FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Spartans fell to the Franklin College Grizzlies by a final score of 36-0 in a conference road game on Saturday, November 4. 

The Grizzlies' defense was challenging to overcome as the Spartans were sacked four times, lost a fumble, and had a pair of passes intercepted. Franklin limited Manchester to just 101 yards of total offense in Saturday's game. 

The Grizzlies got the scoring underway on the game's fifth play with an interception returned for a touchdown to give Franklin a 7-0 lead. After recovering a fumble on the Spartans' next drive, Franklin added to their lead with a 41-yard field goal and the Grizzly offense found the end zone late in the opening quarter to increase their lead to 17-0. Manchester's defense held Franklin off the board in the second quarter, keeping the score 17-0 at halftime. 

Franklin scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter before tacking on another field goal and a safety in the fourth quarter en route to a 36-0 victory. 

Manchester's defense came away with a forced fumble and two sacks of its own. Senior defensive lineman Sam Huffman (Bremen, Ind., Bremen) led the Spartan defense with 10 total tackles, including eight solo tackles and a quarterback hurry. Jaylen Grimes (Goulds, Fla., Christopher Columbus) and Derrick Doss (Indianapolis, Ind., Thomas Carr Howe) each had a sack for a combined loss of 16 yards. David Dent (Cochran, Ga., Bleckley County) and Jamaal Hubbard (Russelville, Ala., Russelville) finished the day with two tackles for a loss apiece. 

Manchester (0-9, 0-6 HCAC) will return to Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 11 as they host rival Anderson University to conclude the 2023 season. The Spartans will look to win back the coveted Bronze Ball Trophy.