HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover Panthers celebrated Hall of Fame Day on Saturday as they welcomed undefeated Mt. St. Joseph to Alumni Stadium. The Panthers fell in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup, 44-29.
 
Hanover was led on the afternoon by sophomore Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) with two rushing touchdowns and 80 yards of offense. Junior Caleb Brewster (Hiram, Ga.) led the defensive effort with nine total tackles, five of them solo stops.
 
The game saw scoring early and often as Hanover jumped out to the early lead. Junior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.)picked up the first score as he and senior Matthew Weimer (Georgetown, Ind.) connected for a five yard hookup, 7-0.
 
The Lions would respond with a field goal late in the first quarter before finally taking the 10-7 advantage at the 14 minute mark in the second quarter.
 
But the Blue and Red refused to go away as Weimer stepped up once more rushing for five yards and a score, capping a 15 play 75 yard drive, 14-10.
 
The MSJ offense found its footing as they rattled off three scoring drives that resulted in a 23-14 advantage midway through the third quarter.
 
However, the Panthers came clawing back with Oppel finding the endzone on a five yard rush to pull HC within 23-21.
 
Hanover took the lead one final time at the 8:36 mark in the fourth quarter as Oppel once again found the endzone, 29-23.
 
But the Lions deemed too much as they were able to add three fourth quarter scores en route to the 44-29 victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 when they take on Anderson.