The following is the press release earlier this year announcing the 2011 Franklin College football schedule…Franklin College has finalized its 2011 football schedule with one of the biggest NCAA Division III opponents it could have added.
The Griz will host defending national champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Stewart “Red” Faught Stadium with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
“Our whole program is very excited to be hosting the two-time defending national champions to Franklin College,” said Franklin head coach Mike Leonard. “I’ve developed a very respectful relationship with Coach (Lance) Leipold, after having played them this past season in the playoffs.”
“Our team knows that the Warhawks will again be a formidable opponent, but by hosting them here on our campus, we are excited about showing the GRIZ faithful what it will take to get to that level.”
Last year Franklin travelled to Whitewater for a first-round, North region playoff game. The Warhawks were playing without quarterback Matt Blanchard who fractured the thumb on his throwing hand in UWW’s final regular season game the week before against La Crosse.
Getting the start for the Warhawks was back-up quarterback Lee Brekke.
Franklin threw quite a scare into the heavily favored defending national champions.
The Griz managed to hang with the Warhawks for most of the first half. It appeared the teams would go int but Brekke tossed a touchdown with 25 seconds left in the second quarter to effectively steal the momentum.
"I think, right before halftime, getting that touchdown to go into halftime with a seven-point lead (was big)," Brekke said of the Warhawks going up 21-14.
We knew it was a great challenge when we saw the draw," Leonard said. "They made some plays. Give them credit. They get all the credit."
In the wild post-season shoot-out at the Perk, Franklin's Kyle Ray completed 40 of 72 passes for 373 yards and three TDs, but the Warhawks also forced the senior quarterback into a trio of costly interceptions — two of which turned into UWW points.
Franklin will also possess a strong offensive unit when it takes on the Warhawks on Saturday.
Franklin rallied from a two-touchdown deficit and then took full control in the second half in last Saturday night’s 49-35 football victory at Valparaiso University.
The Grizzlies, who piled up a whopping 669 yards of total offense, topped the Crusaders, a NCAA Football Championship Subdivision affiliate, for the second consecutive year. The contest was the season opener for both schools.
After falling behind 28-14 with five minutes left in the opening half, Franklin struck twice for touchdowns in the air to even the score at halftime.
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