Football captures HCAC title, automatic bid

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By Dan Schumerth, November 10, 2008

With the win, Franklin – now ranked 22^nd – improves to 8-1 (6-0 HCAC), while Manchester falls to 4-5 (2-4 HCAC). The Spartans are tied for sixth-place in the HCAC.

 

The Spartans are the fourth team this season to hold a lead over the Grizzlies at the end of a quarter.

 

Franklin started the game with the ball, but gave it up after just three plays. A Wes Atkins sack on senior Chad Rupp hurt the Grizzly cause. The Grizzlies would go three-and-out on both of their remaining first-quarter possessions, as well.

 

The Spartan offense, on the other hand, came out firing. A four-play, 76-yard drive, capped by a 56-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Caleb Grimes to Jared Yoder. A 15-yard face mask penalty on Franklin also helped the Spartan cause.

 

Adkins sacked Rupp again to help the Spartan defense force Franklin’s second consecutive punt.

 

The Spartan’s second possession seemed promising but eventually sputtered, forcing an Ian Fry field goal from 35 yards out. Manchester then forced the third Franklin three-and-out and took a 10-0 lead and possession of the football into the second quarter, a quarter in which the state of the game would change.

 

Senior linebacker Jamison Foley would initiate the change by intercepting a Grimes pass on his own 17 yard-line.

 

The Grizzly offense earned its first first down of the game during a 47-yard drive, but would come up empty when a Rupp pass – intended for junior Adam Mellencamp – fell incomplete on fourth down.

 

It took just three plays, though, for Franklin’s defense to get the ball back in the hands of the Grizzlies.

 

The Grizzly offense needed the same amount of plays to score. Two 20 plus yard throws – Rupp to sophomore Mitch Downs for 20 yards and senior Tony Gregory for 39 – set up a six-yard Rupp touchdown run.

 

Franklin’s defense then forced the second of three consecutive Spartan punts after allowing just one first down.

 

The Grizzly offense earned three straight first downs – including a 34-yard run by freshman Nick Mongan – on route to a seven-play, 70-yard drive, which produced their first lead. Senior Craig Neil scored the touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Rupp, 14-10.

 

A Spartan punt and a Brecken Kennedy interception would see the first half to a close. The Grizzlies took their 14-10 lead into halftime.

 

The Grizzly defense started the third quarter the same way it ended the second: dominant. The Spartans went three-and-out.

 

Franklin’s punt-return team capitalized on the momentum by blocking the Manchester punt. Senior Scott Martin returned it one yard for a touchdown and a 21-10 lead.

 

Manchester drove 81 in its next possession, but a four goal-line stand by the Grizzly defense – starting in a first-and-goal situation from the two – forced another Fry field goal, this one from 18 yards out. The field goal closed the gap to eight points, 21-13.

 

A 51-yard pass play from Rupp to Downs set up a 25-yard field goal by junior Machy Magdalinos. The kick gave Franklin al 24-13 lead with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

Three straight punts – two by Manchester – returned the ball to Franklin.

 

Two plays and 32 yards later Craig caught a touchdown pass from Rupp.

 

Franklin took its 31-13 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Spartans squared less than into it.

Brandon Wells ran the one-yard touchdown to finish the 55-yard drive and shrink the deficit to 11.

The fourth quarter was similar to the first for the Grizzly offense. In two possessions it produced a punt and a missed field goal.

 

The defense made a stand, though, by forcing a turnover on downs. On the following Spartan possession, senior Nick Rulon intercepted a Grimes pass. However, Grimes then forced Rulon to fumble and recovered it himself at Franklin’s 37-yard-line.

 

After earning one first down, Manchester turned the ball over on downs, which allowed Franklin to run the final 0:49 off the clock, capturing the game and the division.

 

Franklin’s offense totaled 422 yards, 320 passing and 102 on the ground. The Spartan offense was close behind with 403 total yards, 298 passing and 105 rushing.

 

Rupp completed 24 of 40 passes, including two touchdowns and one interception. Rupp ran for 29 yards. Grimes threw 60 passes, completing 26 with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also led the Spartans in rushing with 54 yards. Neither quarterback left the game on offense.

Mongan led the Grizzly ground attack with 53 yards.

 

Neil, Downs and Gregory led Franklin in receiving with 97, 70 and 56 yards respectively. Neil found the end zone twice.

 

Yoder and junior Justin Wulf led the Spartans in receiving yards with 85 and 72, respectively. Yoder scored a touchdown.

 

Foley led the relentless Franklin defense with 13 tackles, three broken-up passes and an interception. Sophomore linebacker Nick Cochran had nine tackles and senior Roshawn Hill had eight tackles and five broken-up passes. Seniors Levi Smythe had two sacks and senior Dan McManus had one.

 

Linebacker Mike DePoy led the Spartan defense in tackles with nine, six solo. Defensive back Jeff McDonald had five tackles.