WILLMAR -- Ridgewater fell into a hole quickly and was unable to recover, falling to Fond du Lac 32-24 in junior college football game Saturday at Hodapp Field.
Fond du Lac (4-3) took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Shawn Meyer and a 60-yard scoring strike from Mike Davis to Michael Daren.
Davis finished with three touchdown passes while completing 11-of-20 throws for 225 yards and no interceptions.
Every time Ridgewater cut into the deficit, Fond du Lac would answer back.
The Warriors were hurt again by turnovers and penalties, throwing four interceptions and registering 10 penalties for 85 yards.
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"We are there with every team in this conference," said Ridgewater coach Rob Baumgarn. "But one or two things seem to always happen. One, we shoot outselves in the foot too many times with penalties or missed assignments. Second, we don't finish the play or we don't make the play when we need to."
Justin Howell's four-yard touchdown run to start the second quarter brought the Warriors (2-5) within 10-7. But Fond du Lac put another touchdown on the board on a 49-yard hookup from Davis to Ronrico Ragsdale for a 16-7 advantage.
Again, the Warriors whittled the visitors' lead, this time when Zak Neubarth hauled in a five-yard TD pass from Jackson Illies. Fond du Lac scored twice more to make it 32-12.
Ridgewater scored on a 26-yard pass from Illies to Elijah Lee in the third quarter and capped the scoring on Elijah Swen's 63-yard punt return in the final stanza.
Howell had 91 yards rushing in 14 carries for the Warriors. Illies completed 16-of-37 passes for 216 yards, but was intercepted four times. Keante Johnson had six receptions for 115 yards.
"Losing is tough," said Baumgarn. "But we need to stay together as a team and finish this out strong. Good things will happen if we do."
Ridgewater next plays at Rochester Saturday in a 5 p.m. start.
Fond du Lac 32, Ridgewater 24
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Fond du Lac (4-3) 10 15 7 0 -- 32
Ridgewater (2-5) 0 12 6 6 -- 24
Fond - Shawn Meyer 28 field goal
Fond - Michael Darden 60 pass from Mike Davis (kick good)
Ridge - Justin Howell 4 run (Elijah Swen kick)
Fond - Ronrico Ragsdale 49 pass from Davis (kick failed)
Ridge - Zak Neubarth 5 pass from Jackson Illies (kick failed)
Fond - Karus Cornett 5 run (run good)
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Fond - Darden 13 pass from Davis (kick good)
Ridge - Lee 26 pass from Illies (pass failed)
Ridge - Swen 63 punt return (pass failed)
Fond du Lac
Team statistics
First downs: 12 ... Rushing: 44-124 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 11-20-225-0 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 10-85
Individual statistics
Rushing: Karus Cornett 27-88, Mike Davis 7-11, Daniel Mason 5-14, John Green 2-6, Earnesto Ramos 3-5 ... Passing: Davis 11-20-225-0 ... Receiving: Ronrico Ragsdale 4-100, Michael Darden 3-90, Tim Myles 2-15, Mason 1-17, Cornett 1-3 ... Punting: not available ... Interceptions: n/a ... Fumble recoveries: none ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
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Ridgewater
Team statistics
First downs: 18 ... Rushing: 35-162 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 16-37-216-4 ... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 12-85
Individual statistics
Rushing: Isiah Athey 1-1, Zak Neubarth 3-8, Jackson Illies 4-14, Cameron Halvorson 11-32, Daryl Thomas 1-12, Justin Howell 14-91, Andy Rauen 1-5 ... Passing: Illies 16-37-216-4 ... Receiving: Jake Bothun 1-15, Keante Johnson 6-115, Zach Wieweck 1-9, Neubarth 1-5, Elijah Lee 6-72 ... Punting: Rausen 2-42.0 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: not available ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
