Lions' football squad takes over first place in HCAC by 1/2 game with a 26-16 win at Franklin College

Box Score The College of Mount St. Joseph Lions football team took over first place in the HCAC today with a 26-16 win over 20th-ranked Franklin College. The Mount is now 7-0 on the season, and 5-0 in the HCAC, holding down first place by one-half game over Manchester College (4-3, 4-0), who they will play at on Oct. 31. Franklin slips to 5-2, 3-1.

The Mount used a punishing rushing attack and a strong rush defense to hold down the Grizzlies, who entered the game in first place in the HCAC and nationally-ranked in both the D3football.com Top 25  and the AFCA Division III Coaches Poll (22nd). Craig Mustard (Mason, OH/Mason) accounted for both of the team's TDs in the first half, helping the Lions to a a 17-0 advantage at halftime. Mustard scored on a one-yard run and tossed a 35-yard scoring strike to Brad Sersion (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson). Brian Weimer (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) added a 26-yard field goal between those two scores. Franklin had the ball for six drives in the first half, and produced only 54 yards of offense, turning the ball over on downs three times, losing two fumbles and throwing an interception.

The Grizzlies scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter, however, to cut the Mount lead to 17-10 but suffered a safety when they snapped the ball over the quarterback's head and recovered the ball in the end zone. The Mount's defense held throughout the second half and the Lions' upped their lead to 26-10 with just over 2 1/2 minutes to play when tailback Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) tossed a 13-yard option pass to Derick Tabar (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain). Franklin closed the scoring with a 21-yard TD pass with just over one minute remaining in the game.

The Lions rolled up 222 on the ground with Noah Joseph (Roswell, GA/Blessed Trinity) leading all rushers with 119 yards and Davis chipped in 83 yards. Mustard finished the game 20-of-30 for 177 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Sersion and Tabar both hauled in five receptions. Defensively, the Lions held Franklin College to 23 yards rushing (1.8 yards per carry) and had two interceptions and a sack. Vince Smith (Middletown, OH/Middletown) had seven tackles to lead the Mount, while teammate Ryan Smithmeyer (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) had both pickoffs.