HOME SWEET HOMECOMING
Franklin is back at Faught Stadium for the first time in four weeks Saturday afternoon (1:30 p.m.), taking on Rose-Hulman to cap Homecoming week. This will be the first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt of the season for the Grizzlies, who will be trying to defeat the Engineers for the first time since 2019. Rose-Hulman has won the last five meetings, including a 24-14 home triumph last season, but Franklin still leads the all-time series, 43-29-2.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Grizzlies let an early 28-10 lead slip away, giving up 23 consecutive points, but put together a late 71-yard scoring drive to pull out a thrilling 34-33 victory at Muskingum. Quarterback Marshall Kmiecik completed four straight passes to end the march, starting with an 11-yard toss to Jordan Fonda on fourth and 8 and ending with an 11-yard jump ball to Isaiah Miller, who went over and around a defender to make the winning touchdown grab with 1:13 left. Haidyn Bulmer made an interception 26 seconds later to seal the win.
 
A BAKER'S DOZEN, PLUS SOME
Sophomore linebacker Brayden Baker had a career game at Muskingum last Saturday, making 21 tackles (10 solo, 11 assist) in the win. Three of Baker's stops were for loss and he added a forced fumble, a quarterback hurry and half a sack. He leads the Griz defense with 39 tackles on the season. Haden Durnil (15 tackles) and Devonte Brown (10) were also in double digits against the Muskies. Baker's efforts earned him a spot on D3football.com's nationwide Team of the Week.

FONDA FITNESS
Junior wideout Fonda has become a go-to target for Kmiecik through the air, averaging just over 100 yards receiving per game. Tied with Jace Mohr for the team lead in catches (20) and receiving touchdowns (four), Fonda has gained at least 79 yards in each contest with a high of 127 in the season-opening win over Ohio Northern. He is one of five Grizzly receivers with double-digit receptions through four games.
 
CATCH THE GRIZ ON INDIANA SRN
Indiana SRN is carrying all five Franklin College home games for the third consecutive year. Each game will be shown free of charge on HCAC.tv, and games will be archived upon completion so that fans can watch back at any time.
 
AROUND THE HCAC
Two other conference clashes take place Saturday afternoon, headlined by Hanover's trip to Mount St. Joseph. Bluffton, which is tied with the Panthers and Lions atop the HCAC standings at 1-0, faces Anderson at Lapel High School, while Manchester hosts a non-league game against Capital.

FRANKLIN DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
Pos.      No.      Player                                Yr.     Ht.      Wt.
QB        7           Marshall Kmiecik           So.   6-0     180
             9           Devlin McGee                  Jr.      6-3     210
RB        32        Trevor Winkles               Sr.     5-11   185
             1           Brayden Wilkins              So.    6-1     180
WR       8           Jordan Fonda                  Jr.     6-3     190
             15         Marlon Gans                    Sr.     6-3     185
WR       4           Jeremy Lee                     Sr.     5-10   195
             11         Elijah Flowers                  So.    6-4     220
WR       14         Jace Mohr                       Sr.     5-8     165
             80         Deundre Kirby                 Jr.      5-11   180
WR       13         Isaiah Miller                    Fr.     6-4     200
             19         Gabe Bowling                  Jr.      5-10   190
OL        67         Will Hagan                       Jr.     6-4     280
             79         Garrett Elam                    Sr.     6-1     285
OL        52         Isaak Fischer                    Jr.     6-1     270
             63         Peyton Sisk                       Fr.     6-1     255
OL        76         Corey Branigan               Fr.     6-2     265
             69         Keatz Pippenger              Jr.      5-10   250
OL        77         Ben Roembke                 Jr.     6-2     260
             74         Zach Yaryan                     Jr.      6-2     235
OL        71         Jackson Adams               So.   6-4     270
             60         Leo Meseberg                  Fr.     6-3     250
            
DEFENSE
Pos.      No.      Player                                Yr.     Ht.      Wt.
DE        11         Devonte Brown              Sr.     6-0     210
             53         Caleb Pipes                      Jr.      6-2     221
NT        93         Seth Rindfuss                  So.   6-0     265
             95         Adam Young                     Jr.      5-10   270
DT        98         Jacob Joiner                    Sr.     6-2     240
             97         Ethan Hochstetler             So.    6-1     220
Leo       44         Carter Edney                   Sr.     6-0     225
             41         Max Malone                     Jr.      6-1     235
Sam     31         Drew Servies                   Sr.     6-0     190
             22        Amari Gittings                   Jr.      5-9     175
Mike    19         Brayden Baker                So.   6-3     220
             9           Pilot Lukacsko                 Jr.      5-10   215
Will      45         Haden Durnil                   Sr.     6-1     210
             39         Riddick Bolton                 Sr.     5-10   190
LCB       1           Shamari Gittings            Jr.     5-8     175
             25         Jaylen Arnold                   Fr.     5-9     175
RCB      4           Jace Dorsey                  So.   6-2     197
             8           Dyreese Elliott                 Fr.     5-9     165
FS         16         De'Marreia Stephens   Jr.     6-0     165
             5           Haidyn Bulmer                Jr.      5-11   185
Rover   2           Michael Loehmer          Jr.     5-11   185
             14         Jake Ehrgott                     Sr.     5-10   170
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos.      No.      Player                                Yr.     Ht.      Wt.
PK        40         Charlie Overton              So.   5-11   180
             30         Ian Williamson                 Fr.     6-4     196
P           30         Ian Williamson                Fr.     6-4     196
             27         Trenton Dittmer                Fr.     5-11   182       
KR        14         Jace Mohr                        Sr.     5-8     165
             1           Brayden Wilkins              So.    6-1     180
PR        14         Jace Mohr                        Sr.     5-8     165
             1           Shamari Gittings              Jr.      5-8     175
LS         14         Jake Ehrgott                    Sr.     5-10   170
             22        Amari Gittings                   Jr.      5-9     175
HOLD   18         Josh Bruner                     Fr.     6-0     195
             9           Devlin McGee                  Jr.      6-3     210