Football vs. Franklin (Ind.) -- Week 9 Game Notes

DEFIANCE, OHIO  - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets host Franklin (Ind.) College for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game on senior day at Justin F. Coressel Stadium at 1:30 p.m. 

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COMPLETE GAME NOTES IN PDF FORMAT:  [CLICK HERE]

Series History

Saturday's meeting will be the 16th meeting in the history of the two rivals. Franklin leads the series standings with a record of 11-4 and has won the previous eight meetings, including beating the Yellow Jackets, 41-7, last season in Franklin, Ind.  

In last year's matchup, the Grizzlies scored twice in the first quarter before Defiance scored its only touchdown of the game with 3:06 left in the period on a Daniel Collins 22-yard run. Franklin went on to score 27 unanswered points en route to the 34-point victory. Alex Larson completed 13-of-28 passes for 187 yards, while Collins had 30 yards on 18 touches.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

The offense is averaging 345.8 yards per game this season and will have sophomore Alex Larson (Highland, Mich./Milford) line up as the starter at the quarterback position. He has completed 69-of-111 passes for 879 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season.

The Yellow Jacket backfield is led by senior Trevon Burrell (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale). Coming into Saturday's game, Burrell has carried the ball 77 times for a team-leading 342 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and a pair of TD.

In the slot position, look for the duo of junior Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and sophomore Cody Wilson. To date, Collins has rushed for 286 yards on 74 carries (3.9 ypc.) and five TD. He has also caught 20 passes for 252 yards. Wilson is second on the team in receptions with 31 for 366 yards to go along with three TD.

At wideout, look for sophomores Darius Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee) and Dante Smith (Villa Rica, Ga./Villa Rica) to start. Harper currently leads the team in receptions (40) and yards (527). He also has four TD receptions on the year. Smith is fourth in catches with 15 for 155 yards.  

On defense, Defiance is currently allowing 347.0 yards per game, but has accounted for 18 takeaways this season with 13 interceptions and five fumbles.

The defensive line will line up three juniors with Kyle Wilson leading all linemen with 39 tackles (28 solo and 11 assists), including a team-high eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

The linebackers will start All-HCAC senior Eric Strickland (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge) and sophomore Matt DeVore (Van Buren). Strickland is third on the team in tackles with 52 (33 solo and 19 assists), including 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. DeVore has made 32 tackles (17 solo and 15 assists) this season to go along with four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in addition to recording a safety.

The Jacket secondary will be made up by junior first-team All-HCAC award winner Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner), freshman Angello Proulx (Warren, Mich./Mott) and sophomore Cody Wiggins (Howell, Mich./Howell) at the safety positions and senior Josh Slayton (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) and sophomore Kenny Jones (Toledo/Bowsher) at the corners. Feldhaus leads the team in tackles with 62 (40 solo and 22 assists) to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble.  

On special teams, senior Spencer Saunders has handled the place kicking duties this season. He is currently 2-of-5 in field goal attempts and has converted 22-of-26 extra-point attempts. Sophomore Tom Woehnker has taken over the punting duties and is averaging 36.9 yards per punt.

Scouting the Grizzlies

The Anderson offense has been averaging 474.6 yards of total offense (156.0 rushing and 318.6 passing) this season.  

Calling the plays for the Grizzlies will be senior quarterback Grant Welp. Welp has completed 187-of-277 passes and is second in the HCAC in passing yards with 2,398. He has thrown a league-tying high 24 TD passes and only six interceptions. He is also second on the team in rushing with 303 yards (3.2 yards per carry) with a team-high seven TD.

At the running back spot, senior Joey Pasquale is listed as the starter. He currently leads the team in rushing with 487 yards (4.6 ypc.) on 106 attempts and has four TD. He is also the team's third-leading receiver with 465 yards and 34 catches in addition to five TD. Also look for sophomore Kole Stogner to provide depth at the running back spot. Stogner has carried the ball 27 times for 125 yards and three TD.  

The Grizzlies will feature three wide receivers led by senior Zach Cole who has caught a team-high 42 passes for 502 yards and four TD. Senior Jonny Hession and junior Mason Deal will also be primary targets for Welp. Coming into Saturday's game, Hession has caught 36 passes for 432 yards and has a team-best six TD. Deal has 25 receptions on the year for 330 yards and three TD.    

On defense, Franklin has been allowing 421.8 yards of offense (157.1 rushing and 264.6 passing). The Grizzlies will line up in a 3-4 scheme with junior Nate Bryan leading all defensive linemen in tackles with 27 (14 solo and 13 assists). In addition, he has made 5.5 tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack.  

The linebacking corps will start a pair of juniors and sophomores and is led by junior Jeremiah Windell. Windell has tallied a team-high 82 tackles (52 solo and 30 assists) to go along with five tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.

At the secondary positions, the Grizzlies are led by senior safety Jameson Brock. Brock is currently second on the team in tackles with 44 (29 solo and 15 assists). He has one tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.

On special teams, freshman Stephen Colligan is listed as the starting placekicker and junior Cody Beeks the starting punter. Colligan in one-of-two in field goal attempts and 40-of-44 in extra point conversions. Beeks has punted the ball 24 times so far this season and is averaging 36.9 yards per kick with a season-long boot of 57 yards.