10.31.09 - SPARTANS FALL TO MT. ST. JOSEPH 31-7
Manchester dropped its first conference game of the year Saturday as they fell to #28 Mt. St. Joseph 31-7. MSJ jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter before Chris Cecil took a punt return 88-yards for the Spartans only score of the game.

Justin Minnich was 11-22 passing with 144 yards and two inteceptions. Brandon Wells was held to 40 yards on the ground, while Jordan Cork finished the game with four catches for 39 yards.

Ryan McKee led the Spartan defense with eight tackles, while Mike DePoy and Brecken Kennedy added seven tackles each.

Manchester moves to 4-4 on the year, 4-1 in the conference. They currently stand alone in second place in the league standings after Franklin's loss to Rose-Hulman. Manchester travels to Franklin on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. contest.



10.24.09 - WELLS' THREE TOUCHDOWNS LEADS SPARTANS TO FOURTH STRAIGHT CONFERENCE WIN, SETS NEW SCHOOL RECORD FOR TDS
Manchester picked up their fourth straight conference win on Saturday following a 30-8 win over Hanover. The win over Hanover was the first since 1996. Senior Brandon Wells scored three touchdowns and moves into first in career touchdowns in Manchester College history with 33, breaking Johnny Piper's record of 32 set back in 1932. Wells is also MC's all-time points scorer with 277 points and is third in a season with 87 point so far this year.

Manchester scored early in the game as Jermiah Jones returned his fifth interception of the year for a 42 yard touchdown to give MC a 7-0 lead 55 seconds into the contest. Wells scored on a 43-yard pass from Justin Minnich to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead into the half.

Wells scored on a 23-yard field goal in the third, and Minnich found Wells on a 58-yard TD pass to go up 23-0 with 22 seconds left in the third. Hanover finally scored early in the fourth, but Wells drove it in on an eight yard run on the following possession for the 30-8 win.

Minnich led with 117 yards rushing, while Adam Schell had 94 yards. Wells had 106 yards receiving on three catches to go with his 68 yard rushing.

The Spartan defense, currently ranked 20th in rush defense, held Hanover to just 47 yards rushing in the game and 186 yards passing. Brecken Kennedy and Rickey McKee had seven tackles. Josh Kapla, Beau Fulk and Mark Sudhoff also had interceptions along with Jones.

Manchester moves to 4-3 on the year, 4-0 in the HCAC. They return to action Saturday at home to face Mount St. Joseph, the other other team left undefeated in conference action starting at 1:30 p.m.

10.17.09 - SPARTANS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT FOLLOWING 23-7 WIN OVER BLUFFTON
Manchester improved to 3-0 in the conference following a 23-7 win over Bluffton on Saturday. Manchester scored with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter as Kurt Monix scored on a one-yard run as Manchester took possession on the Bluffton 14 following a Jeff McDonald blocked punt. MC scored with 13 seconds in the first as Justin Minnich scored on a four-yard run to go up 14-0. Bluffton scored in the second quarter, making it a 14-7 Manchester lead at the half.

MC's Brandon Wells scored on a 25-yard field goal attempt and again on a 16-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to seal Manchester's third straight conference win with a final score of 23-7.

Minnich ended the game 15-24 passing for 129 yards passing and had 53 yards rushing on 15 carried. The Spartan defense held Bluffton to 21 yards rushing on 30 carries, and currently ranks atop the HCAC statistics in rush defense. Beau Fulk had 10 tackles and a sack, Brecken Kennedy added eight tackles and Mike DePoy recorded seven tackles. Jermiah Jones had two intereceptions, while Josh capla and Miach Seidner each had interceptions.

Manchester moves to 3-3 on the year, 3-0 in the HCAC. They travel to Hanover on Saturday.

10.10.09 - FOOTBALL TEAM DEFEATS DEFIANCE 20-19
The Spartan football team used some key defensive stops and an interception return for a touchdown, along with a two-play, 93-yard drive to give Manchester a 20-19 win over Defiance in HCAC action Saturday afternoon.

