COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall football team faced a tough challenge on the road Saturday afternoon as they traveled to Ursinus to take on a Bears team that is currently receiving votes in the national polls. Unfortunately for the Diplomats (1-3, 1-2 CC), Ursinus (3-1, 2-1 CC) lived up to its national billing on this week with a 28-0 victory on their home field.

First Quarter (Ursinus 7, F&M 0)

Ursinus took the opening drive of the game for 12 plays and 78 yards to jump out to a 7-0 advantage. The Diplomats' most promising drive of the quarter was their second as they got the ball out to the 38 behind a couple strong runs from first-year Jermaine Conyers before an illegal formation call stalled the drive.

Second Quarter (Ursinus 7, F&M 0)

After that opening drive, Franklin & Marshall's defense was certainly up to the test against its nationally-ranked foes in the second quarter. The defense forced three-and-outs on three of the Bears' four drives. However, the Ursinus defense was equally up to the task as a Tim Walters' 34-yard reception from Logan Clouse was the big play of the quarter before that drive was halted near midfield.  

Third Quarter (Ursinus 28, F&M 0)

Looking to get organized at the half, F&M didn't have the start it would have hoped for as an interception on the first play from scrimmage ultimately led to a 50-yard touchdown drive from the hosts. The Diplomats responded with their first drive into Ursinus territory thanks to a 14 yard run from Keshon Farmer, but a holding penalty halted that momentum. Two more quick drives put the game firmly in the Bears' control. An 86-yard touchdown pass with 5:02 left in the third made it 21-0. Ursinus continued to punish every F&M mistake as a Diplomats' fumble was recovered by the Bears, as they completed a 27-yard touchdown pass on the very next play.

Fourth Quarter (Ursinus 28, F&M 0)

The Diplomats threatened at the start of the fourth quarter as a 22-yard connection between first-years Jack O'Hearen and Clouse got F&M down to the Ursinus 30. The Diplomats went for it in 4th-and-4 after two runs for positive yards, but were denied as Ursinus' defense broke up the fourth down pass attempt. That proved to be the last fruitful drive for either side.

Key F&M Performances

Franklin & Marshall did come up with a turnover of its own as Kell Hall intercepted a pass to stop an Ursinus drive late in the third quarter. Hall led the Diplomats' defense with two additional pass breakups on the afternoon. Calvin Krippner led the defense with 10 tackles, including seven solo efforts and one hit for a loss. The Diplomats had 11 total tackles for loss on the afternoon, including three such efforts from Kevonte Beard and two more from Bobby Buchys and Thomas Downs. One of those tackles for loss was Buchys who recorded F&M's sack of the quarterback.

Offensively, the Diplomats churned out 218 yards of offense, with 96 on the ground and 122 through the air. Conyers averaged 3.6 yards per carry with 40 yards rushing on 11 careers. Farmer carried 11 times for 34 yards. Clouse finished the game with 99 yards passing. A nice flea flicker netted Jack O'Hearen 23 yards passing. Ben Moir led the receivers with four catches as he totaled 30 yards. Walters and O'Hearen both had a pair of receptions, with Walters going for a team-best 57 receiving yards. Matt Scully had a nice afternoon on kickoff returns as he averaged 21.3 yards on his four returns for a total of 85 yards.

Franklin & Marshall's tough Centennial Conference slate to start the year will see the Diplomats travel to No. 18 Johns Hopkins next Saturday for a 1 p.m. opening kickoff. Despite the tough test ahead, the last time F&M visited Homewood Field in 2019, the Diplomats emerged with a 20-17 victory against the then-No. 16 Blue Jays.