Ending the season on a loss is demoralizing.
Ending the season with a loss to Hanover is even more demoralizing.
Franklin College suffered that fate on Saturday afternoon, falling to the visiting Panthers 24-3 in the 92nd Victory Bell game and finishing the season below .500 for the first time since 2003.
Hanover (5-5, 5-2 HCAC) got on the board first, with Austin Oppel running it in from the 6-yard line for a 7-0 lead early. The Grizzlies (4-6, 4-3) had the opportunity to answer, but kicker Derek Baldin was unable to seal the deal from 32 yards out with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Yoann Kinango cushioned Hanover’s lead, hitting a 23-yard field goal with 13:43 left in the second, and the Panthers struck again when Oppel broke multiple tackles before getting completely free for a 45-yard, one-play touchdown drive. Oppel’s score, which came with 5:41 remaining in the first half, put even more space between the conference foes at 17-0.
While Franklin’s offense was unable to make any headway, the defense did come up big to end the half, with Shay McRath wrapping up Matthew Wiemer in the backfield for a sack on fourth down at the Grizzlies’ 24 yard line.
Coming out of the half, Franklin’s offense finally made progress, picking up three ford downs via the air and another one on the ground to reach Hanover’s 17-yard line; a Panther penalty and a Dylan McKinney reception then advanced the ball to the 5. Hanover’s defense held, however, and Baldin was sent out to erase the zero on the Grizzlies’ side of the scoreboard. His 21-yard field goal cut the deficit to 17-3 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.
Hanovers offense marched down to the Grizzlies’ 33 before McRath came up big once again sacking Wiemer on third down. Heading the other way, Franklin College quarterback Kai Ross kept it himself for back-to-back first downs, but the drive eventually stalled and the Grizzlies were forced to send out the punting team once again.
The Panthers then broke the Grizzlies’ hearts with another touchdown. Wiemer was flushed out of the pocket but heaved a throw to an open Hunter Eads, who made a diving 27-yard grab in the end zone with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Grizzlies coach Alan Hensell would like to see his team — which was outgained on Saturday, 452-195 — become more consistent as he goes into his fourth year.
“You want to be able to be more consistent,” he said. “We showed flashes at times this year of doing some really good things, but it wasn’t the consistency that needs to be there, especially when we’re playing the top teams in our conference.”