Manchester opened their first play from scrimmage with a fumble, resulting in a quick Defiance score to go up 7-0 18 seconds into the contest. Quarterback Justin Minnich fumbled for the second time on MC's second possession of the game, but the Yellow Jackets could not capitalize as they missed a 37-yard field goal. Two possessions later, Brandon Wells broke for a 60-yard run, capped off with a 15-yard penalty, which set up an 18-yard touchdown run by Kurt Monix to tie the game 7-7.

Defiance scored midway through the second quarter, but MC's John Sams blocked the extra point to give Defiance a 13-7 lead. DC scored on an interception return with a failed PAT attempt to take a 19-7 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, Ricky McKee scored on a 30-yard interception return to make it a 19-14 Defiance lead. Wells capped off a 51-yard drive to start the fourth quarter with a five yard run to give Manchester a 20-19 lead.

Wells finished the game with 93 yards and a score, while Monix added 88 yards and TD. Defensively, Brecken Kennedy led MC with 11 tackles and two interceptions, including one on Defiance's last possession of the game to secure the Spartan victory. Ricky McKee added seven tackles, while Josh Kapla and Mike DePoy recorded six tackles each.

Manchester improves to 2-3 on the year, 2-0 in the HCAC, and return home on Saturday as they host Bluffton.

10.03.09 - SPARTANS POST 20-17 HOMECOMING WIN OVER ROSE-HULMAN
Manchester picked up their first conference and regular season win Saturday in a 20-17 victory over Rose-Hulman on Manchester's Homecoming Weekend.

Manchester trailed 7-0 in the first quarter following Rose-Hulman's touchdown at the 5:26 mark. Manchester responded on the following drive capped off by a Justin Minnich four-yard run to tie the game, and went ahead as time expired at the half to take a 10-7 lead following a Brandon Wells 27-yard field goal.

Wells picked up his second field goal of the day midway through the third quarter to give MC a 13-7 lead, but Rose scored a field goal on the fllowing possession to cut the lead to a 13-10 Spartan advantage. The next possion was highlighted by a Brandon Wells 16-yard touchdown run to go up 20-10 with 4:34 remaining. The Engineers put together one last scoring drive with 2:36 remaining, but it wasn't enough as Manchester took away the 20-17 win.

Manchester held Rose-Hulman to 68 yards rushing, while they held Manchester to 51 yards passing offense in the game. Manchester ran for 256 yards, led by Minnich's 119 yards. Wells finished the game with 86 yards rushing and 12 receiving, and Adam Schell added 55 yards.

Defensively, Mike DePoy led the way with nine tackles, Beau Fulk added seven tackles as did Ryan McKee.

Manchester improves to 1-3 overall, 1-0 in the HCAC. They travel to Defiance on Saturday.

9.19.09 - SECOND HALF SURGE BY KALAMAZOO LIFTS HORNETS OVER MANCHESTER 48-37
Manchester jumped out to a 23-0 lead early in the second quarter, but Kalamazoo outscored MC 34-7 in the second half to take away a 48-37 victory.

Brandon Wells opened early scoring drive with a 22-yard field goal with 10:46 remaining in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Justin Minnich scored on a 17-yard run to give MC a 10-0 lead with 5:56 left in the first. Manchester scored four minutes later on a Minnich to Jordan Cork nine-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 16-0.

In the second quarter, Brandon Minglin scored on a 26-yd TD pass from Minnich with 13:55 left in the second. Kalamazoo quarterback Brandon Luczak found Cory McCain on a 77-yd TD pass 18 seconds later for the Hornets first score of the game. K'zoo scored again with 8:33 left in the second on another Luczack to McCain strike, but Brandon Wells scored on a two-yard run to cap off a three-play, 11-yard drive after capitalizing on a Chris Cecil 60-yard punt return to give Manchester a 30-14 lead at the half.

Minnich found Cecil for a seven yard TD pass early in the third to go up 37-14, but Kalamazoo scored five unanswered on four touchdown receptions and a one yard run to take the 48-37 victory away from Carl Burt Field. Luczack threw for 452 yards and six touchdowns in the game for Kalamazoo.

