Final Pre-Conference Weekend Features Three HCAC Home Games

September 22, 2005

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football programs will enter the final tune-up for conference play on Sept. 24 when four teams are in action. Hanover College will be the lone team on the road as the Panthers travel to Waynesburg. Bluffton University will host Adrian College, Franklin College is set to host Tri-State, and Manchester College will play Olivet College at home.

Franklin (1-2) dropped a tough loss to visiting Millikin University last weekend, 31-24. The Grizzlies jumped on top early, 10-0, but they struggled with six turnovers. Sophomore quarterback Andy Clark ( Louisville, Ky./Seneca) threw for 332 yards and a touchdown, but suffered four interceptions on the afternoon. Clark has led the Grizzlies’ offense through three games this season with 723 yards and seven touchdowns passing. He is ranked 48th in the nation in total offense (253.3 ypg). Defensively, senior linebacker Clayton Darlage ( Seymour, Ind./Seymour) has helped the Grizzlies with 29 total tackles and a team-best 21 solo stops. His seven solo tackles per game ranks him 29th in the nation. The Grizzlies won last year’s meeting with Tri-State, 49-35. Tri-State is 0-2 this season and is coming off a 41-27 loss at MacMurray College.

Manchester (1-2) was unable to build on an early 7-0 lead at Waynesburg last weekend and dropped its second straight game, 28-7. The Spartans will be looking to rebound when Olivet visits on Saturday. Manchester will turn to senior Brandon Tugmon ( Rochester, Ind./ Rochester) to continue to provide a spark. The wide receiver ranks sixth in the country in receptions per game (9.3) and is 20th in all-purpose yards (181.0 ypg). He has found the end zone four times and quarterback Joe DeCraene ( Mishawaka, Ind./ Mishawaka) will look to him again to build on his 714 yards and eight touchdowns passing this season. Manchester and Olivet have split their last six meetings with Olivet coming out on top the past three seasons. Olivet topped the Spartans last season, 49-13. The Comets are 0-2 this season and fell last weekend 21-7 at Ohio Wesleyan.

Bluffton (1-2) dropped its second game of the year last weekend, 42-0, versus Thiel. The Beavers will look to find the win column prior to the opening of the conference season against a tough Adrian team. The Beavers are averaging 194.3 yards per game rushing behind the strong play of senior running back Ben Dodds ( West Liberty, Ohio/Bellefontaine). Dodds is averaging 122 yards per game on the ground and has scored four of Bluffton’s seven touchdowns this season. Sophomore linebacker Sam McCullough ( Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) has been impressive defensively for the Beavers. He is fifth in the conference in total tackles (29) and leads the HCAC in tackles for a loss (5). Adrian holds a 9-3 lead in the all-time series with Bluffton and defeated Bluffton last season, 30-3. Adrian (2-0) is coming off a bye week and defeated Defiance College in its last game on Sept. 10, 37-0.

Hanover (1-2) continues its difficult pre-conference schedule when it travels to Waynesburg on Saturday. The Panthers fell last weekend, 56-42, to No. 25 Bridgewater. Hanover fell behind early but was able to post 488 yards in total offense. Senior Mike Russell ( Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) was again a force with 15 receptions for 131 yards and four touchdowns. He currently leads the nation in receptions per game (12.7) and ranks fifth in receiving yards per game (146.0). Senior quarterback Rick Webster ( Carmel, Ind./ Carmel) had another fine game as well throwing for 440 yards and six touchdowns. He finished 41-for-63 passing and has already tallied 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air this season. Webster is fourth in the country in total offense (367.7 ypg) and will look to help the Panthers even their record at Waynesburg. Hanover won the only other meeting between the two schools last season, 34-31. Waynesburg is 1-1 this year and topped Manchester last weekend, 28-7.

Anderson University, Defiance College, and the College of Mount St. Joseph all have a bye this week. Anderson (2-1) will travel to Franklin on Oct. 1, Defiance (1-2) plays at non-conference foe Case Western Reserve on Oct. 1 and the Mount (3-0) will host Hanover on the same day.

Sept. 22 – 28 Schedule

Sept. 24	Adrian at Bluffton	1:30 PM
	Tri-State at Franklin	1:30 PM
	Hanover at Waynesburg	1:30 PM
	Olivet at Manchester	1:30 PM