Spring Break
Football faces losing season after tough loss
Issue date: 11/8/07
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For the current group of Hopkins seniors, it is hard to look at this season as being an overall success. The football players in the class of 2008 had gone 25-15 over the last four years and had never suffered a season with a win-loss record below .500. But looking to salvage their season and move to an even win-loss record, both overall and in Centennial Conference play, the Blue Jays (3-6) knew they had to win their last two games. And they hoped to get started on that task on Saturday, Nov. 3, the last home game of the season, against the Franklin and Marshall College Diplomats (3-6).
But F&M, aided by chilly weather and heavy winds, managed to hold Hopkins to just two scores as they pulled out a 19-11 win - the Diplomats' first win at Homewood since 1995.
On the first possession of the game, sophomore quarterback Mike Murray, from the Diplomats' 40-yard line, coughed up the ball to the F&M defense. The Jays then forced F&M to go three and out on the Diplomats' first possession, but Hopkins showed its team's prowess as a botched punt snap, recovered by F&M punter Jeff Hogan, was then forced out by a strong tackle and recovered by sophomore Ryan Rasner at the F&M 22-yard line.
Three plays into the Jays' next possession, Murray was pressured on both sides by F&M linemen and was hit hard, fumbling for a loss for the second consecutive possession. This fumble led to an F&M touchdown five plays later on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Turner to Jay Riddinger in the front corner of the end zone.
Murray's turnovers prompted head coach Jim Margraff to bring in freshman Max Islinger at quarterback. But Islinger, who had only attempted 16 passes all season, was ready for the challenge.
"I loved it," he said. "That's what you play for and it was definitely great to play on parents' weekend. The opportunity to get back on the field is great - more so with football than other sports, because you can't simulate that in-game experience in practice."
But F&M, aided by chilly weather and heavy winds, managed to hold Hopkins to just two scores as they pulled out a 19-11 win - the Diplomats' first win at Homewood since 1995.
On the first possession of the game, sophomore quarterback Mike Murray, from the Diplomats' 40-yard line, coughed up the ball to the F&M defense. The Jays then forced F&M to go three and out on the Diplomats' first possession, but Hopkins showed its team's prowess as a botched punt snap, recovered by F&M punter Jeff Hogan, was then forced out by a strong tackle and recovered by sophomore Ryan Rasner at the F&M 22-yard line.
Three plays into the Jays' next possession, Murray was pressured on both sides by F&M linemen and was hit hard, fumbling for a loss for the second consecutive possession. This fumble led to an F&M touchdown five plays later on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Turner to Jay Riddinger in the front corner of the end zone.
Murray's turnovers prompted head coach Jim Margraff to bring in freshman Max Islinger at quarterback. But Islinger, who had only attempted 16 passes all season, was ready for the challenge.
"I loved it," he said. "That's what you play for and it was definitely great to play on parents' weekend. The opportunity to get back on the field is great - more so with football than other sports, because you can't simulate that in-game experience in practice."
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