Leading statistics leaders for Manchester included Minnich, who rushed for 82 yards and a score, and threw for 207 yards on 19-37 passing with three touchdowns and two intercetpions.

Mark Sudhoff led the Spartan defense with nine tackles and an interception. John Sams added eight tackles and a pick, ehile Mike DePoy added seven tackles. Jermiah Jones had five tackles with Manchester's third interception of the game.

Manchester drops to 0-3 on the year, and returns to action Saturday, Oct. 3 as they host Rose-Hulman for Homecoming weekend.

9.12.09 - EARLHAM USES FOURTH QUARTER TO EDGE MANCHESTER 31-21
Manchester scored on its second opening possession of the year to take a 7-0 lead, but Earlham scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to pick up a 31-21 win over the Spartans.

Manchester's Brandon Wells capped off a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a four yard run to give Manchester a 7-0 lead following Wells' PAT attempt. Earlham took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, bu Manchester responded with a two-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Justin Minnich, who replaced Caleb Grimes after sustaining an injury. Earlham closed out the first half with a touchdown run and took a 17-14 lead into the half.

Minnich scored his second TD of the day on a two-yard run to give MC a 21-17 lead with 3:02 left in the third quarter. Earlham scored at the 14:14 mark in the fourth and again with 5:49 remaining to take the 31-21 win.

Wells ended the game with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries and a score. Minnich added 59 yards and two TDs on 10 carries. Defensively, Rickey McKee and Ryan McKee had nine tackles, Zach Washington added eight tackles and Beau Fulk recorded seven tackles. Andre Lee notched an interception for the defense.

Manchester falls to 0-2 on the year, and returns to action Saturday at home to face Kalamazoo at 12:30 p.m., part of Hall of Fame Weekend at Manchester College.

9.3.09 - LATE RALLY BY TRINE HANDS SPARTANS A 16-14 LOSS
Manchester dropped its season opener Thursday night in a 16-14 loss to visiting Trine University. Manchester opened the contest with a five play, 68 yard drive capped off by a 52-yard Caleb Grimes to Brandon Wells touchdown reception for a quick 7-0 lead following the Wells point after attempt. Manchester scored again in the first with one minute remaining as Adam Schell scored on a 41-yard run to give MC a 14-0 lead at the end of the quarter. Trine responded in the second with a 1 yard pass with seven seconds remaining in the game to trail 14-7 at the half. Trine put two scoring drives together in the fourth quarter, one on an 11 yard pass early, then again on a 27-yard field goal attempt with 4:32 remaining to go ahead 16-14.

Caleb Grimes led the way for MC with 77 yards rushing, and was 22-37 passing with 209 yards and a TD and a pair of interceptions. Wells finished the game with 42 yards on the ground and 79 receiving yards. Jordan Cork had six catches for 41 yards for MC.

Defensively, Brecken Kennedy led the way with 11 tackles. Trent Weisser added seven tackles and Ricky McKee added six. Jeff McDonald and Jermiah Jones each had interceptions for the defense, the held Trine to 262 yards offensively.

Manchester falls to 0-1 on the year, and travels to Earlham on Sept. 12 for a 1 p.m. contest. Photos of the game are viewable courtesey of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

8.11.09 - COMMUNITY DAY GAME SET FOR SEPT. 3
      The ninth annual Manchester College Community Day football game is Thursday, Sept. 3 as Manchester hosts Trine University in its season opener at 7 p.m. The Community Day event was established to show appreciation to the North Manchester community for its support of Spartan football.
       This year, local residents will receive free admission to the game with ID, and will be treated to free ice cream donated by Peabody Retirement Community and served by the Alzheimer’s Association as part of the Tailgate to Tackle Alzheimer’s Disease. Manchester College dining provider Chartwells will offer a special discounted price of $5 on meals, 6 –7 p.m., and there will be prize giveaways from local merchants throughout the game.
       Manchester is coming off their best football season in 11 years following its 5-5 record in 2008. Trine is the MIAA conference defending champion.   

