FRANKLIN, Ind. — A pair of scores late in the second quarter on Saturday provided a boost for Franklin College as the Grizzlies defeated the Earlham College football team .

Franklin (4-2, 4-0) led the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest 14-13 when the Grizzlies scored 14 points in the last 1:43 of the first half to go on top 28-13 at the intermission.

Earlham grabbed an early advantage as the Quakers scored on their first possession. Levi Hansen capped a 13-play, 78-yard drive with a 2-yard run at the 10:16 mark of the opening stanza.

The Grizzlies responded to tie the contest with a touchdown at 1:04 of the first.

Ryan Acosta gave the Quakers the lead again at 10-7 when he booted a 39-yard field goal with 10:34 remaining in the second frame.

Franklin bounced back with another score to make it 14-10 with 8:57 left in the first half.

The Quakers were able to close the gap to 14-13 when Acosta converted a 23-yard field goal.

The Grizzlies answered with a score with 1:43 and then another with eight seconds on the clock.
In the second half, Franklin scored twice in the third before adding another in the fourth.

A 13-yard run by quarterback Brennan Laird in the fourth quarter was Earlham's last score of the day. Laird finished the afternoon with 26 completions in 43 attempts for 257 yards.

Marcaus Cooper led the Quakers with eight catches for 84 yards. Jalen Kenner added four grabs for 68 yards. Malik Reid had six receptions for 40 yards. Wesley Hundley caught six passes for 38 yards. Levi Hansen rushed for 114 yards on 24 carries.

Earlham's defense was led by Ishmail MacNeil, who had nine tackles. Mason Davis had seven tackles.

Denis Caulley had an interception, while Lajay Kelly recovered a fumble.

The Quakers (0-6, 0-4) return home next Saturday for a contest against Bluffton University. The HCAC game in Darrell Beane Stadium gets underway at 1:30 p.m.