TERRE HAUTE —
Franklin College maintained its undefeated mark in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football on Saturday, defeating Rose-Hulman 55-24 in sunny, warm weather at Cook Stadium.
The Grizzlies are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference while the Engineers are 2-1 in the conference and 2-3 overall.
Franklin scored first in Saturday’s game, Reece Craig going 10 yards for a touchdown to cap a 60-yard drive.
After Franklin went 3-and-out on its second possession, Rose-Hulman got on the scoreboard with Kyle Kovach getting the six points on a 1-yard run, and the teams were tied 7-7 with about five minutes left in the first period.
The Grizzlies scored again on their third possession with Jonny West tossing a 7-yard pass to Kyle Linville and Franklin had a 14-7 lead.
Rose-Hulman responded again with a score but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Nick Schneider early in the second period.
The Engineers did not score again until the fourth frame while the Grizzlies scored on five of their first six possessions and held a 55-10 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
West was the main man on offense for the winners, completing 28 of 38 passes for 407 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. The sophomore from Avon also rushed for 25 yards as the Grizzlies totaled 563 yards in total offense.
“We thought we played really well, especially on offense. And the [main] defense gave up 10 points. We didn’t think we really played that well last week. This week was a lot better,” said the first-year starter.
Reece carried the ball 13 times and netted 53 yards rushing.
Mike Leonard is in his ninth season as coach of the Grizzlies and was pleased with the way his team played in their sixth game.
“I was proud of the way our guys came out and played today. We had not played that way in quite awhile. I am just pleased. I don’t think any coach is sure how his team will progress from a mental standpoint. I had some questions about our own team. I feel a lot better,” he said.
Franklin has won three league championships in the past four years and faces Manchester next in its bid to take the honors this season.
The Grizzlies’ only defeat came against perennial NCAA Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater 45-0. It came after Franklin had beaten Valparaiso 49-35.
Commenting on the Wisconsin team, Leonard said, “They play at a different level but they’re in our level. We have to find a way to beat them … we have to coach better and recruit.”
The Engineers got the final two scores of the day, Kyle Kovach getting one on a 37-yard run and Mitch Snyder tossing a 36-yard pass to Jordan Nielson for the last one.
That run gave Kovach 113 yards rushing for the day, just under his average which had been good for first in the HCAC and in the top 20 in NCAA Division III stats.
Snyder completed 22 of 45 passes with two interceptions for 253 yards and the touchdown. Rose-Hulman had 352 yards in offense.
Sideliners — Schneider became the career leader in field goals made for Rose. He now has 23 to break the old mark of 22 set by Vern Vannostran, who did his kicking from 1982 to 1985.
• New members of the Rose-Hulman Athletic Hall of Fame were introduced at halftime after being inducted into the hall in a separate ceremony.
The new members are Eric Grappa (1996), William Rumbley (1943), Woody Stroupe (1960), Andy Tochterman (2001) and A. J. Wilkerson (1997). Rumbley was inducted posthumously.
Franklin 14 20 14 7 — 55
Rose-Hulman 7 3 0 14 — 24
FC — Craig 10 yd run (Richards kick), 12:19 1Q
RHIT — Kovach 1 run (Schneider kick), 4:51 1Q
FC — Linville 7 pass from West (Richards kick), :11 1Q
RHIT — Schneider 23 field goal, 10:18 2Q
FC — Worley 10 pass from West, (kick failed), 8:19 2Q
FC — Craig 87 pass from West, (Richards kick), 7:37 2Q
FC — Cook 6 run (Richards kick), 1:42 2Q
FC — Linville 20 pass from West (Richards kick), 11:51 3Q
FC — West 1 run (Richards kick), 6:05 3Q
FC — Fogleman 6 pass from Welp (Richards kick ), 11:04 4Q
RHIT — Kovach 37 run (Schneider kick), 5:14 4Q
RHIT — Nielson 36 pass from Snyder (Schneider kick), :33 4Q
Att — 1,200.
FC RHIT
First downs 30 24
Rushes-yards 50-136 48-136
Passing yards 427 216
Comp-Att-Int 31-41-1 21-44-2
Return yards 43 31
Punts-avg. 1-41.0 2-46.0
Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 8-74 6-55
Time of possession 32:02 27:58
Individual statistics
Rushing — Franklin, Craig 13-53, West 9-25, Hatch 5-18, Hamm 9-18, Cook 4-15, Pasquale 2-6, Woodard 1-1, Bromagem 1-1, Muraoka 2-1, Welp 1-1, Shutters 1-0, Team 2-minus 3. Rose-Hulman, Kovach 28-113, Francis 9-20, Sena 2-16, Snyder 9-minus 13.
Passing — Franklin, West 28-38-1-407, Welp 2-2-0-16, Dove 1-1-0-4. Rose-Hulman, Snyder 21-44-2-216.
Receiving — Franklin, Linville 8-91, Worley 7-106, Cook 4-19, Cunningham 3-22, Craig 2-90, Ellis 2-51, Vaughn 2-28, Silcock 1-10, Fogleman 1-6, Shambaugh, Wes 1-4. Rose-Hulman, Sena 10-77, Nielson 4-63, Gray 2-35, Gerhart 2-14, Kovach 2-14, Francis 1-13.
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