FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin College football team welcomed the Hanover Panthers to Faught Stadium on a rainy Saturday (Apr. 10) afternoon for the 90th installment of the annual Victory Bell Game.

The Grizzlies (3-3, 3-3 HCAC) got a pair of rushing touchdowns from sophomore Cam Johnson and racked up more than 400 yards of total offense. But a strong second half from the Panthers (4-0, 4-0 HCAC) propelled Hanover to a 56-21 win.

How it Happened
Franklin took the ball first and was poised for a game-opening touchdown, but a fumble with the ball on inside the Hanover five gave rolled out of the end zone and gave the hosts the ball. Down by a pair of scores, Franklin got on the board early in the second quarter when Johnson punched one in from four yards out, capping a nine-play, 86-yard drive to cut the Panther lead to 14-7.

Late in the first half, Dane Andrews and Orrin Schmidt connected on a perfectly-executed play-action pass that went for a 24-yard score and brought Franklin within 21-14, which is where the score stood after one half of play.

The third quarter saw Hanover find the end zone on each of their three drives while the Grizzly offense stalled. Johnson added his second score of the day with 8:01 to play, scampering home from nine yards out to cap a 10-play, 91-yard drive for Franklin's final score of the day.

Inside the Box Score
-In addition to recording his first two-score game, Johnson set career highs with 11 carries and 56 yards rushing.
-Junior linebacker Jason Pigg turned in a career afternoon, leading all players with 15 tackles with 11 coming in the solo variety. The Veedersburg, Ind.-native shattered his previous career high of five stops set one week ago.
-Freshman quarterback Dane Andrews went 14-for-31 for 267 yards and one touchdown pass. Jarrett Gibson led the Grizzlies with seven grabs for 80 yards. Schmidt finished with 66 yards on two grabs, setting a new career-long with a 42-yard reception late in the game.
-Derek Thompson led all players with 252 all-purpose yards, recording 160 on kick returns, 70 on the ground and 22 in the passing game.

Up Next
Franklin closes out the spring season at home next Saturday (Apr. 17), taking on the Defiance Yellow Jackets at Faught Stadium.