Box Score
Host Franklin College grabbed a 21-7 halftime lead today and held off the Lions in the second half as they knocked the Mount from the unbeaten ranks with a 35-23 HCAC win. The Lions, 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the HCAC, are in third place in the conference, one game behind the Grizzlies and 1/2 game behind Defiance College. The Mount resumes HCAC action on Oct. 8 when they host Defiance.
Franklin College jumped out to a 21-0 lead today, before the Lions got on the scoreboard with a 14-yard TD pass from Brian Pitzer (South Salem, OH/McClain) to Rob Blundred (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills). The Lions were hurt by numerous penalties, on both offense and defense, and two turnovers via interceptions, in the opening half. The Lions suffered another turnover (interception) on their first series of the second half, but saw Dan Dripps (Wapakoneta, OH/Wapakoneta) later convert a 26-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 21-10 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. Franklin would connect on their third scoring pass of the game right before the end of the half, and push their lead back out to 18 points, 28-10.
Dan Wood (Cleves, OH/Taylor) scored his first TD of the season on an seven-yard TD catch from Pitzer in the fourth quarter but Franklin answered back, just 2 1/2 minutes later capping a 60-yard scoring drive with a one-yard TD run. Pitzer tossed his third TD of the game with 5:28 left on the game clock when he hooked up on a 36-yard play with Sean Keller (Maineville, OH/Kings). The Lions would have the ball two more times down the stretch but were unable to cut into the Franklin lead.
The Mount won the battle of the statistics against Franklin, recording 23 first downs to the Grizzlies 18 first downs, holding a 432-288 lead in total yardage (including 221-18 in rushing yards), and posting a 39:26-20:34 lead in time of possession. Both teams suffered three turnovers in the game (all by interceptions). The Mount committed 10 penalties for 149 yards while Franklin was guilty of seven infractions for 70 yards.
Pitzer had a game-high 93 yards rushing and completed 17 passes in 36 attempts for 211 yards. Zachary Gerber had six (Payne, OH/Wayne Trace) receptions while Keller collected four catches. Cory Babbington (Lebanon, OH/Henry M. Gunn Sr.) had seven tackles while Ralphael Allen (Trotwood, OH/Trotwood-Madison), Konnor Blevins (Cincinnati, OH/Lakota West), and Sean Brooks (Englewood, OH/Northmont) each had an interception.The Lions also had two sacks.
