BRAINERD -- Ridgewater conquered Central Lakes College statistically, but the Raiders prevailed on the scoreboard 24-13 in the MCCC Southern Division opener Saturday.
The Warriors (1-5) finished with an edge in overall yardage (287-262) and turnovers (4-2). Penalty yardage and first downs (11 apiece) were the same.
The difference was the passing of Raiders' quarterback Eli Cisneros, a 5-10, 170-pound Texan. He completed 9-of-15 passes for 127 yards and three scores, including a pair to Nate Schoenecker, a freshman from Eden Valley-Watkins.
The Warriors led 6-0 at half on a Desmond Moody pass to Jason Pawelk covering 32 yards, before the division leaders posted 17 points in the third quarter. Moody then ran in from the four making it 17-13. Schoenecker's second TD reception covering 18 yards iced the victory.
Warriors' running back Justin Laughlin managed 65 yards in 23 attempts. Tackle Ben Thonvold made 10 stops to lead the defense.
ADVERTISEMENT
Central Lakes College 24, Ridgewater College 13
Ridgewater (0-1, 1-5) 0 6 0 7 -- 13
Central Lakes (1-0, 5-1) 0 0 17 7 -- 24
Rgw - Jason Pawelk 32 pass from Desmond Moody (2-point conversion failed)
CL - Pat Haider 12 pass from Eli Cisneros (Beau Pilgrim kick)
CL - Pilgrim 20 field goal
CL - Nate Schoenecker 24 pass from Cisneros (Pilgrim kick)
Rgw - Moody 4 run (Lance Bussler kick)
ADVERTISEMENT
CL - Schoenecker 18 pass from Cisneros (Pilgrim kick)
Ridgewater College
Team statistics
First downs: 11 ... Rushing: 42-144 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 7-19-143-1 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 3-25
Individual statistics
Rushing: Eric Jackson 3-10, Lance Bussler 3-8, Justin Laughlin 23-65, Desmond Moody 9-45, Zack Seibert 4-16 .... Passing: Bussler 1-7-0-0, Moody 5-11-92-1, Laughlin 1-1-51-0 .... Receiving: Jason Pawelk 1-32, Seibert 1-7, Dan Drexler 4-104, Laughlin 1-0 .... Punting: Drexler 2-27.0 .... Interceptions: none .... Fumble recoveries: Tyler Hoelscher, Ben Thonvold, Ted Giese 2 .... Tackles (solo-assist): Hoelscher 1-1, Joey Lux 4-1, Lee Fast 1-0, Ryan Ronan 1-4, Josh Wentzel 3-3, Bryan Beld 2-0, Blake Hagert 3-4, Ben Thonvold 5-5, Ross Brandt 0-4, Ted Geise 1-3, Bussler 1-0, Derek Baird 0-1, Moody 1-0 ... QB sacks: none
Central Lakes College
Team statistics
ADVERTISEMENT
First downs: 11 ... Rushing: 31-135 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 9-15-127-0 ... Fumbles lost: 4 ... Penalties: 5-25
Individual statistics
Rushing: Reggie Ross 16-97, Steffan Stiklestad 3-3, Pat Haider 4-23, Eli Cisneros 4-(-2), John Fluellen 2-6, Franciso Perez 1-4, Cal Switzer 1-4 .... Passing: Cisneros 9-15--127-0 .... Receiving: Ross 1-(-6), Anthony Johnson 2-48, Shawn Sobania 1-9, Pat Haider 2-22, Nathan Schoenecker 3-54 .... Punting: Haider 4-22.0 .... Interceptions: Ledarius Murphy .... Fumble recoveries: Terry Furbur .... Tackles (solo-assist): Donavan Bates 5-4, Beau Pilgrim 3-4, Murphy 3-3.
