Game Notes

Franklin & Marshall Last Time Out...

The Diplomats scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to turn a 10-3 deficit into a 13-10 lead, but The College of New Jersey immediately followed that up with a touchdown of its own to eventually claim a 17-13 win last Saturday. The Diplomats' best offensive quarter was certainly out of the halftime break as F&M covered 75 yards over 15 plays before an incomplete pass from the TCNJ two-yard line brought Miller back onto the field for a successful 19-yard field goal attempt. The Lions had the ball just past midfield on its next drive, but again the F&M defense rose to the occasion with a fourth down stop. That stop led to the Diplomats' only touchdown of the day, with the big play on the drive being a 34-yard reception from Jack O'Hearen. Just three plays later, Aidan Hutchison took a handoff for a five-yard touchdown run, which was also the first touchdown of his F&M career. However, TCNJ answer on the ensuing drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception to take a 17-13 lead that would hold until the final whistle.

The College of New Jersey out-gained F&M by a 415-316 margin in total yards. The Diplomats had the advantage through the air as Ty Tremba passed for 254 yards, but four sacks limited the F&M rushing game to just 62 yards on the ground – compared to TCNJ's 197 rushing yards. Jack Harrison finished as the Diplomats' leading receiver with four catches for 74 yards. O'Hearen added 68 yards as five different receivers had at least 20 yards receiving. Defensively, F&M limited TCNJ to just 2-of-5 on its scoring chances in the red zone. Both teams turned the ball over twice, while the Diplomats converted their only fourth down chance and limited the opposition to 1-of-4 on such opportunities. The Hille brothers – Connor and Jacob – tied for the team lead with eight tackles each on the afternoon, with Connor Hille additionally forcing a fumble.

Franklin & Marshall Returning Honorees

• Laurence Miller - Fourth team All-American kicker, first-team All-CC in 2023

• Jeff Decker - first team All-CC defensive end (second team in 2022)

• Gary Lewis - first-team All-CC wide receiver in 2023

• Matt Scully - second-team All-CC linebacker in 2023, honorable mention returner in 2021

• Matt Wertz - second-team All-CC defensive back in 2023

• Aaron Rascoe - first-team All-CC running back in 2022

• Jacob Hille - second-team All-CC linebacker in 2022

Last time we met ... 

In the first-ever football meeting between Franklin & Marshall and Montclair State, It was a thrilling finish as the Diplomats came from behind to claim a 31-25 overtime victory on the road. Despite racing out to a 17-0 lead, the Diplomats needed a crucial 17-play, 79-yard drive and two-point conversion to tie the game before Dante Wilson's two-yard touchdown run sealed the victory. Needing a touchdown and two-point conversion just for the tie, Franklin & Marshall embarked on the aforementioned 17-play, 79-yard touchdown march that ended with Ty Tremba finding Gary Lewis for his second touchdown reception of the day. That score came with just 28 seconds remaining, but more work was needed as the Diplomats broke out a little Keystone State magic. Using the "Philly Special" which was made famous during the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl victory, Tremba caught a pass on the end zone from Jack O'Hearen to knot the score at 25.

Montclair State got the first possession of the overtime period, but saw Matt Scully pick off their scoring chance in the end zone on just the second play of that drive. Wilson took over at running back late in the game and had a nine-yard run before the Diplomats thought they had the game-winning touchdown before being called for an offensive pass interference. Backed up to 36, Tremba hit O'Hearen for 14 yards to make it a manageable third down. Facing a third-and-seven at the 22, the Diplomats elected for a draw as Wilson caught the MSU defense off guard with a 14-yard rush down to the eight. That left just two more carries for Wilson as he went for six and two, sending the F&M sideline into jubilation following game-winning plunge to set the scoreboard to a 31-25 final.

Franklin & Marshall out-gained Montclair State 377-331 throughout the game. The majority of that came from 304 yards through the air. Tremba finished with 285 yards passing and two touchdowns. Lewis was his favorite target as he finished with nine receptions for 119 yards and two scores. O'Hearen also went over the century mark with 10 catches for 111 yards. Jack Sutton added three big receptions for 63 yards as all three of those receivers showed big play potential with catches over 20 yards. Mitch Wagner got the start and went for a team-high 42 yards rushing, while Wilson carried the ball six times for 34 yards – averaging 5.7 per touch during his time in the backfield.

Scouting Montclair State

Montclair State has played just one game so far this season, beating Gettysburg on a walk-off field goal to cap a 27-26 victory. That game went down to the final second of regulation, but a chip-field goal from sophomore kicker Greg Casimir sealed the victory.  The Red Hawks threw for 220 yards behind quarterback Aidan McLaughlin who also had one touchdown and one interception. The team also ran for 153 total yards, with running back Henry Lewis averaging 6.8 yards per carry as he finished with 88 yards on just 13 carries. Five different receivers finished with at least 20 yards through the air.

Preseason All-American Nicholas Burgess led the team with 13 tackles during the season-opening win. His totals included 2.5 tackles for loss and one shared sack behind the line of scrimmage. Ryan Visalli added nine tackles to the winning effort, with Arnold Young and Alex Buchwaid each contributing seven stops. 

Centennial Conference Leaders

Passing Yards
2. Ty Tremba (538)

Receiving Yards
1. Jack O'Hearen (177)
10. Michael Poruban (104)

Points
4. Laurence Miller (13) - second among kickers

Kick Returns
8. Matt Hanna (16.5)

Total Offense
3. Ty Tremba (590 yards)

All-Purpose Yards
8. Jack O'Hearen (177)

Punting
1. Laurence Miller (41.6 yard average)

Field Goals
1. Laurence Miller (1.5 per game)

Tackles
7. Connor Hille (14)

Tackles for Loss
2. Jeff Decker (4.0)
3. Quincy Long (3.5)
4. Austin Hadley (3.0)

Sacks
2. Jeff Decker (3.5)
3. Quincy Long (2)
7. Connor Hille (1)

Passes Defended
2. Matt Scully (3)
3. Rafe Carner (2)
3. Nico Medlar (2)
3. Matt Wertz (2)

Interceptions
1. Matt Wertz (2)
4.  Nico Medlar (1)

Fumble Recoveries
2. Matt Wertz (1)
2. Quincy Long (1)

Forced Fumbles
1. Connor Hille (2)