RIPON, Wis. - In the 95-year history of the Midwest Conference, there has now never been a Head Football Coach with more victories than Ripon College's Ron Ernst. Coach Ernst broke the MWC record for career coaching victories with the 160th win of his 25-year career with Saturday's 27-7 win against Lake Forest College. That marks three consecutive victories to end Ripon's season, matching their longest winning streak of the season.

"The record means a lot, but more importantly it means a lot to our program," Ernst said. "I really think about all the great coaches and players that have put in the effort and done great work for us, which makes me very thankful."

Ripon (7-3) set the early tone, scoring on the game's first possession. Bradley Knoblock returned the opening kickoff 70 yards to set the Red Hawks offense up with great field position. That was followed by an 11-play, 27-yard drive, which was capped off by a one-yard scoring plunge by quarterback Grifin McNeal. The Red Hawks doubled their lead on the first play of the second quarter when Cody Chase scored from one yard out for his first career touchdown. Late in the second quarter, Ripon scored a third touchdown when McNeal threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Kuehl.

Ripon took a 27-point lead mid-way through the third quarter when Knoblock, who was serving as the holder on a field goal attempt, pulled the ball up and threw a 12-yard touchdown to Decker Thompson. Lake Forest (4-6) would get on the board with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jagan Cleary to Willie McIntyre, but it was too little, too late for the Foresters.

"Lake Forest is a good team that is very well coached and they have a lot of talent," Ernst said. "Our team was extremely fired up before the game and I felt they played well and I'm proud of how they played today."

The Red Hawks finished the game with 392 yards of total offense, including 202 passing yards, which is Ripon's highest passing total in 12 years. The also held Lake Forest to just 83 yards rushing, while the Foresters gained 315 yards of total offense. McNeal completed 7-of-15 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 31 yards on 11 carries and another score. Brent Andersonled the team in rushing with 45 yards on seven carries (6.4 ypc). Nathan Silloway recorded a team-high four receptions.

Defensively, Ripon recorded three interceptions, two by Cody Mitchell and the other by Dakotah Kirchenwitz. Brandon Latzig recorded a game-high 13 tackles, while Austin Schleisner added 12 and Brandon Bartel registered the team's only sack.

Lake Forest was led by Nikko Italia's 69 yards rushing. Cleary added 232 passing yards on 23-of-43 passing, while McIntyre recorded game-highs of eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Ernst is the only coach in the 124-year history of the Ripon College football program to win more than 100 games, and currently has 66 more victories than the second-highest total. He has compiled a winning percentage of .653 in his 245 career games, all of which have come at Ripon College. Saturday's win also gives Ripon a 7-3 record, marking the seventh time in the last 10 years that they've finished with at least seven victories. This is also the 11th time in the last 12 years that the Red Hawks have won their season finale.

"This was a fun year and I'm very proud of all of our players," Ernst said. "They've had a great work ethic all year and all that work really paid off. They were not going to be denied today."