CHAPTER 3Hanover CollegeOct. 22, 2011

Hanover 55, Manchester 7

Two years after my shoot at Franklin College for the dramatic Franklin-Trine game at Red Faught Stadium, I picked another sunny day in October to drive to Hanover College in southern Indiana to see one of the several blowouts I would witness on my Indiana small-college football Game Day tour.

The Panthers steamrolled Manchester University 58-7 at Alumni Stadium.

I arrived early enough to be able to observe a considerable amount of tailgating on an expansive green just outside the stadium.

The college is in the Jefferson County town of Hanover, a short jog south of State Highway 256. Hanover, with a population of roughly 2,500, is just west of Clifty Falls State Park – a beautiful resource known for its cliffs and waterfalls. The tallest waterfall in Indiana, Fremont Falls, is on private property in Jefferson County, just outside of Hanover. Curiously, it is not in Clifty Falls.

Just east of Clifty Falls State Park along Indiana Highway 56, which also flows through Hanover, is the larger city of Madison (population 12,000), the seat of Jefferson County. Madison is the economic hub of Ohio River communities in the area between Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Madison has a longtime powerboat and hydroplane racing tradition, with the renowned annual Madison Regatta the best-known of the competitions. Madison also is home to Lanthier and Thomas Family Wineries, which until not too long ago also operated wineries and retail outlets in the Indianapolis area. 

Manchester did not loom as a formidable opponent for the Hanover Panthers this day. The Spartans entered the game with a 2-4 record and had won only one Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game that season, a 17-13 squeaker over hapless Earlham. The Spartans would finish the year 4-6, thanks to wins over Defiance (Ohio) College and Anderson University in the final weeks of the season.

Indeed, except for a 5-5 season in 2008, Manchester had not had a winning season at least since 1998 and would have only three seasons over .500 (2012 and 2017, both 6-4, and 2015, 5-4) through 2019, and weathered consecutive 1-9 seasons in 2022 and 2023.

Hanover came into the game with a record only slightly better at 3-3, but the Panthers had solid wins over Defiance and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The previous week, they had rolled over Earlham 62-0. They would beat Bluffton convincingly later in the season and finish the year at 5-5.

The Hanover football program had experienced a roller-coaster ride of success since the late 1990s – high water marks of 9-1 (1998), 10-1 (1999 and 2002) and 8-3 (2003) – including three HCAC championships and two postseason tournament appearances – and low-water marks of 2-8 in 2007, 2-7 in 2008 and 3-7 in 2009.

Hanover sophomore quarterback Dexter Britt (No. 16 in photo at the top) completed 21 of 36 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns against Manchester in 2011. In all, the Panthers amassed 594 total yards of offense.

Other Panthers who stood out included junior Colton Zeck, who ran back a punt 58 yards for a third-quarter touchdown and is shown in the above photo on the receiving end of a Britt pass; senior running back Derron Bailey, who scored three first-half touchdowns (two rushing, one on a 15-yard pass from Britt); and junior receiver Dwayne Eubanks, who caught eight passes for 165 yards – both personal bests. 

Two of Eubanks' receptions went for long scores in the third quarter, one for a school record 96 yards. As for his other TD, there wasn't a defender within 10 yards of Eubanks (below) when he hauled in this pass for a 37-yard score.

 

In the fourth quarter, when the Panthers had the game well under control, freshman backup quarterback Tanner Parker (#14) entered the game. On the up side, he gained 16 yards on his only run (above); on the down side, Parker found himself chasing a high snap from center on a different play (below).

Manchester’s only score came in the third quarter. On the kickoff after Eubanks’ 37-yard TD reception, the Spartans’ Corey Nelson (#6 in first two photos below) bobbled and dropped the ensuing kickoff, recovered it quickly and scampered 83 yards for a score.

The victory improved Hanover’s record to 4-1 in the conference and 4-3 overall. Manchester fell to 2-5, 1-5 in the conference.

Hanover College finished this season 5-5 (5-3 in the HCAC). The Panthers would finish the following year 6-4 (6-2), and were 5-5 (5-3) in 2013, 2-8 (2-6) in 2014 and '15, 4-6 (4-4) in 2016 and '17, 7-4 (7-1) in 2018, 9-2 (7-0) in 2019, 4-0 (4-0) in the COVID 2020 season, 5-5 (4-3) in 2021, 5-5 (5-2) in 2022, and 7-3 (4-3) in 2023. 

Manchester would finish the year 4-6 (3-5 in the HCAC). The Spartans finished 6-4 (6-2) in 2012, 3-7 (3-5) in 2013, 4-6 (3-4) in 2014, 5-4 (5-3) in 2015, 2-8 (2-6) in 2016, 6-4 (5-3) in 2017, 4-6 (4-4) in 2018, 4-6 (3-4) in 2019, 0-7 (0-5) in the COVID 2020 season, 3-7 (3-4) in 2021, 1-9 (0-7) in 2022 and 1-9 (0-6) in 2023.  

