20th-ranked Grizzlies take on Ravens

PRINT THIS COMMENTS (0) SEND TO A FRIEND RELATED STORIES

By Matt Muncy, October 16, 2009

Head coach Mike Leonard said he thinks the team is having a great season. The Grizzlies hold the second place spot in the HCAC, half a game behind Mount St. Joes, while the Ravens are tied with Bluffton for last place.

 

The Grizzlies have won three straight – outscoring opponents 99-55 – since losing to Butler in week two. The two conference victories, over Defiance and Bluffton, extended Franklin’s HCAC win streak to 20.

 

Junior quarterback Kyle Ray said the Butler game left a sour taste in the team’s mouth, but it gave them the extra motivation they needed and the 20th ranking just adds to that.

The Grizzlies defeated the Ravens last season, 56-27, and will be looking to replicate that result.

 

“I tell my team we are a one-point underdog every week,” Leonard said. “Last year’s score means nothing and we are a totally different team this season.”

 

Through five games, Ray has completed 95-of-153 passes for 1,048 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, with four interceptions. He has rushed for 84 yards, as well. Junior Nick Purichia – the other half of Franklin’s two-quarterback attack – has completed 49 of 78 passes for 564 yards and five touchdowns, with no interceptions. Purichia is also the Grizzlies’ second leading rusher with 110 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

 “We have been trying to put an emphasis on the running game this year even though Franklin has been a passing team for the past couple year,” Purichia said.

 

Junior Mitch Downs leads the Grizzlies in rushing with 138 yards and a touchdown. The Grizzlies two leading receivers are senior Adam Mellencamp (31 receptions, 493 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Mitch Deffner (30 receptions, 363 yards, 3 TDs).

 

Junior linebacker Nick Cochran and senior linebackers Teddy Henkle and Joe Rush lead the defense with 36, 35 and 34 total tackles, respectively. Freshman defensive lineman Joshua Bales leads the Grizzlies in sacks with two and sophomore defensive lineman David O’Rourke leads in tackles for loss with four.

 

Leonard said he will take what the defense gives him.

 

“If they are giving us the run, let’s run. But if they are packing the box, let’s throw it.”

 

As a team, the Grizzlies are averaging 31.2 points per game while giving up 27.0. The defense has given up 695 yards on the ground this year and 1,328 through the air.

 

The Ravens have struggled so far this season, losing all five of their games. The defense has given up 235 points in five games, while the offense has amassed just 98. The offense averages 19.6 points per game, while opponents score 47.0.

 

The Ravens’ defense has allowed 2,174 yards of total offense this season, 741 rushing and 1,436 passing. Juniors Luke Hurst and Ry Hildenbrand lead the Raven defense with 52 and 44 total tackles, respectively, and sophomore Todd Taylor has tallied 43.

 

The Ravens offense is led by junior quarterback Mitch Grider. Through five games, he has completed 86-of-146 passes for 941 yards and seven touchdowns, with five interceptions.

Junior Tyler Akers leads the Ravens in receiving with 26 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Shane Peacock has added 21 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while Darryl Stott has added 17 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns.