ELY -- Ridgewater College didn't punch in for work until the second half and paid for it on Saturday against Vermilion.
The Ironmen (2-1) scored both their touchdowns in the first quarter and held on to edge the Warriors (1-2) in MCAC football 14-12.
It was the team's second loss in a row. The Warriors are back home Saturday to host Northland College in another cross-division contest.
"This one is hard to explain," commented Ridgewater head coach Rob Baumgarn. "It was a tale of two halves. We came out flat, and passive the first half, but after halftime the guys figured it out. ... They were more aggressive and worked hard (and) gave me 100 percent."
Quarterback Jackson Illies burrowed his way to the end zone from one yard out in the third quarter to cut the Vermilion lead to 14-6. It was the offense's first TD this season.
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Patrick Cincinatus broke a 65-yard punt return for a second score that made it 14-12.
But the two-point conversion attempt was stopped.
The Ironmen got 241 of their 254 yards through the air. Quarterback Logan McAllister had scoring throws of 15 and 12 yards in the first quarter.
The Warriors' struggles to mount a rushing game continued. Cincinatus rushed for 26 yards and Antione Smoot got 21 more.
Illies connected on 16 of 34 attempts for 193 yards and was intercepted three times.
Shane Black snagged seven passes for 112 yards.
Vermilion 14, Ridge 12
Ridgewater 0 0 6 6 -- 12
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Vermilion 14 0 0 0 -- 14
Ver - Kentral Hollingsworth 15 pass from Logan McAllister (kick good)
Ver - Tim Paulk 12 pass from McAllister (kick good)
Rgw - Jackson Illies 1 run (kick fail)
Rgw - Patrick Cincinatus 65 punt return (two-point conversion fail)
Ridgewater
Team statistics
First downs: 11 ... Rushing: 55 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 16-34-193-3 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 7-55
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Individual statistics
Rushing: Patrick Cincinatus 11-26, Antione Smoot 7-21, Jackson Illies 8-(-18), Donovan James 5-9, Ruan Maxwell 3-12, Mitch Neubauer 1-5 ... Passing: Illies 16-34-193-3 ... Receiving: Shane Black 7-112, Pat White 1-10, Justin Brown 3-27, James Lucas 1-17, Cincinnatus 1-11, William Ford 3-16 ... Punting: Justin Wennerberg 31.6 ... Interceptions: not available ... Fumble recoveries: none ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: not available
Vermilion
Team statistics
First downs: 14 ... Rushing: 13 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 241 ... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 13-85
Individual statistics
No statistics available
