Looking back: Franklin overcame losing its 2010 season opener to Carthage (Wis.), of all teams, to win nine straight games, and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association title, the Grizzlies third in four years. They finished undefeated in HCAC action at 8-0, only to lose to eventual NCAA Division III national champion, Wisconsin-Whitewater, in the first round of the playoffs.
Looking ahead: Franklin has two tough tests to open the 2011 season. The Grizzlies will travel to northwestern Indiana to face Valparaiso from the NCAA Division I FCS non-scholarship Pioneer Football League on September 3. The following week, they'll play host to the same team that ended their season in round one of the D-III playoffs: Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Website: http://www.heartlandconf.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Franklin (9-2): Grizzlies will shoot for their fourth HCAC title in the last five years. Among other milestones, they'll also look to advance to the NCAA playoffs for the fourth time in five years. If that wasn't enough, the Grizzlies also want to win at least nine games in a season for the fifth time dating back to 2006. The last season they won fewer than nine games was in 2009 (7-3).
2. Defiance (6-4): The Yellow Jackets finished the 2010 season with their best record in about 10 years. After finishing tied for second in the HCAC at 6-2 in league games, it'll be interesting to see if they can take that next step, and advance to postseason play.
3. Hanover (7-3): The Panthers also enjoyed their best season in nearly eight years, coming within one win of a conference title before losing their finale to Franklin. Their early-season test will come on September 10, when they face three-time President's Athletic Conference champion Thomas More (Ky.) on the road.
4. Mount St. Joseph (5-5): The Lions hope to make their second postseason appearance in three years, after slumping to a 4-4 mark in HCAC action last year.
5. Anderson (Ind.)--(3-7): A season-ending, 37-34, overtime win over Manchester win gives the Ravens faithful some hope going into 2011.
6. Bluffton (4-6): Like Anderson, the Beavers also ended their season on a winning note, with a win over Defiance. They'll be shooting for at least a share of their first conference title since 2000.
7. Rose-Hulman (6-4): The Engineers won back-to-back games to end 2010 on a high note. They hope to continue that momentum in 2011.
8. Manchester (2-8): The Spartans ended the 2010 season with seven straight losses after a 2-1 start.
9. Earlham (0-10): Quakers look to bounce back after a winless season.
4 years ago
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