GRIZZLIES FACE FIRST ROAD TEST
Franklin travels north this Saturday for its first away game of the 2025 season, a 1:15 p.m. clash with Trine in Angola, Indiana. The Grizzlies lead the all-time series by a 5-3 margin, but their last win came in 2009; the Thunder have taken the last two meetings (a 58-43 home win in 2023 and a 55-21 victory at Faught Stadium in 2022).
 
LAST TIME OUT
This week will be the second consecutive game against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association competition for the Grizzlies, who suffered a 38-14 setback last week against No. 15 Hope. Franklin scored on its first possession but couldn't keep pace with the Flying Dutchmen, who racked up 348 yards of offense in the first half alone. Jace Mohr caught a pair of touchdown passes from Marshall Kmiecik for the Grizzlies, the second of those set up by a Jace Dorsey interception.
 
AIRING IT OUT
Coach Mike Leonard's second stint at the helm has resembled his first on the offensive side, with Franklin showing some explosiveness in the passing game. The Grizzlies have totaled 631 yards passing through their first two games, with sophomore Marshall Kmiecik completing 42 of 72 passes for 498 yards and five TDs. Franklin has also gotten an 84-yard scoring throw from receiver Owen Wright and a 49-yard toss from wideout Gabe Bowling. Mohr leads the receiving corps with 14 catches.
 
ALL THE STOPS
Senior linebacker Drew Servies is Franklin's leading tackler through two games with 19, including 13 solo stops. Brayden Baker is next up with 13 tackles, two of those for loss; Haden Durnil (11), Amari Gittings (11) and Shamari Gittings (10) are also in double figures.
 
CAN'T MAKE THE TRIP?
For any Griz fans unable to make the journey to Trine on Saturday, the game will be streamed live on the MIAA Sports Network.
 
AROUND THE HCAC
The Grizzlies aren't alone on the road this weekend, as every HCAC team travels to face an MIAA opponent Saturday. Mount St. Joseph takes its shot at Hope, while Anderson plays at Kalamazoo, Bluffton goes to Olivet, Hanover takes on Alma, Manchester visits Adrian and Rose-Hulman faces Albion.

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            3          Owen Wright                    Jr.        6-1       195
                  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            8          Jordan Fonda                  Jr.        6-3       190
                  13        Isaiah Miller                       Fr.        6-4       200
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
                  59        Justin Kendrick                 Jr.        6-2       220
NT             93        Seth Rindfuss                  So.      6-0       265
                  95        Adam Young                     Jr.        5-10     270
DT             97        Ethan Hochstetler           So.      6-1       220
                  48        Nash Stroud                      So.       6-3       235
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           4          Jace Dorsey                     So.      6-2       197
                  25        Jaylen Arnold                    Fr.        5-9       175
RCB          1          Shamari Gittings             Jr.        5-8       175
                  22        Amari Gittings                   Jr.        5-9       175
FS             16        De'Marreia Stephens      Jr.        6-0       165
                  14        Jake Ehrgott                      Sr.       5-10     170
Rover        5          Haidyn Bulmer                Jr.        5-11     185
                  2          Michael Loehmer              Jr.        5-11     185
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos.          No.      Player                               Yr.       Ht.       Wt.
PK             30        Ian Williamson                 Fr.       6-4       196
                  40        Charlie Overton                 So.       5-11     180
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
                  0          Amari Gittings                   Jr.        5-9       175
HOLD        18        Josh Bruner                     Fr.       6-0       195
                  9          Devlin McGee                   Jr.        6-3       210