FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Panthers completed the unthinkable on Saturday afternoon as part of the 94^th Victory Bell contest at Franklin. The Blue and Red trailed the entire contest until the final 30 seconds where they claimed their first lead with the go-ahead touchdown en route to the 31-27 victory.
 
The 94^th playing of the Victory Bell gave viewers everything they could want in a rivalry matchup.
 
The home team Franklin drew first blood, traveling 78 yards on six plays for the score, 7-0.
 
Hanover would respond as they took over on downs with 1:33 remaining in the first frame at their own 39 yard line. Sophomore Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) found senior Jalen Peck (Bloomington, Ind.) on the first play from scrimmage for a 13 yard hookup. Roudebush continued to deal under center as he connected with senior Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) in the flat for a nine yard catch that landed the Panthers at the Franklin two yard line. Senior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) evaded the defense for the catch and touchdown, 7-6.
 
The Grizzles continued to test the Panther secondary, as a pass to the right side for 24 yards landed them in the endzone. The catch capped a four-play, 65-yard drive, 14-6.
 
Hanover refused to be defined forcing an impactful defensive stop late into the half that ended in a Franklin punt with 19 seconds remaining. Eian Roudebush handled the rest dropping a dime pass through three defenders to sophomore Curbrian Shelby (Indianapolis, Ind.) in the endzone, 14-13.
 
The second half saw the Franklin transfer sophomore Clint Hearne (Madison, Ind.) display why he was named the HCAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week for the third time. With 2:29 to play in the third quarter, Hearne connected for a 28-yard field goal, cutting the Franklin difference to 21-16.
 
But the Grizzlies kept foraging as they tacked on a score moments into the fourth quarter. Franklin running back Garrett Cora made his third endzone trip of the afternoon to extend the Franklin advantage to 27-16.
 
Hanover continued to chip at the difference using a five minute drive spanning 95 yards. Roudebush delivered the score with the aerial attack. He found Shelby for a nine yard catch before hitting Peck at the Hanover 30 yard line for a Panther first down. The offensive explosion came with a big play to Eric Roudebush for 38 yards. Oppel made his first endzone trip concluding the 95 yard, 13 play drive. Peck converted on the two point conversion that saw HC pull within 27-24.
 
The Panther defense showed why they rank first in several HCAC statistical categories as sophomore Saadiq Pasha (Hephzibah, Ga.) picked off the Franklin offense with 7:38 remaining in the contest. Hanover thought it would be just the momentum swing they needed but Franklin responded with a defensive stop of their own.
 
Hanover refused to roll over finding their first lead of the contest with just 39 seconds remaining in the contest. The game winning drive saw Oppel rush ahead for eight yards before a Roudebush to Peck hookup placed them in Grizzlies territory. The rest was history as Eian Roudebush called game with a one yard rush up the middle for the go-ahead score, 31-27.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
Eian Roudebush passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns. He also added one rushing score.
 
Senior David Wall (Sellersburg, Ind.) paced the defense with four total tackles all for a loss.
 
As a team, Hanover tallied a game-high 427 yards of offense on 73 plays.
 
Hanover will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23 when the compete in the Opendorse Bowl Game in Canton, Ohio.