By Clyde Hughes
D3sports.com
Ripon coach Ron Ernst has seen this all before -- the Red Hawks off to a flying start, hopes high for a possible Midwest Conference title before those hopes are dashed by a loss to St. Norbert, Monmouth, or both.
So it's not surprising that Ernst isn't a little worked up about Ripon's 4-1 start and 3-0 record in the MWC. The question on how the season is going for the Red Hawks may be better asked after Ripon plays at Monmouth Oct. 18 and at home against perennial conference kingpin St. Norbert on Oct. 25.
"We certainly have the real meat of our schedule coming up," said Ernst, the winningest coach in Ripon history with 114 victories over 18 seasons. "We have some really good opponents yet in front of us. I guess we're playing the way I thought we would at this point. Defensively we're playing exceptional and our offense is doing what it needs to do so we're pleased with where we're at we need to keep getting better."
Ripon has gone 7-3 the past two years, great my most standards but Ernst said his teams wants to have a chance at a conference title and shot at the playoffs going into the last two weeks of the season. He said he knows that only happens if the Red Hawks can win one or both of the big games against St. Norbert and Monmouth.
"I know our kids believe that they can win every game," Ernest said. "We go into every game respecting our opponent but fearing nobody. I feel we can win every game on our schedule as well as lose it. It's not so much that we feel we need to do something special to beat anybody, but playing within ourselves, taking what the defense and offense gives us and playing up to our ability levels."
Ripon's only loss this season came in the regular season opener 14-13 at UW-Oshkosh, from the powerful Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Red Hawks have handled its MWC foes pretty decisively over the past four games.
"Defensively, we have six defensive linemen we are rotating on an equal basis so we're keeping them fresh and they are doing an outstanding job," Ernst said. "Our linebacking corps is not real big but we predicate our defense on speed and getting to the ball quickly. We have a couple of kids in our defensive backfield who are really standing out. Chris Kellet is playing extremely well as well as Josh Kraemer. They are both seniors and three-year starters and we're riding them a little bit."
Ryan Andersen, Ripon's top linebacker, leads the Red Hawks in tackles with 45. Kraemer, who also returns kickoffs and punts, leads the team in all-purpose yards and has returned one punt for a touchdown. Kellet has had two interceptions this year, returning one for 94 yards.
"Offensively, we run a true triple-read option offense, in the shades of the old Navy offense they use to run there and probably still do," Ernst said. "Our quarterback is a sophomore, Matt Miller, who is doing a very good job reading the option and getting the ball in the hands of the right people. Our offensive line is doing a good job."
Miller's 256 yards rushing is second best on the team, behind Scott Perkins 294 yards.
The question that still remains is how do you beat St. Norbert, which has dominated the MWC over roughly the past decade?
"You have to eliminate mistakes as much as possible," Ernst said. "St. Norbert has done a good job in the past of taking advantage of the mistakes people make. They're a very physical team so you gave to play physical football against them. You have to play smart and physical football."
Ernst said Ripon is right in the position it wanted to be this season. Now comes the next step to extending its season.
"We need get past 7-3," Ernst said. "Right now 4-1 and I'd like see 9-1 or 8-2 at last. That would put us in a position where we can win a championship in the last week or two and see what happens. Our kids believe we can do that and we'll just have to take it one week at a time."
