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FRANKLIN -
Two game losing streaks can sometimes bring the worst out in a team. On occasion, its brings out the best.
At Faught Field Saturday afternoon, it brought out all the stops from the home team.
They stayed with just a single signal caller-Nick Puricha-rather than go with the rotation. They got a touchdown from a linebacker, and out of a formation that's swept through the NFL.
"College football is fun, but its a lot more fun to win," said Franklin College head coach Mike Leonard about his team's 28-21 victory over Manchester. "We had a comeback win that we much needed.
See: Purichia Returns, but Mt. St. Joseph Holds Off Late Franklin Rally
After dropping consecutive games to Mount Saint Joseph and Rose Hulman, the Grizzlies spotted the Spartans a 21-7 lead thought three quarters, aided by two touchdown passes by quarterback Justin Minnich. Franklin got one back at the beginning of the fourth, when Puricha punched in a three-yard score to cut the lead to seven.
Then the fun began.
After Purichia was intercepted in his own territory, linebacker Adam Wheat returned the favor, stepping in front of a Minnich pass and took off the other way. The defender rumbled down field, then shook off a weak attempt at a tackle by Minnich to pick a 75-yard score to knot the game at 21.
"They got us on that pass before," said Wheat of the play that led to the pick and the touchdown. "I said if he's gonna run and under I'm just gonna jump it, and that's what I did and when he threw it I just made a break on the ball."
See: Franklin Rallies To Beat Trine
If that was fun for the fans at Faught Stadium-which hosted it's last game with natural grass Saturday-then the next Grizzly offensive series provided more fireworks. After a series of Purichia runs and passes, sophomore wing back Logan Worley was inserted to snap the ball.
"We call it the Wildbill," said the former Warren Central quarterback of Franklin's equivalent of the much copied "Wildcat" offense used in the NFL and some at the college level and was used extensively for the first time Saturday.
It worked the best on this drive in the fourth, as Worley took the snap, found a hole up the middle, then shrugged off a would-be defender for a 27 yard score that put the Grizzlies ahead for good. He finished with 13 carries for 78 yards, which averaged out to 5.8 yards per touch.
"Mix it up a little bit, just give us a different look," said Worley about why Franklin decided to use the offense Saturday, which was a decision made by Leonard following the loss to Rose-Hulman. "I think it gave us a spark."
It comes at the right time for the Grizzlies who improve to 6-3 before their annual meeting with Hanover for the Victory Bell-which they've won now won for four consecutive years.
See: Franklin Goes With Multiple QBs To Replace Chad Rupp
"You could just notice guys spirits were getting down," said Puricha-who took all the snaps Worley didn't, throwing for 127 yards on 14-of-25 passes with an interceptions and a rushing touchdown. "The seniors today became the all-time winningest class in Franklin history, so they're not used to losing football games so it's been kinda different for them the last couple of weeks.
To get a win on senior day, our last game here at Faught Stadium with grass and all that stuff, its a big win."
At Faught Field Saturday afternoon, it brought out all the stops from the home team.
They stayed with just a single signal caller-Nick Puricha-rather than go with the rotation. They got a touchdown from a linebacker, and out of a formation that's swept through the NFL.
"College football is fun, but its a lot more fun to win," said Franklin College head coach Mike Leonard about his team's 28-21 victory over Manchester. "We had a comeback win that we much needed.
See: Purichia Returns, but Mt. St. Joseph Holds Off Late Franklin Rally
After dropping consecutive games to Mount Saint Joseph and Rose Hulman, the Grizzlies spotted the Spartans a 21-7 lead thought three quarters, aided by two touchdown passes by quarterback Justin Minnich. Franklin got one back at the beginning of the fourth, when Puricha punched in a three-yard score to cut the lead to seven.
Then the fun began.
After Purichia was intercepted in his own territory, linebacker Adam Wheat returned the favor, stepping in front of a Minnich pass and took off the other way. The defender rumbled down field, then shook off a weak attempt at a tackle by Minnich to pick a 75-yard score to knot the game at 21.
"They got us on that pass before," said Wheat of the play that led to the pick and the touchdown. "I said if he's gonna run and under I'm just gonna jump it, and that's what I did and when he threw it I just made a break on the ball."
See: Franklin Rallies To Beat Trine
If that was fun for the fans at Faught Stadium-which hosted it's last game with natural grass Saturday-then the next Grizzly offensive series provided more fireworks. After a series of Purichia runs and passes, sophomore wing back Logan Worley was inserted to snap the ball.
"We call it the Wildbill," said the former Warren Central quarterback of Franklin's equivalent of the much copied "Wildcat" offense used in the NFL and some at the college level and was used extensively for the first time Saturday.
It worked the best on this drive in the fourth, as Worley took the snap, found a hole up the middle, then shrugged off a would-be defender for a 27 yard score that put the Grizzlies ahead for good. He finished with 13 carries for 78 yards, which averaged out to 5.8 yards per touch.
"Mix it up a little bit, just give us a different look," said Worley about why Franklin decided to use the offense Saturday, which was a decision made by Leonard following the loss to Rose-Hulman. "I think it gave us a spark."
It comes at the right time for the Grizzlies who improve to 6-3 before their annual meeting with Hanover for the Victory Bell-which they've won now won for four consecutive years.
See: Franklin Goes With Multiple QBs To Replace Chad Rupp
"You could just notice guys spirits were getting down," said Puricha-who took all the snaps Worley didn't, throwing for 127 yards on 14-of-25 passes with an interceptions and a rushing touchdown. "The seniors today became the all-time winningest class in Franklin history, so they're not used to losing football games so it's been kinda different for them the last couple of weeks.
To get a win on senior day, our last game here at Faught Stadium with grass and all that stuff, its a big win."
