots ran out the clock with Ripon out of timeouts.

Macalester, which entered today's game averaging 29.0 points and 460 yards of total offense per game, gained 275 yards of offense against Ripon. Petrich was 11-of-29 for 145 yards and one interception while being sacked three times. He also ran for 42 yards on 12 carries. Sophomore running back Jeremy Stephan (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) gained 62 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore receiver Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka) and senior receiver Garrett Eichhorn (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) each caught three passes.

With the offense struggling, it was the defense's turn to take over the game, forcing eight punts, two fumbles and two interceptions. Junior defensive back Jack Schultenover (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) also had an interception in the fourth quarter. Junior defensive lineman Liam Peebles (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) had three of Macalester's six sacks. Senior defensive lineman Nick Egersdorf (Rochester, Minn./Mayo) had two sacks for the second week in a row, giving him eight on the season. First year defensive back Kiante Miles (Yukon, Okla./Mustang) led the Scots with seven tackles.

Macalester returns home to host Lawrence on Saturday, Oct. 8 in another Midwest Conference game. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.