Despite Williams and his teammates' efforts in front of a good crowd of 2748 inside Carl Burt Field, Franklin came away with the 48-27 victory. The Spartans, dipping to 0-3 overall, trailed D3Football.com's No. 20-ranked team 28-7 at halftime behind the accurate arm of sophomore quarterback Jonny West.

West led the Grizzlies (1-2 overall) on three drives of 70 yards or more and another of 68 to find paydirt. Williams registered the first of his two rushing scores on MU's scoring march, going around right end on a fourth down attempt from the one-yard line.

Coach Shannon Griffith's charges kept after the preseason league favorites in the second half. After giving up an early score to make it 35-7, the Black and Gold drove 77 yards for a touchdown with Williams diving in from three yards out. On Franklin's ensuing possession, MU's defense turned in a big play when junior linebacker Nick Miller (Huntington, Ind.) picked off a Franklin pass attempt in Manchester territory and scampered to the Grizzlies' 47. Nine plays later, senior tight end Dante Dinkins (East Chicago, Ind.) bulled in from a yard out to make it 35-21.

Franklin went back to the air to answer the Spartans' challenge. West hit a streaking Kyle Linville down the seam for a 49-yard scoring toss on the visitors' ensuing possession. After stopping their hosts on downs, the Grizzlies put their final points of the afternoon up on the board when fullback Joey Pasquale broke through the MU defensive front and rambled 49 yards for a touchdown.

Manchester did manage one more scoring drive to the end game. With freshman signal caller Logan Haston (Avon, Ind.) at the controls, the Spartans covered 40 yards in four plays. Haston hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Bryce Peyton (Covington, Ind.) for the last 19 and the touchdown.

Williams led the Black and Gold in individual rushing and passing. Haston added 119 passing yards, while senior Kurt Monix (Crown Point, Ind.) led the receiving corps with seven catches for 111 yards. Sophomore linebacker Evan West (Hartford City, Ind.) and junior linebacker Dylin Kennedy (North Manchester, Ind.) topped the defense with nine and seven-and-a-half tackles, respectively.

West led Franklin's offense with three touchdown passes and 357 yards through the air. Linville was his favorite target with 10 catches for 148 yards and all three touchdown receptions.

Manchester opens a two-game road stretch Saturday, Sept. 22. MU visits Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for a 2 p.m. kickoff inside Cook Stadium.