6.3.09 - GRIFFITH HIRES STILLMAN AS NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Manchester College football head coach Shannon Griffith has named Andrew Stillman the new defensive coordinator for Manchester's football program. Stillman comes to Manchester by way of Oberlin College, where he served as defensive coordinator since 2005 and was named associate head coach in 2006.

Stillman was a four year letter winner in football at Ohio Wesleyan, where he graduated in 1999 with a degree in sports science and played five years of semi-professional football in Columbus and Toledo. Before going to Oberlin, he spent one year of coaching and teaching in Roxboro, North Carolina and was the strength and conditioning coordinator. He has spent time with Bowling Green and Ohio State University's football strength and conditioning programs as an assistant. Stillman holds a master's degree in in developmental kinesiology from Bowling Green State University.

He is married to wife Kendy and has two daughters, Tyrah and Alexis.

5.20.09 - FOOTBALL SUMMER WORKOUT PROGRAM AVAILABLE ONLINE
Manchester College football coach Shannon Griffith has made available the 2009 Football Summer Workout Program. Prospective and returning players can download the Summer Conditioning Schedule Worksheet, the Speed and Agility Worksheet the Weight Conversion Chart and the Summer Lifting Workout sheets. For more information, contact assistant coach Jeremy Markham at 260-982-5355 or by email at jamarkham@manchester.edu.

2.7.09 - BISHOP DULLAGHAN FOOTBALL CAMPS RETURN TO MANCHESTER COLLEGE
Head coach Shannon Griffith has announced the return of the Bishop Dullaghan High School Skills/High School Teams Camps from June 21-24, and a Down and Dirty Lineman Camp on June 26-28. Camps are open to grades 9-12. The Bishop Dullaghan camps enter their 35th year, and had a total of 2,400 campers attend last year's sessions and continue to build championship caliber players each and every year. For more information visit their website.

12.13.08 - ESTEPP NAMED 3rd TEAM ALL-REGION
Manchester College sophomore Chase Estepp (offensive lineman Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) was selected to the D3football.com All-North Region Third Team for the 2008 season. Estepp was part of Spartan football team that led MC to a 42nd ranking in Division III football in offense, first in HCAC rush offense and second in total offense in the conference. Estepp was also named First Team All-Conference for Manchester. The football team posted its first winning season since 1997 with a 5-5 record this year.

11.23.08 - PLAYERS HONORED AT FOOTBALL BANQUET
The Manchester College football team hosted their annual team banquet on Sunday, November 23rd in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena located in the Physical Education and Recreation Center on the campus of Manchester College.  There were over 330 in attendance to honor the 2008 football team, support staff, and fourteen graduating seniors.  The banquet began with the introduction of senior players and parents; a welcome from President Jo Young Switzer; followed by dinner and comments by Athletic Director Rick Espeset.  The coaching staff then presented the following awards to the 2008 football team followed by the 2008 highlight film.

Captain Awards
DeRon Jenkins
Spencer Fulk
Academic Award
Joel Hawkins
Most Valuable Player Award
 Caleb Grimes
Outstanding Offensive Linemen
Spencer Fulk
Outstanding Offensive Back
Caleb Grimes
Outstanding Wide Receiver
Jared Yoder
Outstanding Defensive Back
Beau Bradtmiller
Outstanding Linebacker
Mike DePoy
Outstanding Defensive Linemen
Wes Atkins
Senior Leadership Awards
Andy Dicken – Wide Receiver
Dan Ciccarello – Defensive Line
Adam VanZile – Defensive Line
Ben Rogowski - Linebacker
Dan Jones - Linebacker
Tyler Smith - Linebacker
Josh Leon – Defensive Line
Tyler Pedersen – Defensive Back

11.15.08 - MANCHESTER CLAIMS BRONZE BALL TROPHY, ENDS SEASON WITH 35-14 WIN OVER ANDERSON
Manchester captured the Bronze Ball Trophy for the first time in eight years following a 35-14 win over Anderson to wrap up the season. The Bronze Ball Trophy is given to the winner of the annual contest between Manchester and Anderson and started in 2001.

