LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall football team met a Susquehanna squad that was receiving votes in the latest D3Football.com poll on Saturday. he two teams certainly put on a show as they tied a conference record by playing five overtimes during the instant classic. That matched the record which was previously set during a non-conference game between Ursinus and Millersville from the 2014 season. Unfortunately for the Diplomats, they found themselves on the wrong side of the 30-28 final inside Shadek Stadium.

After being held in check for the first half, the Diplomats tied the game at seven with 5:37 to play in the third quarter. The Diplomats were holding a 21-7 lead with 10:26 to play in the fourth quarter before the River Hawks knotted the score. The Diplomats quickly got a taste of the new overtime format as the teams were both held scoreless in the first extra period and traded field goals during the second. Starting with the third overtime, both teams traded two-point conversation attempts. Each side was successful in the third and fourth overtimes. The Diplomats failed to convert during the fifth overtime as the River Hawks just snuck the ball inside the pylon during their final possession to claim the walk-off victory.

First Quarter (Susquehanna 0, F&M 0)
The Diplomats were forced to defend in their own territory during the first two drives, but got a huge interception from Peter Orio stopped the first drive before the River Hawks missed a field goal on the second.

Second Quarter (Susquehanna 7, F&M 0)
Susquehanna got on the board as its third drive extended into the second quarter. A 17-yard touchdown run on a keeper from Michael Ruisch capped a 10-play, 71 yard drive.

Third Quarter (Susquehanna 7, F&M 7)
The Diplomats started to move the ball late in the second quarter and were able to turn that into points during the third quarter. Logan Clouse had three completions of over 10 yards on the game-tying touchdown drive. He found Tim Walters for 18, Trey Glass for 15, and capped the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jack O'Hearen. That touchdown was the first for both of F&M's first-year standouts.

Fourth Quarter Susquehanna 21, F&M 21)
Franklin & Marshall took its first lead of the game as Clouse hit Will Higson for a 16-yard touchdown reception to cap a 78-yard drive. On the Diplomats' next possession, first-year running back Jermaine Conyers capped a quick hitting drive with his first career touchdown, a 19-yard run to pay dirt. The River Hawks scored on their very next possession and set up the epic overtime as the game-tying drive came with just 1:47 to play in regulation.

Overtime (Susquehanna 30, F&M 28)
1st OT: Both teams missed field goal attempts
2nd OT: After Susquehanna connected on a 37-yard field goal, Jack Rodenberger had ice water in his veins as he drilled a 40-yard attempt to keep the game alive.
3rd OT: Clouse found Higson from the three-yard line, but the River Hawks answered with their own conversion through the air.
4th OT: Clouse hit O'Hearen in the end zone to match Susquehanna's conversion.
5th OT: Clouse went back to Higson, but the connection was unsuccessful. Susquehanna was able to beat the F&M defense to the pylon and just broke the plane of the goal line for the win. 

Notable F&M Stats

Jermaine Conyers carried 31 times for 86 yards in his first career start. Logan Clouse completed 18 passes for 207 yards. Jack O'Hearen caught a team-high five passes for 78 yards. Tim Walters also hauled in five passes for 59 yards. Nate Costley returned two kickoffs for 51 yards.

Dan DiBeneditto and Calvin Krippner led the defense with 10 tackles. DiBeneditto had two tackles for a loss. Kell Hall and Colin Lavigne both broke up two passes in coverage. Peter Orio had one sack and one interception.

Up Next

Franklin & Marshall will be back at home next Saturday at 1 p.m. against McDaniel.