Franklin College endured a long four-hour bus ride to Aurora University this past weekend. The ride back surely felt longer.
Unable to stop or keep pace with the Spartans’ balanced offense, the Grizzlies suffered a 49-16 setback on Saturday afternoon, falling to 0-2 on the young season.
Aurora (1-1) took the lead for good with a first-quarter touchdown and another in the opening seconds of the second period. Franklin briefly fought back to within 14-10 on a 10-yard TD run by Garrett Cora and a 22-yard field goal from Derek Baldin, but the rest of the day belonged to the Spartans, who stretched their lead back to double digits on a 6-yard scoring pass from Josh Swanson to Trey Madsen with 3:42 to go in the half.
Baldin converted another field goal, this one from 18 yards, to get the Grizzlies to within 21-13 early in the third quarter, but back-to-back Spartan touchdowns made it 35-13 going into the fourth. The final period was more of the same, as Aurora answered a 34-yard Baldin field goal with two more trips to the end zone.
The Spartans outgained Franklin College by a massive 572-260 margin, and they did so in whichever fashion they pleased, picking up 280 yards on the ground and 292 through the air.
Kai Ross threw for 207 yards for the Grizzlies, with much of that coming on passes to Jarrett Gibson (nine catches, 108 yards). Kody Wilkerson made eight tackles to lead the defense, followed by Darian Porter and Royce Lofton with seven apiece.
Franklin College will make its 2022 home debut this Saturday when it hosts Trine.
