Box Score HANOVER, Ind. – Hanover (3-1 overall, 1-0 HCAC) scored early and often as they opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play at home. Hanover secured the win on the final drive kicking a field goal as time expired to beat Mount St. Joseph for the first time at Alumni Stadium since 2012, 40-38.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
Senior Eian Roudebush put on a clinic under center throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns, to three separate receivers.
 
Junior Blaik Nation was his top target collecting three receptions for 131 total yards.  
 
Junior DJ Grinter, senior Scotty Johnson, and junior Jack Pennington all had one touchdown reception.
 
Defensively, junior Brian Wall dominated charting five tackles with two pass breakups in the endzone. His teammate, senior Colton Roth added a sack with eight tackles for loss.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hanover jumped out to a quick start, scoring 17 unanswered points in the opening quarter.
 
The scoring started with a 14-yard touchdown pass by senior Eian Roudebush to senior Scotty Johnson on third down, giving Hanover a 7-0 advantage with 9:17 remaining in the first period.
 
Hanover continued to find success offensively, putting together another scoring drive that ended with Roudebush connecting with junior Jack Pennington for a 15-yard touchdown. Sophomore Andrew Weitzel added the extra point to push the Panther lead to 14-0 with 1:07 remaining in the quarter.
 
Weitzel capped the opening quarter with a 21-yard field goal, extending Hanover's advantage to 17-0. Johnson setup the field goal attempt with a 33-yard reception that placed Hanover at the Mount St. Joseph 26-yard line.
 
 Mount responded in the second quarter matching the Panthers' 17 unanswered points to tie the contest with 1:22 remaining.
 
Weitzel provided the go-ahead boot, splitting the uprights from 43 yards to send Hanover into half leading 20-17.
 
The second half saw the Panther defense make a statement as sophomore Kane Powell-Smith intercepted the MSJ quarterback, Schreiber, setting up Hanover in the redzone early in the third quarter. Sophomore Josh Williams handled the rest rushing for 19-yards and the score, 27-17.
 
The special team's unit made a stellar play on the following kickoff as junior Blaine Ison recovered the muffed kickoff to set up another touchdown. Roudebush connected with junior DJ Grinter in the corner of the endzone to push the advantage to 34-17 with 10:20 remaining in the third.
 
MSJ was able to hang seven in the third quarter, pulling within 37-24. The fourth quarter saw the Lions look to convert on a fourth and goal when senior Colton Roth recorded a clutch sack that forced a turnover on downs.
 
They would break the goal line with 10:06 remaining in the fourth to pull within 37-31.
 
MSJ captured their lone lead with 51 seconds remaining to go in front 38-37.

The Panthers refused to lay down as Weitzel connected for his biggest field goal of his career connecting for a 40-yard attempt to propel HC to victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 10 when they travel to Wilmington. Game time is set for 7:00 PM.