HANOVER, Ind. - Hanover College is set to welcome Panther's home for the 96^th annual Homecoming celebration. The celebration will feature an action-packed weekend including Hanover football taking on Manchester at 1:30 PM from Alumni Stadium.
 
HOMECOMING SUCCESS: The Panthers have given the home crowd something to cheer about winning the last four Homecoming contests by an average margin of 56.75 points. Last season, Hanover hosted Bluffton defeating the Beavers 63-21. Their largest margin of victory during the four-year span came in 2019 when they soared past the Ravens of Anderson 70-0.
 
WE LOVE HAVING YOU: Welcome Home to all the Hanover College alumni, especially the Class of 1973 football players and cheerleaders!
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE SPARTANS: Hanover has dominated the Manchester Spartans under head coach Matt Theobald posting a 6-2 overall record, winners of four straight matchups. The last Manchester victory came in 2017 when the Spartans squeaked out a slim 35-34 win.
 
A SEASON AGO: In 2022, Hanover defeated Manchester 51-20 recording 28 first half points. Junior Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) turned in an impressive performance rushing for 109-yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Senior Hunter Eads (Batavia, Ohio) added 155-yards on seven receptions and two endzone trips.
 
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING: The defense for the Blue and Red is one of the best in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Hanover ranks first with league lows in touchdowns allowed per game (8) and points per game (13.0). They also claim the top spot in sacks with 13.
 
Junior David Wall (Sellersburg, Ind.) paces the defensive effort ranking first in the HCAC in total sacks with five, averaging a sack per game.
 
MANCHESTER THIS SEASON: Manchester enters the contest at 0-5 overall and 0-2 HCAC with their most recent hiccup coming against Rose-Hulman, 44-7. Leading the Spartans in 2023 is Duriel Moss Jr. with 209-yards receiving and two touchdowns.