The Franklin College football team rushed for 324 yards in defeating Anderson University, 56-0, in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener Saturday at Faught Stadium.
The Grizzlies posted their first shutout since the 2012 season in what was the second night game at Faught Stadium.
Franklin’s offense was consistent throughout the game, scoring 14 points in each quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Chase Burton hooked up with sophomore wingback Lee Wroblewski for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 7:38 left in the first quarter. Burton finished the game throwing for four touchdowns and 294 yards.
Junior running back Ty’Ronte Files gave Franklin a 14-0 advantage with 2:06 remaining in the opening quarter with a four-yard rushing touchdown. He led the team with 94 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
The lead maintained at 14 points until two quick passing touchdowns from Burton to senior wingback Kendal Butler in the final three minutes of the first half.
The first score covered 59 yards. Meanwhile, the second touchdown capped an eight-play, 83-yard drive with a 10-yard pass with five seconds left before halftime. Butler had six receptions for 105 yards and the two touchdowns in the game.
In the second half, sophomore Tanner Kameda scored a nine-yard rushing touchdown to give Franklin a 35-0 lead at the 10:36 mark of the third quarter.
Franklin concluded another eight-play drive a few minutes later with a Burton six-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Dylan Jenney.
The team added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cap the game’s scoring.
Sophomore running back Jordan Brown scored a six-yard rushing touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Brady Nichols rushed for a 10-yard touchdown.
Wroblewski led Franklin’s receivers with seven catches for 85 yards and a score. Sophomore split end Darrell Crenshaw and Jenney each added three receptions.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jeremiah Windell registered a team-high seven tackles. Junior linebacker Austin Day made six tackles, while junior defensive back Taylor Christensen had five tackles in the victory.
