FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin College football team wrapped up a two-game homestand on Saturday (Oct. 15) with a convincing 48-19 win over the Defiance Yellow Jackets.
 
The Grizzlies (3-3, 3-0 HCAC) took the lead on the game's first drive and never looked back, rolling past the Yellow Jackets (0-6, 0-3 HAC) to remain unbeaten in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play. The Grizzlies ran for 287 yards on offense while recording five sacks and three turnovers on the other side of the ball.
 
How it Happened
Franklin recorded their first takeaway of the day two plays into the game when Michael Loper forced a fumble that Gervasio Mitchell fell on at the Defiance 29. Five plays later, Kai Ross connected with Garrett Cora in the back of the end zone from 14 yards out in what would be the lone score of the first quarter. The two would connect on another touchdown early in the second quarter, this one from eight yards out to make it 13-0 Franklin.
 
The Grizzlies' second drive of the period saw them march 70 yards on 12 plays with Ross finding a streaking Dylan McKinney from 30 yards out to make it a 20-0 game. Cora notched his third touchdown of the half with the second winding down, scoring on a 14-yard scamper to send the Grizzlies into the break with a 27-6 lead.
 
Cam Johnson found the end zone from two yards out midway through the third quarter and Dejon Winburn took a four-yard pass from Ross into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Franklin's defense put the finishing touches on the win late in the game when senior linebacker Kody Wilkerson took an interception 60 yards to the house for his third career pick and first score.


 
Inside the Box Score
-Cora was a menace with the ball in his hands on Saturday, rushing for 198 yards on 27 carries while totaling 22 yards on two catches for 220 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns.
-Five Franklin ball carriers averaged at least seven yards per carry, with the team finishing with 6.0 yards per rush.
-Ross went 17-forp26 for 158 yards and four scores under center.
-For the second straight week, nine different players finished with at least one catch. Spencer Wright and Ryus Moore tied for the team lead with three grabs each.
-Jireh Ojata led the team with nine tackles, recording 1.5 sacks and forcing one fumble.
-Shay McRath led Franklin's pass rush with two sacks, recording three total tackles for loss in the game.
-Wilkerson had four tackles in the game and recovered one fumble to go along with his pick-six.
 
Franklin Head Coach Alan Hensell
On the Team Moving to 3-0 in HCAC Play
"We're really excited to be where we are at this point in the season. We want to go 1-0 every week and I'm proud of how we were able to get off to a strong start and how we ran the ball the way they did today. Defensively, we did a great job holding Defiance on third down and for out defense get a score and multiple turnovers is something we preach to them every week. It was great to see it show up on the field."
 
On the Success of the Run Game
"When you're able to run the ball the way we did, it helps out the pass game a lot and our pass game really fed off our run game today and in the first few weeks of conference play."
 
On the Defene Causing Problems for the Defiance Passing Game
"Defiance has a lot of speed at the skill spots and we knew the best way to neutralize them is to get pressure up front. It was great to see our front get some sacks, get some tackles for loss and really help out our secondary and linebackers."
 
On the Team's Focus Heading Into a Two-Game Road Trip
"Our focus is on Franklin. We have to focus on what we do best and clean up what we need to be ready for a tough Rose-Hulman team next Saturday."