A fight at Faught

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

By Dexter Howard, November 5, 2009

Manchester holds second place in the HCAC, while the Grizzlies fell to third with their second consecutive conference loss last week at Rose-Hulman. With only two games remaining, that loss eliminated their chances at the conference crown. Franklin started the season at 5-1.

 

 “We started off like gangbusters,” head coach Mike Leonard said. “We’ve done well throughout the season, we’ve just played some pretty good teams and we’re at a place where we need to get some confidence back. We’re a young staff and a young team still trying to find a rhythm.”

 

The grizzly offense will try to get back on track after it’s four-turnover performance against a stingy Spartan defense, which gives up just 22.1 points per game.

 

Sophomore defensive back Brecken Kennedy leads the Spartan defense with 55 total tackles and two interceptions. Senior defensive back Jermiah Jones has five interceptions and 28 tackles.

 

 “Manchester is really improved this year, their defense is especially strong,” Leonard said. “Up until this point we’ve been doing the same things. Different things work for different teams, however, and this is a different team than last year.  We’ve gone back to the drawing board to try to find something to take the pressure off our quarterbacks.” 

 

That task will mostly fall on a senior-laden offensive line, as well as rushing support from running backs junior Mitch Downs, sophomore Nick Mongan and freshman Ethan Cook. Downs leads the Grizzlies in rushing yards with 253, along with two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Nick Purichia has added 244 yards and five touchdowns, while Mongan and Cook have combined for 267 yard and one touchdown.

 

Junior Kyle Ray leads the team in passing yards with 1,397 (176.4 per game), along with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 126-for-212 passing. Purichia has completed 74 of his 132 passes for 956 yards (136.6 per game) and eight touchdowns, with just two interceptions.

 

 Manchester’s offense has a 2:1 run-pass ratio. The leading rushers for the Spartans, senior running back Brandon Wells and sophomore quarterback Justin Minnich, average 63.6 and 63.4 yards on the ground, respectively.

 

Wells also leads the Spartans in receiving yards with 247, to go with his 3 receiving touchdowns. Munich has completed 73-of-143 passes for 787 yards (112.4 per game) and five touchdowns, with eight interceptions. The Spartan offense puts up 21.5 points per game.

 

Linebackers Nick Cochran (junior), and seniors Teddy Henkle and Joe Rush have a combined for 173 tackles this season, 11 of which have gone for a loss, three interceptions, two recovered fumbles and a forced fumble.

 

 “What is ultimately important is playing the best you possibly can, and being able to walk off the field with your held high knowing you played your best and there’s nothing more you can do,” Leonard said.