Some things don’t change.
Bouncing back with ease from a loss to Butler, the No. 22-ranked Franklin College football team opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday at Defiance College in Ohio.
The Grizzlies have been perfect in HCAC action the last two seasons, and they kept that hot streak going into 2016, rolling past the Yellow Jackets for a 41-6 victory.
Franklin (2-1, 1-0) put it away early, building a 27-0 lead in the first half.
Chase Burton completed 21 of 29 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns before the intermission. His first scoring toss came less than four minutes in, a 41-yarder to Lee Wroblewski.
Wroblewski added a second touchdown later in the half, while Deontez Alexander and Darrell Crenshaw each had one as well. Crenshaw led the Grizzlies with 10 catches overall for 92 yards.
Ty’Ronte Files ran for a 17-yard score late in the third quarter to make it 34-0, and freshman quarterback Braden Smith threw his first collegiate touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 19-yard hookup with Brad Bonomini.
Defiance (1-2) scored a touchdown with 28 seconds left to avoid the shutout, but Franklin blocked the extra point.
Franklin’s defense forced three turnovers, including interceptions by Taylor Christensen and junior linebacker Jay McClain. Trevon Sevion led the Grizzlies with seven tackles.
On Saturday, Franklin hosts unbeaten Bluffton.
Soccer
Grizzlies junior boots winning goalJunior Clare Lenart scored two goals, including the game winner 45 seconds into the second overtime period, to propel the women’s soccer team past the University of Mount Union, 4-3, at Faught Stadium.
Lenart was on the receiving end of a quick touch from freshman Taylor McDaniel into the middle of the 18-yard box. Sophomore Maddie Fleet raced up the left side to create the scoring chance.
Fleet sent a ball to McDaniel, who found an open Lenart for the game-winning goal.