Above: In addition to his 349 yards passing, quarterback Dexter Britt (16) was the Panthers' second-leading rusher against Manchester, gaining 43 yards on 13 carries. In this photo, taken in the second quarter, he leaves the pocket on a pass play in search of a receiver on the left side.

Sophomore defensive back Derrick Worden (30) returned a Manchester fumble 29 yards in the first half. Not realizing he had stepped out of bounds several yards earlier on his return, he leaped and extended his arms in attempt to get the ball over the goal line (below) in an effort to score after being tripped up inside the 5-yard line.

 

Above, running back Darren Bailey (28) and receiver Dwayne Eubanks enjoy a celebratory leap in the end zone after one of Bailey's three first-half touchdowns.

Above: The Spartans' leading rusher, Corey Nelson (6), was held to only 28 yards on the ground by a stingy Panther defense, exemplified here by defensive back Jason Chisholm, who made a lunging tackle to knock Nelson off his feet. Below: A tackle becomes more finite when more than one defender gets involved. Here, three Panthers -- (from left) Justin Magaw, Andy Dalton and Dylan Bostwick -- cut short a rushing attempt by Nelson.

Above: Hanover’s Colton Zeck (11) begins a return run after catching a punt in the first quarter. Below, Hanover defensive lineman Ajani Jones hit the turf hard enough on this play to splay pellets from the foundation of the artificial turf when he hit the ground.

Above and below: The Hanover defense gave Manchester quarterbacks Nick Williams (13) and Justin Minnich fits all afternoon. If a Spartan pass wasn't being blocked before it could cross the line of scrimmage -- as blitzing Panther defensive back Cord Dorsey (15) does above to Williams' throw -- then it might likely be intercepted, as defensive back Sam Louis did twice. In the case of the interception below, Louis (6) made a modest return.

Above: Darren Bailey rushed for 93 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 15-yard pass from Dexter Britt.

Above: Manchester running back Nelson prepares to skirt around lineman Tommy Webster's block of Hanover's Cord Dorsey (15) for a short gain.

Above: Hanover's Jacob Noger (85) hauled in this pass from C.J. Croft in front of Manchester defender Donald Ivey near the goal line in the fourth quarter. Noger thought he had crossed the goal line before his knee touched the ground. The officials, however, ruled Noger's knee hit the turf short of the goal line. Croft would rush for the Panthers' final TD moments later.

  

Above: Ajani Jones (95) seems to be within reach of bringing down Manchester quarterback Justin Minnich. While Minnich managed to elude Jones' grasp here, moments later he was at the sideline and forced out of bounds by other Panther defenders.

Above: Manchester quarterback Justin Minnich (3), under heavy pressure from Hanover's Dylan Bostwick (99), got this pass off in the nick of time.

Above: A Dexter Britt pass intended for Dwayne Eubanks was intercepted by Manchester's Jake Butler in the first quarter. After a four-yard return, Butler was brought down by Eubanks (9) and C.J. Croft (3). 

Above: At halftime of the game, current members of the Hanover College Athletic Hall of Fame joined new inductees Jennifer Skaggs, Kevin O’Donohue, Mike Miller (all athletes) and longtime recruiter Nick Rutsis on the field for recognition. Below, fans who filed out of the stadium make their way down Clemmons Street to their cars or homes.

Above: After the game, I found myself briefly caught in a spectator rush to a spot alongside and behind the grandstands where fans and friends got up close and personal to congratulate home team players as they made their way to mingle with friends and family before heading to the locker room.

Next up: Chapter 4, Hanover College campus

Previously in Game Day Revisited:

Introduction

Chapter 1: Franklin College vs. Trine University, Sept.  2009

Chapter 2: Franklin College campus

Hanover College football: Game Day, Part I

I so much enjoyed my visit in February to Hanover (Ind.) College, where I took pictures of a men's basketball game and of the campus landscape, that before even heading home I resolved to return in the fall to shoot a football game ... and try to hopefully catch some of the campus autumn colors.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, I did just that. Hanover defeated Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Manchester College 58-7 on L.S. Ayres Field on what turned out to be a beautiful day. I'm going to log my photos in three installments -- one, today, is a review of some game shots. The second installment will focus on game festivities, including halftime and the tradition tailgate activity by the Hanover community. The third post will focus on my shots of the campus landscape after the game, exploiting the dramatic, late-afternoon sunlight.

Panthers' sophomore quarterback Dexter Britt (16) is featured in the lead photograph of today's post, passing to junior wide receiver Colton Zeck (11), who made the catch for a modest gain in first-half action. Britt completed 21-of-36 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Panthers amass 594 total yards of offense. Hanover improved its overall record to 4-3 (4-1 in the HCAC) and hosts league foe Bluffton (Ohio) this Saturday. Manchester fell to 2-5 (1-5).

