HANOVER, Ind. – The Panthers conclude regular season action on Saturday celebrating Senior Day with the playing of the 67^th annual Victory Bell Game against Franklin, the 93^rd overall meeting between the two teams. The game is sponsored by the Indiana Donor Network, saving lives through organ and tissue donation.
 
THE HISTORY OF THE BELL: The Victory Bell was first awarded in 1938 with Hanover winning the contest 19-13. The idea of a trophy for the winner of the annual game was presented by Hanover's "Bat Club," a non-athletic group of male students on campus that wanted to improve school spirit. Hanover currently holds the 40-27 advantage in Bell games.
 
LAST MEETING: The last time these two teams met came in 2022 with the Panthers winning a snowy 24-3 victory inside Faught Stadium. Junior Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) led Hanover with 153-yards on the ground and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He turned in a game-high 45-yard rush. Defensively, the Panthers held Franklin to just 195-yards, averaging just 2.9 yards per play.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD: On paper, the two teams enter the weekend with very even resumes. However, the Hanover offense holds the slight advantage averaging 6.8 yards per play, 449.6 yards per game and 36.22 points per contest.  
 
Franklin comes into the weekend averaging 5.8 yards per play, 421.0 yards per game, and 30.89 points per game.
 
THE HCAC STATISTICS: The Hanover defense ranks first with a league low in points per game at 17.9 and total yards allowed at 2,695. They have surrendered just 19 endzone visits and 26 sacks for 152-yards. Junior David Wall (Sellersburg, Ind.) has been a force in the backfield with a team-high nine total sacks for 52 yards. He has registered 30 total stops, including 20 solo tackles.
 
SATURDAY EXCITEMENT: Not only is it the playing of the prestigious 67^th annual Victory Bell Game but Hanover will also recognize 33 outstanding senior student-athletes as part of their pregame festivities.