Grizzlies Move One Step Closer to HCAC Football Championship
November 1, 2008
FRANKLIN , IN - Franklin (7-1, 5-0 HCAC) took a huge step toward defending their title by dominating Rose-Hulman (7-2, 5-1 HCAC) 42-7 at Faught Stadium. The No. 24 ranked Grizzlies moved to within one victory of the league football title with two games remaining on the schedule after posting their 16 th straight league win.
Franklin showcased a balanced offense against the Engineer defense and totaled 480 yards of offense in the win. Senior quarterback Chad Rupp (Evansville , Ind. /Memorial) finished 19 of 34 for 234 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions to led the Grizzlies offense. Sophomore running back Fred McMoore (Greenville , S.C./Berea) added 52 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead the blue and gold rushing game.
Rose-Hulman's offense struggled to move the ball against the stout Franklin defense. Junior quarterback Derek Eitel (Marshall , Ill. /H.S.) finished 11 of 22 for 103 yards and two interceptions. Junior tailback Calvin Bueltel (Huntingburg , Ind. /Southridge) failed to cross the 100-yard plateau for the first time during conference play, finishing with 90 yards on 27 carries.
Tim Schrock (Avon , Ind. /H.S.) scored the Engineers lone touchdown on a 96 yard kickoff return midway through the second quarter.
The Grizzlies need only to beat Manchester on November 8 or Hanover on November 15 to clinch a tie for a repeat conference championship and grab their second consecutive automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Rose will end their season next week at home against Anderson .
In other HCAC action.
Anderson (4-4, 3-2 HCAC) defeated Bluffton (1-7, 0-5 HCAC) 38-10 on Saturday afternoon at Macholtz Stadium. The Ravens rushed for a season-high 272 yards on 46 carries, including four touchdown runs against the Beaver defense. BU struggled to get their offense going, finishing with five yards rushing on 30 attempts and managed only 171 total yards. Junior running back John Sims (Columbus , Ind. /East) led AU with a career-high 125 yards rushing on 19 carries, including a three yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Senior tailback Terrence Perkey (Elkhart , Ind. /Jimtown) added 73 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. Junior quarterback Chase Thurston (Yorktown , Ind. /H.S.) completed 20 of his 26 attempts for 221 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Bluffton quarterback Derek Dunlap (St. Mary's, Ohio/Memorial) led the Beaver offense, completing 15 passes for 166 yards and the team's lone score of the game. Anderson travels to Rose-Hulman next weekend, while Bluffton returns home to face Hanover .
Mount St. Joseph (5-3, 3-3 HCAC) showcased their defense against one of the top offenses in the HCAC as the Lions rolled to a 28-6 win over Manchester (4-4, 2-3 HCAC). The Mount nearly doubled the output of the Spartans in almost every significant statistical category, outgaining the black and gold 203 to 108 on the ground, 128 to 48 through the air, and converting 19 first downs to Manchester 's seven. Manchester broke into the scoring column first when Brandon Wells (Woodburn , Ind. /Woodlan) plunged in from six yards out late in the first quarter. Wells finished with 66 yards on 15 carries to pace the MC offense. Mount St. Joseph running back Jake Davis (Cincinnati , Ohio / Anderson ) led the way on the ground for MSJ with 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. The Lions turned to back-up quarterback Ben Hunterman (Cincinnati , Ohio /Oak Hills) Saturday afternoon. The sophomore answered the call, completing 13 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown and also added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Mount St. Joseph will conclude their conference schedule at Defiance next weekend before taking on Thomas More in the annual "Bridge Bowl." Manchester will look to spoil Franklin 's bid of clinching the conference title next weekend.
Defiance (2-6, 2-3 HCAC) rattled off 21 unanswered points and rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat Hanover (1-6, 1-4 HCAC) 31-28 in overtime Saturday. The win was Defiance 's fourth straight over the Panthers and marked the 350 th win in the history of the program. The Jackets and Panthers combined to score 39 points in the fourth quarter alone in the thrilling HCAC showdown. Defiance quarterback Rick Powell (Rochester , Mich. /Cousino) tossed two touchdowns in the second half and finished 16 of 29 for 193 yards. Hanover signal caller Nick Sharp (Indianapolis , Ind. /Franklin Central) completed 40 of his 65 pass attempts for 346 yards, two scores, and threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter that was returned 20 yards for a Defiance touchdown. Hanover 's Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis , Ind. /North Central) continued his stellar senior season, catching 19 balls for 145 yards and a touchdown. The Yellow Jackets received the winning score in overtime as sophomore kicker Tom Foos (Helena , Ohio /Lakota) booted a 38 yard field goal. Defiance returns home to face in state rival Mount St. Joseph next weekend, while Hanover will travel to Bluffton.