Saturday, November 6, 1999

BC vs. Franklin College

Dwight Salzman Stadium

It's Parent's Day at Bluffton College, and ten BC seniors are hoping their last game in Salzman Stadium will be their seventh victory of the season. Their opponent is Franklin College, who brings a 4-4 overall record to Bluffton today and a 2-3 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Beavers came from behind last Saturday to beat Mount St. Joseph 27-26 in Cincinnati and are now 6-2 on the season and 3-2 in the HCAC, good for fourth place behind Hanover, Wabash and Wilmington. Hanover and Wabash play today and BC will travel to Wilmington next Saturday, so a lot could change in the HCAC over the next two weeks.

Franklin brings a potent aerial attack to Bluffton today, as the Grizzlies lead the HCAC in passing and are third in total offense behind Wilmington and Bluffton. Offensive leaders include quarterback Travis McMahen and wide receivers Mike Manford and Jim Larkin, who led the conference in receiving last season. McMahen has thrown for 2,900 yards this season and 29 touchdowns. Defensively, Franklin ranks last in the HCAC, giving up 488.9 yards per game.

• Rushing offense: Bluffton is ranked 30^th at 212.0 yards per game.
• Passing offense: Franklin is ranked 3^rd at 381.6 yards per game.
• Total offense: Buffton is ranked 12^th at 454.3 yards per game.
• Turnover margin: Bluffton is ranked 15^th with 25 takeaways and 13 giveaways.

• Rushing: Tyson Goings (BC) is ranked 21^st at 125.1 yards per game.
• Passing efficiency: Joel Parrett (BC) is ranked 7^th at 161.6
• Total offense: Travis McMahen (FC) is ranked 7^th at 333.0 yards per game. Joel Parrett (BC) is ranked 23^rd at 260.3.
• Kickoff returns: Jim Larkin (FC) is ranked 16^th at 27.1 yards per return.
• Scoring: Tyson Goings (BC) is ranked 6^th at 13.3 points per game. Jim Larkin (FC) is ranked 29^th at 9.0 yards per game.
• Receptions per game: Jim Larkin (FC) is ranked 24^th at 7.0 receptions per game.
• Receiving yards per game: Jim Larkin (FC) is ranked 22^nd at 105.3 yards per game. Mike Manford (FC) is ranked 26^th at 103.5 and Eric Metz (BC) is ranked 28^th at 103.1.
• Interceptions: Jarret Smotrila (BC) is ranked 27^th with five.

Head Coach Carlin Carpenter and a host of BC players are rewriting the football record book. Here's a look at where they stand.

• Head Coach Carlin Carpenter is second in wins with 87. Ken Mast leads with 88 (1950-65).
• Joel Parrett is third in total offense with 5,590 yards. He needs 24 yards to catch Cliff Hemmert '89. Darrin Fox leads all with 7,449 yards.
• Tyson Goings in 11^th in total offense with 2,689 yards. Just 102 yards separates him from the next three players, while 641 yards separates him from Willie Taylor '58 for seventh.
• Tyson Goings is seventh in rushing with 2,6589 yards. He needs 85 yards to catch Ken Casey '71, 102 yards for Gary Smiddy '95, and 641 yards for Willie Taylor '58.
• Joe Parrett is second in passing yards with 5,228 yards. Darrin Fox '97 leads with 6,466 yards.
• Joel Parrett is second in completions with 370. Darrin Fox '97 leads with 523.
• Joel Parrett is second in pass attempts with 564. Darrin Fox '97 leads with 1,030.
• Joel Parrett is leader in completion percentage at .656 (3370-564).
• Joel Parrett is second in touchdown passes with 37. Cliff Hemmert '89 leads with 39.
• Joel Parrett is leader in pass efficiency rating at 157.075. Joe Urich '65 is 162.75 but only has 85 career attempts.
• Eric Metz is second in receptions with 146. Tory Strock '97 leads with 151.
• Eric Metz is second in receiving yardage with 2,440. Andy Nowlin '91 leads with 2,617.
• Evan Ward is 10^th in receiving yardage with 841 yards. He needs 33 yards to catch Jim Sommer '68 for ninth.
• Tyson Goings in 9^th in scoring with 178 points. He needs 18 points to catch Willie Taylor '58 with 196 points.
• Jarret Smortila has 15 interceptions for third place. He needs one to tie Doug Marquart '80 for second. Jesse Williams '89 leads with 18.
• Jarret Smotrila has 251 interception return yards for first.
• Eric Metz has 45 punt returns for first.
• Eric Metz has 441 yards in punt returns for first.

Wilmington at Anderson

Franklin at Bluffton

Wabash at Hanover

Mount St. Joseph at Manchester

(1999 overall record, last week's results, today's opponent)