WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Franklin & Marshall football team posted its second shutout of the 2026 season with a 26-0 win at McDaniel on Saturday afternoon. Today's result marks the second time in three years that Franklin & Marshall has shut out two opponents in the same season. Before this stretch, the Diplomats last recorded multiple shutouts in the same season during the 2008 campaign.
F&M's defense allowed just 96 yards of total offense to the Green Terror as they managed just six first downs. McDaniel averaged exactly one yard per carry throughout the game and added just 69 more yards in the passing game. Michael Fleming converted three field goals on the day to break the Centennial Conference record for most consecutive field goals. F&M also made big plays on special teams as Aaron Potts recovered a blocked punt in the end zone while the Diplomats also forced a safety during a separate punt attempt in the fourth quarter.
First Quarter (Franklin & 0, McDaniel 0)
The Diplomats had just one full offensive drive during the opening quarter where they took ball down to McDaniel's 11 before a strip sack ended a red zone possession. When they got the ball for a second time, they would convert the red zone opportunity early in the second quarter as Fleming made his first of three field goals on the day from 40 yards.
Second Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 14, McDaniel 0)
Franklin & Marshall added to its lead after Nick Aravides picked off a pass and returned it to McDaniel's 24-yard line. Fleming's 32-yard field goal made the game 6-0. The Diplomats continued to be opportunistic later in the quarter as their defense pinned the Green Terror deep before Nathan Schultz blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone by Potts for a touchdown. Louis Paris added the two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 game at the half.
Third Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 17, McDaniel 0)
The Diplomats marched the opening drive of the second half 55 yards with a steady dose of Paris and Anthony Valdez. After tying the record during the second quarter, Fleming broke the Centennial Conference record when he recorded his 14th consecutive field goal on a 24-yard attempt. The previous conference record of 13 consecutive fields was held by F&M's Billy Zwicharowski '17.
Fourth Quarter (Franklin & Marshall 26, McDaniel 0)
Franklin & Marshall continued to capitalize on McDaniel's special team miscues during the fourth quarter. A snap over the punter's head resulted in a safety to make the score 19-0. F&M immediately got the ball back and scored a touchdown on its final possession. Potts got that drive started with a 42-yard kickoff return. Paris ultimately capped the drive with a two-yard plunge for his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. Fittingly enough, McDaniel's final play of the game ended with a sack from Jack Walker.
Key Stats/Players
The defense and the special teams were the stars for the Diplomats as McDaniel averaged just 2.2 yards per play. Franklin & Marshall made 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a total loss of 54 yards. That included four sacks, featuring two from Quincy Long. Austin Hadley led the team with six tackles, including 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Special teams helped to account for 18 of F&M's points on the day.
When the Diplomats did move the ball, they did so on the ground as the rushing game averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Paris averaged 5.5 yards per carry, finishing with 88 yards on 16 carries. Jason Prinzivalli was taken down in the backfield on a couple occassions, but still had a 5.5 yard rushing average on 13 carries. Jack Harrison was once again the team's leading receiver as he caught six passes for 50 yards.
Up Next
The Diplomats return home to Shadek Stadium this coming Saturday for their final home game of the regular season. That game on November 7 will be 12 p.m. noon kickoff with Senior Day festivities set to get started at 11:30 a.m. during a pregame ceremony.
