ROCHESTER -- Derick Heitkamp threw four touchdown passes and backup quarterback Kramer Berg added another as Rochester drubbed Ridgewater 45-18 in an MCAC Southern Division football game on Saturday.
Chris Hicks, a 6-foot-3 wideout, caught touchdown passes of 48 and 8 yards from Heitkamp on the Yellowjackets' first two drives, outleaping a defender each time.
Penalties and turnovers again hurt Ridgewater, as they have throughout the season. Ridgewater was whistled for 11 penalties, one over its season average. And the Warriors turned the ball over three times, including an interception return for a score.
Isaac Fruechte, who had three catches for 128 yards, had touchdown catches of 46 and 70 yards from Heitkamp.
Rochester built a 31-6 halftime lead.
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"We got the ball first and had an 18-play drive," Ridgewater coach Rob Baumgarn said. "But once again we had two false starts. Instead of being first-and-goal on the 10, we were backed up to the 20. It's kind of how the game went for us."
Rochester improved to 2-1 in the division and 7-1 overall. Ridgewater fell to 1-2, 2-6.
After Rochester scored on the long TD pass to Hicks, Ridgewater was forced to punt on the ensuing possession. But the snap went over the punter's head for a turnover. Heitkamp and Hicks again hooked up on the next play.
Baumgarn also pointed out the Warriors had another chance to score with four minutes left in the first half, but penalties again killed a drive. And, right before the half, Rochester picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
"Eliminate the mistakes, maybe a different sroty," Baumgarn said.
Jackson Illies threw a pair of touchdown passes for Ridgewater; 13 yards to Jake Bothun in the third quarter and five yards to Zach Wieweck in the fourth quarter.
Illies completed 13-of-32 passes for 216 yards and two interceptions. Wieweck had three receptions for 63 yards. Davontay Stevens rushed 20 times for 96 yards.
Rochester had several players injured in the game and were unable to return.
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Ridgewater wraps up the season next Saturday hosting Central Lakes at 1:30 p.m.
Rochester 45, Ridgewater 18
Ridgewater (1-2, 2-6) 0 6 6 6 -- 18
Rochester (2-1, 7-1) 14 17 7 7 -- 45
Roch - Chris Hicks 48 pass from Derick Heitkamp (kick good)
Roch - Hicks 8 pass from Heitkamp (kick good)
Roch - Isaac Fruechte 46 pass from Heitkamp (kick good)
Ridge - Keante Johnson 78 kickoff return (kick failed)
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Roch - Field goal (name and length not available)
Roch - Fruechte 70 pass from Heitkamp (kick good)
Roch - Interception return (name and length not available, kick good)
Ridge - Jake Bothun 13 pass from Jackson Illies (kick failed)
Roch - Robert Williams 1 pass from Kramer Berg (kick good)
Ridge - Zach Wieweck 5 pass from Illies (pass failed)
Ridgewater
Team statistics
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First downs: 14 ... Rushing: 28-128 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 13-32-216-2 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 11-85
Individual statistics
Rushing: Davontay Stevens 20-96, Zak Neubarth 2-9, Jackson Illies 4-15, Daryl Thomas 1-6, Justin Howell 1-2 ... Passing: Illies 13-32-216-2 ... Receiving: Jake Bothun 4-32, Johnson 4-38, Zach Wieweck 3-63, Elijah Lee 3-21, Stevens 1-3 ... Punting: Thomas 8-34.9 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: not available ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
Rochester
Team statistics
First downs: 12 ... Rushing: 24-109 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 12-30-283-0 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 12-105
Individual statistics
Rushing: Austin Moe 1-5, Derick Heitkamp 1-(1), Kramer Berg 1-1, Darius Johnson 6-40, Levaughtne Calhoun 1-(-6), Bryan Neis 3-(-4), Travis Laurent 6-44, David Schotanus 1-2, Dominique Parks 4-28 ... Passing: Heitkamp 8-19-220-0, Berg 4-11-63-1 ... Receiving: A.J. Lowe 1-17, Chris Hicks 3-71, Laurent 2-6, Isaac Fruechte 3-128, Robert Williams 3-58 ... Punting: not available ... Interceptions: n/a ... Fumble recoveries: n/a ... Tackles (solo-assist): n/a ... QB sacks: n/a