Caleb Grimes threw for four touchdowns and Brandon Wells ran for a fifth in the win. Grimes found Justin Wulf on a nine yard pass to score the game's first touchdown in the first quarter. Grimes found Jared Yoder on a 45-yard TD pass to go up 14-0, but Anderson scored midway through the second to give MC a 14-7 lead at the half.

Manchester scored twice in the third—once on a Grimes to Yoder 35-yard TD reception, and then on a 25-yard pass to Wulf to go ahead 28-7. AU scored with three minutes left in the third quarter, but Brandon Wells capped things off with a four yard scamper into the endzone.

Manchester totaled 503 yards on offense, led by Wells' 126 yards rushing on 25 carries. Grimes added 87 yards on the ground and threw for 262 yards on 21-27 passing. Wulf had nine catches for 80 yards while Yoder ended his career with three catches for 107 yards.

Defensively, Josh Kapla led the team with nine tackles. Zach Washington added six, while Wes Atkins, Adam VanZile and Brecken Kennedy added five tackles each. Kennedy, along with Beau Bradtmiller and Jermiah Jones each had interceptions for the Spartan defense.

Yoder ranks third in yards in a season with 779, third in TD's scored in a career with 15, fourth in TDs in a season with eight and fifth in career receiving yards with 1703. Grimes set records in most passing in a game with 60 against Franklin, while ranking first in passing yards in a season with 2012, third in pass completions in a season with 174, and touchdown passes in a season with 15. Brandon Wells finished the year fifth all-time on the leading rusher list with 923 yards and third on the all-time scoring in a season list with 84 points.

Manchester ends the year 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the HCAC for a fifth place finish. Manchester posts its first winning season since 1997 when Manchester finished 6-4.


11.8.08 - MANCHESTER FALLS TO FRANKLIN 31-20
Manchester dropped a 31-20 contest to Franklin on Saturday as the Grizzlies claimed their second straight HCAC Conference championship with the win.

Manchester took an early 10-0 lead as Caleb Grimes found Jared Yoder for a 56-yard touchdown pass 3:28 into the first quarter. Ian Fry connected on a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter for the 10-0 lead, but Franklin scored twice in the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead into the half.

Franklin scored on a blocked punt recovered in the endzone to go up 21-10, then MC's Ian Fry scored again on an 18-yard field goal to make it a 21-13 contest with 6:47 left in the third. The Grizzlies connected on a 25-yard field goal and scored their fourth touchdown of the day to go up 31-13. Manchester scored on a Brandon Wells one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-20.

Grimes threw for 298 yards and a touchdown on 26-60 passing with two interceptions. He also rushed for 54 yards to lead the Spartan ground attack.

Defensively, Mike DePoy led MC with nine tackles. Jeff McDonald added five taclkes and Wes Atkins added three tackles, two of those sacks. Brecken Kennedy recorded his first collegiate interception in the game.

Manchester drops to 4-5 on the year, 2-4 in the HCAC. They travel to Anderson for the 8th Annual Bronze Ball Trophy Game starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

11.1.08 - SPARTANS FALL TO MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 28-6
Manchester's football team dropped their second straight on Saturday in a 28-6 loss at Mount St. Joseph.

Manchester scored with two minutes remaining in the first quarter as Brandon Wells scored on a six-yard touchdown run for their only score of the game. Mount St. Joseph scored twice in the second quarter and once in the third and fourth periods. The Lions held Manchester to 157 yards total offense.

Brandon Wells netted 66 yards rushing on 15 carries with a touchdown. Caleb Grimes was 10-21 passing for 49 yards and an interception.

Defensively, Mike DePoy led the team in tackles with 14, including seven solo tackles. Beau Bradtmiller added 11 tackles and a forced fumble while Josh Kapla added eight tackles and Tim Edmonds recorded an interception.

Manchester falls to 4-4 on the year, 2-3 in the HCAC. They play their final home game of the year Saturday as they host Franklin starting at 1:30 p.m.

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