DEFIANCE, Ohio — Defiance's perfect season came to an end on Saturday as the Grizzlies of Franklin handed the Jackets a 37-27 defeat in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference encounter.
Franklin took control of the game early driving 66 yards down the field on their first drive of the day for an 11-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown taking a 7-0 lead. It was the first time all season the Yellow Jacket defense gave up an opening drive score.
Defiance would battle right back scoring a pair of touchdowns, one on a 15-yard pass from junior Kevin Kelly to sophomore Chad Meyers and the other on a 12-yard pass from Kelly to senior Matt Gerig, giving the Yellow Jackets a 13-7 lead after one quarter of play.
In the second quarter Franklin would begin their offensive aerial and ground attack on the DC defense that ranked first in every defensive category in the conference coming into the game. The Grizzlies would take a 14-13 led on a 15-yard touchdown pass and added a field goal before the half after a very interesting end to the half in which the Jackets would be penalized 30 yards after arguing over an official's call.
Penalties and turnovers would eventually be the downfall to the Yellow Jackets undefeated season.
Much like the first half Franklin College would score on their first drive of the half on a nine-play, 52-yard drive making the score 23-13 Franklin.
Defiance would get as close as 23-20 after senior wide receiver Matt Gerig got the offense rolling with one of many of his outstanding plays pulling in a 36 yard reception to set up a Maurice Hooker touchdown.
With Defiance beginning to gain some momentum the Franklin offense responded with a 69-yard touchdown run by Brandon Gillard putting the Grizzlies back up by 10.
The DC defense gave up a season-high 37 points, 273 yards passing, 133 rushing in the defeat that knocked the Yellow Jackets out of sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets put up just as good as numbers as the Franklin offense but costly turnovers and penalties hurt the DC scoring opportunities.
Defiance freshman tailback Maurice Hooker continued his outstanding season by rushing for 121 yards on 22 carries including a score. Gerig pulled in 11 receptions for 176 to go along with his two touchdown receptions.
With the loss Defiance drops into a two way tie with Bluffton at 3-1 in the conference standings with Hanover, Franklin and Anderson all standing at 2-1, a half-game behind.
Game Story
