Visiting Franklin College, who jumped out to a 26-7 lead at the half and held a 26-point lead at one point of the game, withstood a furious Mount third quarter comeback as they downed the Lions today in Homecoming 2008, 40-35. The Mount is now 4-3 overall, 2-3 in the HCAC while Franklin goes to 6-1, 4-0. The Lions return to action on Nov. 1 when they host Manchester College on Senior Day. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m.
The Grizzlies got off to a great start today, as they scored on five of their first six possessions - all in the first half. During that span, Franklin College had three TDs and two field goals, to jump out to a 26-0 lead. Franklin quarterback Chad Rupp ran an efficient offense, tossing two TDs during that stretch. The Mount finally got on the scoreboard with 47 seconds left in the first half when Vince Palmer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) tossed a six-yard scoring pass to tight end Scott Shear (Kettering, OH/Carroll).
Franklin extended their lead to 33-7 early in the third quarter before the Mount scored on two straight possessions, cutting the deficit to 33-21. Palmer tossed his second TD of the game, this time a nine-yarder to Tim Meiner (Hamilton, OH/Talawanda) and Phil Poetter (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) returned an interception 14 yards for another score. Franklin answered those two scores with a 78-yard TD strike from Rupp to Kevin Lynch, putting his team up by a 40-21 with 3:06 left in the third quarter.
Palmer tossed two TDs in the fourth quarter - giving him four on the day - as the Mount fought to get control of the game. Derick Tabar (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain) had a 32-yard score while Meiner recorded an 18-yard scoring reception with 3:55 to play to cut the disadvantage to 40-35. That is how the game would end as Palmer tossed an interception on a desperation pass at the end of the game into Franklin territory.
Franklin out-gained the Lions in total offense, 430-407 yards. Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) led the Mount with 93 yards rushing while Palmer finished 17-of-32 for 232 yards, four TDs and three interceptions. Tabar had a game-high seven receptions for 135 yards. Rocky Siegel (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) had nine tackles and a fumble recovery for the Mount.
