HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover Football team hits the road this weekend traveling to Mount St. Joseph for Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.  
 
HAPPY HOMECOMING: Hanover celebrated the 96^th annual homecoming this past weekend with a 34-0 shutout victory over Manchester. Hanover was led in the contest by HCAC special teams' player of the week, sophomore Michael Gordon (Nashville, Tenn.). Gordon opened the second half in a major way taking the opening kickoff 80-yards for the touchdown. As a unit, Hanover charted 407 total yards of offense while holding the Spartans to a league low 230-yards.
 
THE SHIELD OF DEFENSE: The Panther defense has the HCAC on lockdown. The Blue and Red currently leads the conference in fewest touchdowns allowed (8) and fewest points scored (65). Hanover is the only team to have surrendered less then 100 points to their opponents, the next closest is Mt. St. Joseph surrendering 143 points. The pressure in the backfield is undeniable as Hanover has reached the QB 17 times for a combined loss of 73-yards. However, in the secondary the Panthers rank second with 12 interceptions behind the Lions of MSJ who have picked off opposing quarterbacks a league high 17 times.
 
THE MATCHUP: Mt. St. Joseph enters the weekend with a 3-9 record against Hanover dating back to the 2010 campaign. The Panthers last victory came in 2019 when they defeated MSJ 27-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a perfect 7-0 mark in HCAC play. Last season, MSJ claimed the victory inside Alumni Stadium 44-29 after a 21 point forth quarter.
 
THE LIONS ROAR: MSJ enters the weekend at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in HCAC play after defeating Anderson, 77-14. The high-power offense tallied 566 total yards behind the performance of senior quarterback Josh Taylor. Taylor threw for 180-yards and three touchdowns on 19 total attempts. He currently leads the HCAC with 22 total touchdowns and 1,484 passing yards.