LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall football team held a 7-6 lead at halftime against No. 10 Johns Hopkins 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.
First Quarter (Johns Hopkins 6, Franklin & Marshall 0)
Despite the defenses ruling the majority of the opening half, Johns Hopkins was able to take the opening drive of the game 75 yards on nine plays, capped by quarterback Bay Harvey finding Josh Polce for a 21-yard touchdown reception. Johns Hopkins also had a chance to go up 9-0 after missing a PAT, but Jeff Decker came up with a huge field goal block to keep the Diplomats within a possession.
Second Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 7, Johns Hopkins 6)
Franklin & Marshall started to gain some offensive traction midway through the second quarter with a nine-play drive that went 74 yards. After getting the ball across midfield, quarterback Ty Tremba found Gary Lewis for a 35-yard reception that put the Diplomats in the red zone. Just two plays later, Tremba connected with Jack Sutton for an 11-yard touchdown reception before the extra point put the Diplomats up by a point. That lead held as F&M's defense came up with a big fourth down stop just outside of its red zone to deny the visiting Blue Jays the opportunity to hold the lead heading into the break.
Third Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 20, Johns Hopkins 20)
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 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.
Fourth Quarter (Johns Hopkins 34, Franklin & Marshall 27)
Johns Hopkins kept its offense rolling in the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown run from Bay Harvey before he found Joe Zahner on a 40-yard touchdown reception to make the score 34-20 with 9:11 remaining in regulation. The Diplomats kept their hopes alive when Owen Walsh forced a fumble on the next JHU drive that was recovered by LT Kelley.
With a drive starting in enemy territory, Tremba found Lewis and Ben Moir for catches of 16 and 22 yards, respectively. The Blue Jays were eventually called for pass interference in the end zone, and two plays later Aselton capped the drive with his second touchdown of the afternoon. After an unsuccessful onside kick, the Blue Jays ran off the remaining time to deny the Diplomats a chance to get the ball back for one final chance at tying the game.
Key Stats/Performances
Tremba threw for four touchdowns on the afternoon, completing 14 passes for a total of 190 yards. His counterpart was 19-of-31 through the air for 297 yards and three touchdowns. Both of Asleton's catches went for touchdowns. Gary Lewis caught three passes for 59 yards and his touchdown, while Sutton had a team-high four receptions for 39 yards and one score. Wagner took the bulk of the Diplomats' rushing load with 14 carries for 74 yards.
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.
Up Next
Following back-to-back home contests, the Diplomats will head to Westminster next week for a road contest at McDaniel. That Centennial Conference matchup is set for a 1 p.m. kick off in Maryland.
