NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Franklin College football team rebounded from their first conference loss in impressive fashion on Saturday (Oct. 29) afternoon, besting the Manchester Spartans 24-6 in the team's final road game of the 2022 campaign.
 
The Grizzlies (4-4, 4-1 HCAC) held the Spartans (1-7, 0-5 HCAC) to less than 300 yards of total offense, holding the ball for nearly 36 minutes on offense. Third down play played a major role in the win, with the Grizzlies going 10-for-17 on third down while holding the Spartans to just 2-for-13.
 
How it Happened
The Spartans opened the scoring with a touchdown on their second drive of the day but Franklin wasted very little time getting those points back. Facing a third-and-two in Manchester territory, Kai Ross heaved a pass down the left sideline to a streaking Dylan McKinney for a 41-yard strike and a 7-6 Griz lead.
 
The Grizzlies forced a punt on their next drive and started on a journey that would take them 94 yards over 12 plays in 6:14 that was capped off with Garrett Cora taking a handoff 13 yards for the score that made it 14-6. Derek Baldin booted home his 10^th field goal of the year from 25 yards out late in the half to put the Grizzlies up 17-6 going into the break.
 
Franklin capped the scoring on the first drive of the second half, going 65 yards in eight plays with Ross hitting Dawson Dallape in the end zone from two yards out for Dallape's first career score and a 24-6 lead. The Grizzlies' defense handled things the rest of the way, forcing Manchester to punt on all five of their second half drives and limiting the Spartans to just 61 total yards in the second half.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Ross went 19-for-29 throwing the ball for 220 yards and a pair of scores. The Lizton, Ind.-native connected with seven different targets on the day, with McKinney's 85 yards topping all players and Jarrett Gibson's six grabs tops in the game.
-Cora finished with 71 yards on 26 carries and a score. Kam Jennings added 59 yards on 11 carries as the Grizzlies finished with 153 yards net rushing.
-DeMarion Newell led the FC defense with 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, setting a new career high for a single game total.
-Carter Edney also set a career-high for tackles with eight in the game.
-Dylan Boswell put four of his five punts inside the Manchester 20, finishing with 181 punting yards.
 
Up Next
Franklin is back at home next Saturday (Nov. 5) for the first of two straight and Football Alumni Day. Coming to town are the #23-ranked Mount St. Joseph Lions, and the two teams will kick-off at 1:30 p.m.