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BellGameWin
24
Winner Hanover HAN 5-5 , 5-2
3
Franklin FRA 4-6 , 4-3
Winner
Hanover HAN
5-5 , 5-2
24
Final
3
Franklin FRA
4-6 , 4-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
HAN Hanover 7 10 7 0 24
FRA Franklin 0 0 3 0 3

Game Recap: Football |

Panthers dominate Franklin en route to 92nd Victory Bell Game win

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Sophomore Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) ran all over the Franklin defense to help propel the Panthers to their fourth Victory Bell win in as many as five seasons on Saturday, 24-3.
 
With the winning of the 92nd Victory Bell Game, Hanover extends their series lead to 46-42-3.
 
Hanover was led in the contest by Oppel with 144 rushing yard and two touchdowns. Under center, senior Matthew Weimer (Georgetown, Ind.) threw for 299 yards and a score.
 
The defense kept the Franklin offense in check allowing just 195 total yards of offense and zero touchdown trips.
 
The Panthers set the tone early with Oppel pacing the ground game. The sophomore topped a 74 yard 10 play drive with a six yard rush to the endzone. The play was setup by an impressive 51 yard hookup between senior Matthew Weimer (Georgetown, Ind.) and senior Hunter Eads (Batavia, Ohio) for the go-ahead score at the 10:07 mark, 7-0.
 
The Panther defense came up big late in the first quarter forcing a 32 yard Franklin field goal that missed wide left sending the electric Panther offense back onto the field. Sophomore Yoann Kinanga (Jeffersonville, Ind.) delivered driving home a 23 yard field goal at the 13:40 mark, 10-0.  
 
Hanover added one final first half score as Oppel once again delivered. The running back capped a 108 yard first half with a his second endzone visit pushing HC into the intermission with the 17-0 lead.
 
The second half would see Franklin finally find some points as the Panther defense halted the charging Grizzlies forcing a 21 yard field goal attempt at the 9:25 mark, 17-3.
 
But the Panther offense continued to fire on all cylinders marching down the field for another Hanover score. This time Eads found the endzone using a hesitation route that left the Franklin defense in the dust. Eads and Weimer connected for a 27 yard TD hookup with just 00:42 second to play in the third quarter, 24-3.
 
Junior Brody Luker (New Palestine, Ind.) came in clutch for the Panthers in the final minutes picking off the FC quarterback securing the win.
 
Hanover wrapped up the 2022 season at 5-5 overall and 5-2 in HCAC play.
 
 
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