College Football: Ridgewater upended by Central Lakes in regular-season finale

BRAINERD - Central Lakes scored the game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds left in the game, sending Ridgewater College to a 28-21 defeat in both teams’ final MCAC regular-season game.

The Raiders drove 93 yards in the final three minutes for the winning score.

Ridgewater finished 5-3 overall and plays 7-1 Rochester in the first round of the MCAC Southern Division playoffs Saturday in Rochester.

Central Lakes (7-1) plays host to 6-2 Minnesota West on Saturday in the other Southern Division playoff game.

“Another tough loss for us,” said Warriors head coach Rob Baumgarn, noting that Central Lakes scored two TDs in the final seven minutes after Ridgewater had taken a 21-14 lead.

“Our players played hard, no doubt about that,” Baumgard said. “But in order to become one of the dominate teams in the league, we need to make plays when they are there for us.”

Martell Baker and Roosevelt Austin both ran for touchdowns and Warriors defensive back Keller Anderson returned a second-quarter interception 90 yards for a score.

But the Warriors turned the ball over six times - five on fumbles - and they drew nine penalty flags for 63 lost yards.

“Penalties  and turnovers killed us again,” Baumgarn said. “We had too many bone-headed flags that ruin opportunities for us again.”

Baker ran for 132 yards on 25 carries and Roosevelt picked up 87 yards on 11 carries.

But the Warriors managed just 30 passing, and also failed to take full advantage of five fumble recoveries and three interceptions by the Ridgewater defense.

Central Lakes 28, Ridgewater 21

Ridgewater (1-3, 5-3)     0 14 0 7 - 21

Central Lakes (3-1, 7-1)  0 7 7 14 - 28

C – Andrew Johnson 1 run (Jack Corbett kick)

R – Martell Baker 49 run (Michells Algarate kick)

R – Keller Anderson 90 interception return (Algarate kick)

C – Taz Seibert 2 run (Corbett kick)

R – Roosevelt Austin 1 run (Algarate kick)

C – Andrew Johnson 4 pass from Brandon Kiel (Corbett kick)

C – Johnson 3 run (Corbett kick)

Ridgewater

First downs: 15 … Rushing: 45-226 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 4-13-30-1 … Fumbles lost: 5 … Penalties: 9-63

Rushing: Martell Baker 25-132, Roosevelt Austin 11-87, Beau Stough 4-15, Adihia Bell 1-0, Tony Ayala 4-(-8)  … Passing: Ayala 4-13-30-1 ... Receiving: Jorge Cabrera 2-17, Kelvin Jones 1-13, Kevin Parks 1-0 … Punting: Jacobi Scruggs 3-40.0, Jones 1-59.0 … Interceptions: Keller Anderson 1

Central Lakes

First downs: 19 … Rushing: 33-84 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 18-34-225-3 … Fumbles lost: 5 … Penalties: 3-31

Rushing: Taz Seibert 8-38, Andrew Johnson 15-33, Athen Ashton 4-4, Erik McAfee 3-4, Blake Petrich 1-3, Brandon Kiel 1-2 … Passing: Johnson 16-32-226-3, Kiel 2-2-29-0 ... Receiving: Kiel 6-112, Sam Moriarty 4-60, Seibert 2-22, Steve Wroblewski 2-21, Richard Seado 1-25, Petrich 1-13, Johnson 1-4, Ashton 1-(-2) … Punting: Seibert 3-36.3 … Interceptions: Dominic Hayle 1