Zeck scored one of the Panthers' eight touchdowns, scampering 58 yards to paydirt on a third-quarter punt return. Senior running back Derron Bailey scored three first-half touchdowns, two rushing and one on a 15-yard pass from Britt. Junior receiver Dwayne Eubanks caught 8 passes for 165 yards, both personal bests; two of those went for long touchdowns in the third quarter -- one a school record 96 yards, the other 37 yards.

The Spartans' touchdown came with 33 seconds left in the third quarter. After Eubanks' 37-yard TD reception, Manchester's Corey Nelson fumbled and dropped the ensuing kickoff, recovered it quickly and scampered 83 yards for the TD.

A special nod of appreciation to Hanover sports information director Carter Cloyd, who facilitated both of my visits to Hanover this year. Cloyd also was responsible for assembling all of the game stats you see in this post.

To see a full gallery of images from the game, visit this link.

Above: In addition to his 349 yards passing, quarterback Dexter Britt (16) was the Panthers' second-leading rusher against Manchester, gaining 43 yards on 13 carries. In this photo, taken in the second quarter, he leaves the pocket on a pass play in search of a receiver on the left side.

Above: Sophomore defensive back Derrick Worden returned a Manchester fumble 29 yards in the first half. Not realizing he had stepped out of bounds several yards earlier, he tried to pass the ball over the goal line in a desperate lunge to score after being tripped up inside the 5-yard line. 

Above: Running back Darren Bailey (left) and receiver Dwayne Eubanks enjoy a celebratory leap in the end zone after one of Bailey's three first-half touchdowns.

 

Above: The Spartans' leading rusher, Corey Nelson (6), was held to only 28 yards rushing by a stingy Panther defense, exemplified here by defensive back Jason Chisholm, who made a lunging tackle to knock Nelson off his feet, preventing a long gain. 

Above: A tackle becomes more finite when more than one defender gets involved. Here, three Panthers -- (from left) Justin Magaw, Andy Dalton and Dylan Bostwick -- seal an end to a rushing attempt by Manchester's Corey Nelson.

Above: Hanover defensive lineman Ajani Jones hit the turf hard on this play -- enough so that pellets splayed from the foundation of the artificial turf.
 

Above and below: The Hanover defense gave Manchester quarterbacks Nick Williams (13) and Justin Minnich fits all afternoon. If a Spartan pass wasn't being blocked before it could cross the line of scrimmage -- as blitzing Panther defensive back Cord Dorsey (15) does above to Williams' throw -- then it might likely be intercepted, as defensive back Sam Louis did twice. In the case of the interception below, Louis (6) made a modest return.

Above: There wasn't a defender within 10 yards of Hanover's Dwayne Eubanks when he hauled in this third-quarter pass for a 37-yard score.

Above: Darren Bailey rushed for 93 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns Saturday. He also scored on a 15-yard pass from Dexter Britt.

Above and below: Manchester's one moment on the highlight reel came late in the third quarter. Corey Nelson fumbled the kickoff after Eubanks' 37-yard touchdown reception. Nelson remained poised, scooped up the drop (above) then scampered 83 yards down field (below), leaving several Panthers in his wake.

Above: Receiver, punter and kick returner Colton Zeck (11) had a busy day. In addition to catching three passes for 21 yards, he returned three punts for 64 yards, including a 58-yarder for a touchdown in Hanover's 24-point third quarter. He also kicked two punts for 97 yards, the longer of which traveled 61 yards. In this photo, he's shown during a first-quarter punt return. 

Above: Hanover's Ajani Jones (95) seems to be within reach of bringing down Manchester quarterback Justin Minnich. While Minnich eluded the tackle, moments later he was at the sideline and forced out of bounds by other Panther defenders.

Above: Manchester running back Corey Nelson (6) prepares to skirt around lineman Tommy Webster's block of Cord Dorsey (15) for a short gain.
 

Above: Hanover's Jacob Noger (85) hauled in this pass from C.J. Croft in front of Manchester defender Donald Ivey near the goal line in the fourth quarter. Noger thought he had crossed the goal line before his knee touched the ground. The officials, however, ruled Noger's knee hit the turf short of the goal line. Croft would rush for the Panthers' final TD moments later. 

 

Above: Backup quarterback Tanner Parker (14) gained 16 yards on this run in the fourth quarter, his only carry of the game.

Above: Parker was caught off guard in the fourth quarter when a long snap from center sailed over his head, hit the turf behind him then took a quirky bounce forward and out of his reach ... into the hands of a Manchester defender. The Spartan offense later lost the ball on downs.