Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College football team came oh, so close, to knocking off Ripon College Saturday afternoon at Rosenbloom Field.

However, the Red Hawks scored with 22 seconds left in regulation and added a touchdown in overtime to come away with a 33-27 victory.

The Pioneers' David Ternes '15 had a monster game defensively, coming up with 21 tackles, including 13 solos. The 21 tackles are tied for the fifth-most in a game in Pioneer history.

Ternes also recovered a fumble, as did Daniel Ryerson '15, while Max Keller '14 had an interception. Andrew Clark '14 added nine tackles, while Kevin Hwang '14 and Richard Renteria '15 had eight apiece.

Offensively, Sam Poulos '16 completed 19-of-30 passes with touchdown throws to Jacob Meixler '15 and Jake O'Polka '15. Poulos threw for 271 yards and Meixler had six grabs for 113 yards.

Ripon scored on its opening drive for a 7-0 lead at the end of the first period. The Pioneers answered the bell in the second period, when Ryerson's fumble recovery deep in Red Hawk territory set up a six-play, 24-yard scoring drive. Jacob Bernholtz '17 completed the series with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:18 to go. Graham Fisher's '16 kick made it 7-all, which it remained through halftime.

In the third period, Ternes' fumble recovery set up a four-play, 45-yard scoring drive for the Pioneers. The series, which included a 37-yard pass from Poulos to Meixler, was capped with a 12-yard scoring toss from Poulos to O'Polka. The extra point was blocked, but Grinnell led 13-7 with 8:19 to go in the period.

Neither team scored the rest of the period before Ripon opened the fourth with a touchdown, only to miss the extra point as the game was tied 13-all.

The Pioneers then engineered a 12-play, 64-yard drive that included passes of 29 yards to Aamir Walton '15 and 12 yards to Meixler. Bernholtz finished it off with a 1-yard scamper with 8:53 left. The extra point made it 20-13 in favor of the hosts.

Ripon took advantage of a Grinnell turnover to tie the game at 20-all, but then Grinnell came back with a four-play, 61-yard drive that included a 10-yard pass from Poulos to O'Polka. Two plays later, Poulos found Meixler with a 42-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Fisher made it 27-20 with just 2:51 left.

The Red Hawks then drove 70 yards in 14 plays to tie the game at 27-all and force overtime.

Grinnell had the ball first in the extra period and settled for a field goal attempt, which was no good. Ripon then took over possession and in three plays scored on a 20-yard run to secure the win.

Grinnell is now 1-4 in the MWC and 1-5 overall, while Ripon moved to 3-2 in the league and 4-2 overall.

The Pioneers are back home again next Saturday as Carroll University visits Springer Field. Game time is 1 p.m.