TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Conference play kicked off for the Franklin football team on Saturday (Oct. 5) afternoon, with the Grizzlies taking on Rose-Hulman in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) opener for both sides.
 
History was made during the game, as senior running back Garrett Cora became Franklin's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with the 33^rd of his career. But the Grizzlies (1-4, 0-1 HCAC) came up on the wrong end of meeting, with the Engineers (1-3, 1-0 HCAC) holding on to win by a 24-14 count.
 
How it Happened
Franklin grabbed an early lead as Dakota Foerg connected on a 29-yard field goal to cap the game's first drive. But the Engineers would find the end zone on their first drive of the game and Franklin had their second drive stall out on a 4^th-and-1 from the Engineer five. A Haden Durnil interception on the next Rose drive put Franklin deep in Engineer territory, but once again the Grizzlies came away empty as their drive came to an end on downs.
 
Foerg buried a 35-yard field goal late in the second quarter, but another Rose touchdown followed and the Engineers took a 14-6 lead into the half.
 
Rose opened the second half with a long drive that was stuffed on downs deep in Franklin territory and the Grizzlies responded with a 13-play drive that ended with Cora punching it in from five yards out to break Ron Doyle's record that had stood since 1973. Kai Ross found Owen Wright for the two-point conversion and the game sat tied at 14.
 
But as they had done on each of Franklin's first three scoring drives, the Engineers answered with a touchdown and the hosts held Franklin off the scoreboard in the final quarter to seal the win.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Total yards were 332-290 in Rose's favor, with Franklin holding the ball for a little more than 34 total minutes.
-Ross went 14-for-24 for 146 yards and a pick through the air and added 58 rushing yards.
-Cora finished with 85 yards on 25 carries and his record-breaking touchdown.
-Owen Wright led the receiving corps with six grabs for 74 yards.
-Durnil led the defense with nine tackles to go along with his first career interception.
-Kahari Jackson picked off his third pass in two weeks and finished with six tackles.
-Third downs played a pivotal role in the outcome, with the Grizzlies going 3-for-12 with Rose going 8-for-14.
 
Up Next
Franklin is set for their bye next week and will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they travel to Manchester. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m.