<p>Short field position for Mount St. Joseph and an anemic Franklin College offense in the first half usually don’t end up positive.</p>
<p>The math added up to a tough 50-27 loss for the Grizzlies in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Faught Stadium.</p>
<p>In eight first-half possessions, the Grizzlies (1-3, 0-1) could only muster 34 yards and two first downs, while punting the ball six times — and worse, turning the ball over twice on interceptions, both of which led to touchdowns for the Lions.</p>
<p>“We just couldn’t get anything generated offensively,” Franklin coach Mike Leonard said. “And we were against the wind, which means punting into the wind gave them favorable field position and that kind of set the tone in the first quarter.”</p>
<p>For Mount St. Joseph, less was more as the Lions had only one scoring drive that took more than five plays.</p>
<p>While Franklin struggled throwing the ball in the first half, the Lions’ sophomore quarterback Chaiten Tomlin threw four touchdowns, three of them to his favorite receiver Chase Pankey for 19, 31 and 21 yards.</p>
<p>Franklin’s defense provided some scoring shortly before the end of the half. Mount St. Joseph was driving again, but a fumble at the Grizzly 25 by Cornell Beachem was scooped up by Brayton Shannon, who proceeded to zig-zag his way 77 yards for the score.</p>
<p>“That gave us a spark and life,” Leonard said.</p>
<p>It was a different story for the Grizzlies offense in the second half, as Jacob Earl scored twice on runs of 44 and 9 yards to pull the Grizzlies within two scores. Franklin also scored on special teams, with Bryce Hale scoring on a 22-yard punt return off a blocked punt by his brother Brady.</p>
<p>The Grizzlies defense stiffened too, forcing the Lions to punt five times and getting an interception from Jacob Ferguson, but Tomlin wasn’t done throwing, and he tossed two more touchdown passes to give him six for the day.</p>
<p>Mount St. Joseph ended any hopes for a comeback when Peyton Williams intercepted Robbie Strader, who threw four interceptions, and ran back 66 yards for the pick-six.</p>
<p>Franklin did end up with 234 yards in total offense, while Mount St. Joseph (3-0, 1-0) had 371.</p>
<p>There were some positives, according to Leonard.</p>
<p>“We did fight and never gave up,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the guys.</p>
<p>“I hate to gauge things by that (1-3 record). We’re going to attack this next game.”</p>
<p>Franklin travels to Rose-Hulman this Saturday.</p>
