Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
FRANKLIN, IND. - Manchester University senior quarterback Logan Haston (Avon, Ind.) managed another 200-yard-plus passing effort Saturday, Oct. 3, to highlight Manchester University's clash with Franklin College.
Haston wound up with 24 completions, finding seven different receivers during the afternoon at Branigin Field inside Faught Stadium on FC's campus. Junior tight end Brandon Webb (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and junior wide receiver Dakota Nelson (Fairland, Ind.) combined for 15 of the catches.
Despite the upper-level passing totals, the host Grizzlies, moving to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the league, bottled up MU's rushing attack which had aided in back-to-back conference wins. Sophomore running back Hunter Hardee (Fishers, Ind.) was held to under 50 yards, as the overall ground game totaled 77 yards. On the other side of the football, the high-flying Grizzlies' passing attack was center stage, compiling 413 yards and three touchdowns, to help the home side bolt out to a 28-0 halftime advantage in route to a 42-0 final.
Manchester University (2-2, 2-1 HCAC) started the game off well on the defensive end, holding FC by ending its opening drive on a sack from junior defensive lineman Dan Heim (Goshen, Ind.) to force a punt and then shut down the home team on downs. From that point, FC took four of its next six drives to pay dirt, even with two other marches stopped by an interception from freshman defensive back Dillon Nelson (Fairland, Ind.) and a punt, which opened up the margin. The Spartans' offense did threaten during the afternoon, driving inside the Grizzlies' 25-yard line three times, with chances that could have changed momentum in the second quarter and early in the second half and another that could have averted a shutout late, but were thwarted in each instance.
Defensive leaders for the Black and Gold were freshman defensive back Dylan Bina-James (Georgetown, Ill.) and junior linebacker Nathan Birk (Indianapolis, Ind.). They both totaled eight tackles, while Birk joined Heim with a sack. Nelson chipped in four tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Manchester University continues a current two-game road trip Saturday, Oct. 10. They take an eastern swing to Defiance College of Ohio for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.