North Manchester, Ind. - A 12 play, 84-yard scoring drive and a successful two-point conversion helped the Franklin College football team pick up a 29-28 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) victory on Saturday at Manchester University. The team has won its last three games to improve to 3-2 for the season, while being 3-0 in league play.

Trailing 28-21 with 7:47 left in the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Grant Welp (Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park) completed all eight passes during the drive and marched the Grizzlies to a touchdown with 1:55 remaining in the game. Sophomore running back Kole Stogner (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) capped the drive with a five-yard scoring run.

But instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game, Franklin went for a two-point conversion and the lead. The play was successful, with a little trickery and lots of razzle-dazzle, as Welp caught a pass from junior wing back Kendal Butler (Toledo, Ill./Cumberland)  The ball was snapped directly to senior running back Joey Pasquale (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), who pitched the ball back to Butler. The junior then found Welp wide open in the right side of the end zone.

Franklin, with a 29-28 lead, then had to defend one last possession from the Spartans    (2-3, 1-2 HCAC). The hosts moved the ball to Franklin's 28-yard line before a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

The play capped an exciting game played in blustery winds and frigid temperatures. The Grizzlies scored on the game's opening possession when Welp hooked up with senior wing back Zach Cole (Middletown, Ind./Shenandoah) on a three-yard touchdown pass. The score gave the victors a quick 7-0 lead.

Manchester tied the game at 7-7 with 7:13 remaining in the first half when a one-yard touchdown run by Logan Haston capped a 17-play, 96-yard scoring drive.

The Grizzlies answered with a 57-yard pass from Welp to senior running back Joey Pasquale (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), who had a career-high 10 receptions for 153 yards. Franklin held a 14-7 lead at halftime, despite having the ball only for four offensive possessions – scoring twice.

In the second half, Manchester's Haston converted another one-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the third quarter.

Just like it did in the second quarter, Franklin answered on the ensuing drive as Welp scampered 29 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the season.

The lead was short lived as the Spartans got a 64-yard rushing touchdown from Austin Adams on the first play of their next offensive possession. Freshman Brady Helms (Odon, Ind./North Daviess) blocked the extra point try to keep the Grizzlies ahead 21-20.

Manchester took a 26-21 lead with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Haston to Dakota Nelson. The hosts successfully converted a two-point play to enjoy the 28-21 advantage coming down the stretch.

Then came the Grizzlies' game-winning drive.

Welp had another stellar game, finishing with 293 passing yards and two touchdowns. He added one rushing touchdown, part of a team-high 61 rushing yards, and caught the two-point conversion.

Pasquale added 58 yards rushing to go along with his career-best receiving day.

Cole caught seven passes for 52 yards. He had a 22-yard reception on third down during the important scoring drive. Senior split end Jonny Hession (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) added six receptions.

Defensively, junior Jeremiah Windell (Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central) had a career-high 14 tackles. Senior Jameson Brock (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) added 10 tackles and had a fumble recovery.

Franklin returns to action on Saturday, October 11 at 1:30 p.m. when it hosts Earlham College for the college's homecoming game at Faught Stadium. Live statistics, video and audio of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available (@FCAthletics) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics).