DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Hanover Panthers (1-3 overall, 1-0 HCAC) hit the road for Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon using a second half outburst to capture the 37-20 victory.
 
Leading the charge was sophomore Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) with 119 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Senior Matthew Weimer (Georgetown, Ind.) picked up 257 yards through the air with two touchdowns and a rushing score.
 
After surrendering the opening score to the Yellow Jackets, the Panthers responded. Sophomore Blake Huffman (Columbus, Ind.) provided the score early in the second quarter using a one yard rush at the 8:51 mark. Hanover took the ball 81 yards on 13 plays for the touchdown, 7-7.
 
However, Defiance responded reclaiming the lead midway through the second quarter after a five play 67 yard drive ended in another Yellow Jacket score, 14-7.
 
Trailing 14-7, the Panther defense went to work forcing a fumble late in the opening half that set Hanover inside the Defiance 35 yard line. Weimer handled the rest knotting the contest at 14-14.
 
The Blue and Red erupted in the second half taking the kickoff 65 yards on six plays resulting in an 18 yard hookup with junior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.), 21-14.
 
The third quarter would see sophomore Yoann Kinanga (Jeffersonville, Ind.) cap off the scoring as he connected for a 22 yard field goal.
 
The scoring frenzy continued in the fourth quarter with sophomore Jalen Peck (Bloomington, Ind.) making his way into the endzone after a 15 yard connection with 8:42 to play. The final touchdown came on the ground by way of Oppel en route to the 37-20 victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 8 when they celebrate Homecoming with Bluffton at Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM.