Defiance Wins Turnover Battle at Hanover

HANOVER, OHIO - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets traveled to Hanover College for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium where the Purple and Gold fell 48-7.

Defiance (0-6 overall, 0-4 HCAC) was led on the day by freshman Jalen Streeter (Toledo/Whitmer) with a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo tackles and a forced fumble. The Yellow Jacket defense forced five turnovers, including four fumble recoveries. 

Hanover wasted little time getting on the board as they took their opening drive 22-yards on two plays for the go-ahead score with just under 11 minutes to play in the first quarter.

The Panthers would force a DC three-an-out on the following drive before the Purple and Gold defensemen brought the hammer. Streeter would capture his first forced fumble of the season as freshman Doug Meyers (Chuluota, Fla./Hagerty) picked up the lose ball and scampered for 11-yards. 

However, the Hanover defense was able to halt the drive following a 12-yard completion to junior Jacob Vorce (Paw Paw Mich.) ending the drive at the Hanover 33-yard line with just under five to play in the first quarter.

Hanover punched in one last score before time expired in the first quarter taking the football 36-yards on three pays for the 14-0 advantage.

The Defiance offense looked to get something going as sophomore Logan Mico (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South) connected again with Vorce for a DC 19-yard pickup to the Hanover 41-yard line following a Panther unsportsmanlike conduct. But again the Hanover defense stepped up picking-off Mico inside their own two-yard line to end the first quarter.

The Purple and Gold came alive in the second quarter as the defense would get the teams first score as sophomore Steven Lucas (Warren, Mich./Center Line) forced a fumble and recovered the ball in the endzone for his first score of the season. Senior Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Hayes) tacked on the extra point to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 14 minutes remaining in the second quarter. 

The Panther responded again traveling 65-yards on five plays for another Hanover score, 21-7. Hanover would tack on one final score before the half for the 27-7 advantage.

Hanover got the ball to open the second half before the Defiance defense posted another huge stop forcing a fumble, recovered by senior Jalin Nealy (Pontiac, Mich./W. Bloomfield). 

The Purple and Gold would open its drive on its own eight-yard line traveling 33-yards on nine plays before the Panthers stalled the drive. The Hanover offense struck again as they took the ball 41-yards on five plays for another Panther score to conclude the third quarter, 34-7.

Defiance defense continued to win the turnover battle as sophomore Cody Drumm-Turner (Homer, Mich.) recorded his second interception of the year taking the ball 57-yards to the Hanover 43.

However, the Panthers defense posted another strong stop to force a turnover on downs. Hanover would tack on two more scores late in the fourth quarter to claim the 48-7 victory.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday, October 20 as they play host to Mt. St. Joseph. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.