Team Sings Fight Song Postgame

Pasquale Video

Windell Video

Cincinnati, Ohio - The Franklin College football team took over sole possession of first place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) after a 38-28 win at Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday. The match up featured the last two undefeated teams in the league.

Leading 31-28 midway the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies took a 10-point lead when senior quarterback Grant Welp (Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park) scored on a one-run sneak with 4:32 left. Welp found senior wing back Zach Cole (Middletown, Ind./Shenandoah) for a 15-yard gain to setup the pivotal score.

On MSJ's ensuing drive, junior linebacker Jeremiah Windell (Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central) picked off a Greg Simpson pass to secure the victory.

Franklin (5-2, 5-0 HCAC) gained 429 yards, including 194 yards on the ground, in the victory.

The Grizzlies scored touchdowns on their first four possessions. Welp connected with senior split end Jonny Hession (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) for an eight-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring.

The connection capped the team's second drive with a 22-yard pass to give Franklin a 14-0 lead with 5:52 left in the first quarter. Welp completed 13-of-15 passes for 168 yards and two scores in the first half. Hession caught all of team-leading six passes in first 30 minutes.

The Grizzlies then utilized a strong running game as senior Joey Pasquale (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) scored on a three-yard scamper. He gained 111 of his 145 rushing yards in the first half.

Later, the team took a 28-0 advantage when Welp rushed 12 yards with 10:06 remaining in the first half. The visitors led by that 28-0 score at halftime.

MSJ (5-2, 4-1 HCAC) scored two touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half.

Franklin answered the Lions' momentum with a 37-yard field goal by freshman Stephen Colligan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Fort Wayne Dwenger). The score gave the Grizzlies a 31-14 lead with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

MSJ got within 31-28 behind a 64-yard pass to John Peters and a 52-yard touchdown strike to Leonard Riston.

Then, came Welp's one-yard rush to secure the victory.

Individually, Welp passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-25 attempts. The quarterback added two rushing touchdowns.

Cole caught five passes for 78 yards, while Pasquale and junior Kendal Butler (Oakland, Ill./Cumberland) each added three receptions.

Defensively, Windell led the Grizzlies with nine tackles and an interception. Senior linebacker Trevor Yates (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) chipped in six tackles. Sophomore Solomon Knight (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) recorded five stops, including three tackles for loss.

Sophomore Taylor Christensen (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) had an interception in the first half.

Franklin returns to action on Saturday, October 25 at 1:30 p.m. when it hosts Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology from Faught Stadium. The football program will be accepting donations for the HCAC's Samaritan's Feet initative.

Live audio, statistics, and video of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics).