Football ruins Raven homecoming

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By Dan Schumerth, October 22, 2008

The Grizzlies scored on the opening possession of the game with an eight-play drive. Balance was the key, as they ran and passed for four plays each. Senior Logan Deffner caught a 32-yard pass from Rupp for the score to finish the drive.

 

Franklin’s defense then forced a three-and-out.

 

Following a Franklin punt, Anderson’s Zach Duke caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Grider. A failed extra-point by Tristan Cork kept the score 7-6 in favor of the Grizzlies.

 

A second consecutive Franklin punt led to a 51-yard Cork fieldgoal and Anderson’s first and only lead, 9-7. That score held for the remainder of the first quarter.

 

One Rupp run and five Rupp passes later junior Adam Mellencamp caught a 37-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead for Franklin, 14-9.

 

Senior Patrick Sheller ended the next Ravens drive with an interception, which he returned for a score to increase Franklin’s lead to 21-9.

 

The Grizzly defense forced a punt, but on the first play of the drive Anderson’s Cory Perrin intercepted a Rupp pass and returned it to Franklin’s one yard-line. Anderson’s Daryl Stott ran for a touchdown to cut the deficit to five, 21-16.

 

Three plays, all passes, and 72 yards later senior Kevin Lynch ran into the endzone: 28-16.

 

Corks second fieldgoal of the day – this one from 25 yards out – brought the score to 28-19. Rupp threw his second interception of the day, this one to Anderson’s Chance Benbow.

 

After the Grizzly defense forced another punt, Franklin drove 67 yards in 1:28. Rupp threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to senior Craig Neil to finish it off with 12 seconds left in the half.

 

Franklin’s defense held strong to take a 35-19 lead into halftime. It was the second week in a row that Franklin scored 35 points in the first half.

 

Senior Roshawn Hill started the third quarter by forcing a Raven fumble (by Stott). Freshman Jonathan Roederer recovered to set up a 35-yard touchdown pass from wide reciever Lynch to senior Tony Gregory: 42-19.

 

In regards to the trickery, head coach Mike Leanord said, "Tricks are for kids. It keeps you young."

 

Five punts later – at one point the Ravens had two in a row after Franklin fumbled one – Anderson went back on the attack with an 80-yard drive. A touchdown pass from Grider to Nolan Bernard finished it. Ry Hildenbrand caught a Grider pass to make the two-point conversion successful and bring the Ravens within a 42-27 score. That’s as close as they would get, tough.

 

Franklin went on to score once more – on a seven-yard pass from Rupp to junior Brendan Zellers – in the third quarter and again in the fourth – a nine-yard pass from Rupp to Lynch – to make the final, 56-27.

 

The Grizzly offense put up 477 total yards, 432 passing and 45 rushing. The Ravens had 342 total yards, 212 passing and 130 rushing. Franklin earned 22 first downs and Anderson had just three less.

 

The Raven offense held the ball longer, 34:00 to 26:00.

 

Each team lost a fumble and threw two interceptions. Hill had the second interception for the Ravens. Each team had two sacks, too. Seniors Levi Smythe and Dan McManus had one a piece for the Grizzlies. Ry Hildenbrand sacked Rupp twice.

 

Senior Jamison Foley led the Grizzlies in tackles with 13, while senior Nick Rulon was a close second with 11. Luke Hurst led the Raven defense with eight tackles.

 

"Roshawn Hill has been solid all year long," said Leonard.

 

Leonard also said senior Jamison Foley, who took over at linebacker for the injured junior Teddy Henkle, has stepped up and is having "a fine season."

 

He said the defense as a whole is improving at defending the pass, having already been solid against the run, and does not allow big plays.

 

Behind a stellar performance and solid protection from the offensive line, Rupp completed 26 of 37 passes with two interceptions and ran nine times for 20 yards to lead the team in rushing. His efforts earned him HCAC Player of the Week for the second time this season and ninth of his career. On the season, he now has 20 touchdowns, a 66.2 completion percentage, a passing efficiency of 171.0 and averages 315 passing yards per game, all of which are HCAC leading numbers.

 

Senior Kevin Lynch completed his only pass for 35 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Nick Purichia completed one of two passes for negative one yard and no interceptions or touchdowns. Sophomore Kyle Ray completed his only pass for zero yards, also with no interceptions or touchdowns.

 

Anderson’s Mitch Grider completed 18 of 35 passes for 212 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns. Darryl Stott led the Ravens in rushing with 107 yards on 33 carries.

 

"He's a fine running back," Leonard said.

 

According to Leonard, the Grizzlies have quality running backs on the scout team who were able to effectively simulate Stott, who transferred to Anderson from Ball State, to better prepare the defense for him.

 

Senior Jon-Erik Bennett rushed for 19 yards and sophomore Fred McMoore ran for 15.

 

"They had a really stout defensive front," Leonard said.

 

"It was going to be a tough game to run it so we thought, hey, let's wing it. Spread them out and throw the ball."

 

Deffner led the Grizzlies in receiving yards with 107 and Gregory followed with 102, both on five catches. Zach Duke led the Ravens with 60 receiving yards.

 

The Grizzlies will travel to the Cincinnati, OH on Saturday to take on the College of Mount St Josephs (4-2) in their fourth HCAC matchup in a row.