RIPON — The goal for the Ripon Christian Knights is to capture the Southern League title.
Randy Fasani said just that after his team took care of visiting Denair on Friday, 28-7.
"We still have to eliminate our mistake," said the Knights coach. "We were beating ourselves (against the Coyote)."
Ripon Christian (2-0 SL, 4-1 overall) missed out on an earlier score against the defending Division 7 state champs — Nolan Lingley's 11-yard scoring toss on the game's initial drive was erased by a holding call.
Mistakes also hampered Denair (1-1, 3-2).
The Coyotes strung together a first-half drive to the RC 15 only to cough the ball away. Jaden Booth emerged from the pile with the recovered fumble.
It wasn't until the second quarter that the Knights broke through with the game's first score. A pair of end-around runs by Ian Vrieling coupled with a 15-yard personal foul penalty and Jake Grondz's 10-yard gain to the Coyotes 1 helped set up Lingley's touchdown at the 2:48 mark.
"We came out of the second half looking to bring to them," said RC running back Sean McGovern, who had a strong overall game.
Will Gilbert recovered a fumble — one of four turnovers by Denair.
Moments later, RC employed a little razzle dazzle when senior tight end Jacob Van Groningen, who is also the back-up quarterback, took a lateral pass from Lingley, in turn, completing a 35-yard pass to Vrieling.
McGovern, who picked up another 12 yards, scored a 4-yard run late in the third quarter. Caleb Terpsma's extra point kick made it 14-0.
Early in the fourth, the Knights added to their lead when McGovern took a short toss from Lingley -- he completed 13 of 20 passes for 172 with an interception -- converting it to a 20-yard score.
Down 21-0, Denair finally answered back with a touchdown by Dylan De Silva.
McGovern amply predicted that the Coyotes would eventual wear down.
He proved just that with his 52-yard scoring run to put the game on ice.
McGovern finished with 160 yards rushing on 15 carries, catching five passes for 57 yards and finding the end zone three times.
"Great shout out to our line," he said, welcoming newcomer Seth Gallo, a transfer from Modesto Christian, and Todd Beatty.
Fasani is thrilled with the additions.
"We now have 10 extremely talented linemen," he said.
Next up for RC is a road game to Orestimba.

SCORING SUMMARY
Denair       0    0    0     7 — 7
Ripon Ch. 0    7    7    14 — 28

Second quarter
R—Nolan Lingley 1 run (Caleb Terpsma kick), 2:48

Third quarter
R—Sean McGovern 6 run (Terpsma kick), 1:34

Fourth qyarter
R—McGovern 20 pass from Lingley (Terpsma kick), 9:18
D—Dylan De Silva 5 run (Elvis Silva kick), 3:59
R—McGovern 52 run (Terpsma kick), 3:46