Game Notes

Franklin & Marshall Last Time Out...

A fourth quarter comeback bid came up just short as Franklin & Marshall dropped a 23-17 Centennial Conference contest at Ursinus. The Diplomats (3-2, 1-1 CC) scored a touchdown with 3:41 to play in regulation and forced a three-and-out on defense before getting the ball down to the Ursinus red zone. Facing fourth-and-15, the Diplomats got nine on a scramble before the Bears (5-0, 2-0 CC) were finally able to end the rally inside of their own end zone. That thrilling finish capped a fourth quarter in which the teams combined for 20 of the game's 40 points during the final period.

A pair of field goals for both sides made the game a 10-3 affair at the half. Laurence Miller provided his Centennial Conference-leading fifth field goal of the season from 29 yards out to get the Diplomats on the board. F&M looked to have a chance to make a further dent in that deficit just before the break as Jacob Hille came up with an interception that he returned to the Ursinus 12 before the Bears were able to force a second turnover on that play via a fumble to keep their seven-point lead at the break. Franklin & Marshall tied the game at 10-all with 4:41 to play in third quarter after going 80 yards over the course of 10 plays. Ty Tremba found the Centennial Conference's leading receiver, Jack O'Hearen, for a 10-yard touchdown pass to conclude that scoring drive.

Ursinus looked to be taking control of the game early in the fourth quarter as it converted a field goal and returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown. The Bears added to their lead with another field after the Diplomats' fumbled a punt return with just over nine minutes left in regulation to make the score 23-10 before the Diplomats' comeback bid. Despite facing heavy pressure all afternoon, Tremba threw for 417 yards and two touchdowns. Lewis caught seven passes for 132 yards, while O'Hearen added 129 yards on six receptions. Franklin & Marshall's defense was able to hold the vaunted Ursinus offense in check as the Diplomats finished with a 463-268 advantage in total yards. F&M also had 21 first downs, compared to just 13 for the Bears. Kyle Evancho, Jacob Hille, and Connor Hille all tied for the team lead with eight tackles on the afternoon. A great team defensive effort resulted in seven 

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 ... 

The Diplomats held a 7-6 lead at halftime against then-No. 10 Johns Hopkins last season and basically matched the Blue Jays score-for-score during the second half of a thrilling Centennial Conference affair inside Shadek Stadium. Despite falling by a 34-27 score, the Diplomats held 13-6 and 20-13 leads during the third quarter behind touchdown receptions from Brady Aselton and Gary Lewis. Following Lewis' touchdown, the Blue Jays returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards as part of a 21-0 run to help them take a lead that they would not relinquish. Aselton scored his second touchdown of the afternoon to break that run before the Diplomats elected for the element of surprise as they went for an onside kick with 4:50 remaining in regulation, but the Blue Jays were able to cover the possession and run out the remaining time on clock.

After just one touchdown allowed by each defense during the first half, the Diplomats scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions early in the third quarter. Nico Medlar got the first drive started as he picked off Bay Harvey and returned that ball to the Blue Jays' 25. On the second play of that drive, Tremba found Aselton to put F&M up 13-6 after the ensuing PAT was blocked. When the Diplomats began to pick up their offensive output, the Blue Jays answered that by scoring touchdowns on three consecutive drives. The first of those touchdowns came as Polce hauled in a 51-yard touchdown reception. Tied at 13, Mitch Wagner got the Diplomats back into JHU territory with a 27-yard run. Tremba completed three of his four passes on the drive following that run, capped by Lewis' eighth touchdown reception of the season. That lead would not last for long as the Blue Jays once again knotted the score on a 98-yard kickoff return.

Tremba threw for four touchdowns on the afternoon, completing 14 passes for a total of 190 yards. Both of Asleton's catches went for touchdowns. Lewis caught three passes for 59 yards and his touchdown, while Sutton had a team-high four receptions for 39 yards and one score. The Diplomats' defense saw three players register at last 10 tackles on the afternoon. Matt Wertz led those efforts with 12 tackles in addition to a pass breakup in coverage. Nico Medlar and Matt Scully each recorded 10 stops on the afternoon. Medlar also had F&M's interception on two pass breakups, while Scully added another PBU. Jeff Decker was a constant presence in the JHU backfield, making eight tackles as two of those came behind the line of scrimmage.

Scouting Johns Hopkins

James Rinello has taken over as the Blue Jays' signal caller after an injury to Bay Harvey. Rinello has played in the last two games and has completed 30 of his 47 passes on the year for 411 yards and four touchdowns. EJ Talarico has been the most targeted wide receiver with 22 catches for 306 yards, but has just one touchdown on the season. PJ Scales is the only Blue Jays' receiver with multiple touchdown receptions (4) as he has caught 16 passes for 195 yards. Three different JHU players have gone over 100 yards this season. Geoff Schroeder (48 yards per game) and Harvey (49.3 yards per game lead the team in rushing, but Harvey is expected to miss Saturday's contest. Andrew Rich is averaging 33.6 yards per game as a second option in the backfield.

Seven different players on the defensive side of the ball will enter Saturday's game with at least 20 tackles through the first five games. Cole Peters leads that group with 42 tackles, 10 more than any of his teammates. Will Seibert is the team leader in both sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (5.5) . The Blue Jays have not thrown an interception all season and have come up with five from their secondary. Jack Schondelmayer leads that unit with two picks. The Blue Jays have also forced just one fumble on the year. On special teams, Brad Paxton is 5-for-7 on field goals, with his two other attempts both being blocked. His long on the season came from 30 yards. The Diplomats should have their chances in the return game as none of Paxton's kickoffs have gone for touchbacks.

Centennial Conference Leaders for Franklin & Marshall

Passing Yards
2. Ty Tremba (303.2 per game)

Receiving Yards
1. Jack O'Hearen (108.2 per game)
5. Jack Harrison (62.0 per game)

Scoring
6. Laurence Miller (6.0 ppg)

Kick Returns
6. Matt Hanna (18.2 per return)

Total Offense
2. Ty Tremba (321.6 yards per game)

All-Purpose Yards
5. Jack O'Hearen (108.2 yards per game)

Punting
3. Laurence Miller (38.1 yard average)

Field Goals
1. Laurence Miller (5)

Tackles for Loss
3. Quincy Long (7.0)
4. Jeff Decker (5.5)
8. Matt Scully (4.5)

Sacks
3. Jeff Decker (3.5)
4. Quincy Long (3.0)

Passes Defended
6. Matt Scully (5)

Interceptions
2. Matt Wertz (2)
6.  Nico Medlar (1)
6. Kyle Evancho (1)
6. Jacob Hille (1)

Fumble Recoveries
3. Rafe Carner (1)
3. Matt Wertz (1)
3. Quincy Long (1)

Forced Fumbles
1. Connor Hille (3)
4. Chris Albero (1)