WESTMINSTER, Md. – Franklin & Marshall built a 23-7 halftime lead before holding on for a 30-28 victory over McDaniel in Centennial Conference (CC) football action on Saturday.

Will Koester (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove) completed 22 of 32 passes for 267 yards in his first start for the Green Terror (0-6, 0-5 CC), throwing three touchdowns. Mike Oliveto (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) did the yeoman's work, catching eight passes for 131 yards, including a career-long 75 yard touchdown reception.

Andrew DeStefano caught eight passes to lead the Diplomats (5-1, 4-1 CC), amassing 130 yards.

Franklin & Marshall took the opening possession 65 yards behind two completions and two rushes by Matt Magarity. On the seventh play of the drive, Magarity ran the final 15 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 lead with 12:13 to play.

McDaniel took the ensuing possession from near midfield but the drive stalled after six plays and 21 yards. A 47-yard field was tipped at the line and sailed wide left to keep it a 7-0 game with 10:20 to play.

The Diplomats responded with a 13-play march that covered 70 yards. Magarity found Dave Shellhammer on a pass over the middle for the final eight yards but a missed PAT kept it a 13-0 game.

An 11-play, 81-yard drive was called by a Shellhammer one-yard dive for a 20-0 lead just 3:05 into the second quarter.

Taking over at its own 24, Koester methodically marched his offense down the field. Keyed a fourth-and-3 conversion to Marty Windisch (Manchester, Md./Manchester Valley) at the Diplomat 44, the Green Terror found the end zone for the first time on a flare-out pattern by Taylor Wagner (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) from the one-yard line with 2:28 showing. It was the sophomore's first collegiate touchdown.

Franklin & Marshall, however, was able to drive into field goal range and Billy Zwicharowski converted from 37 yards out to make it a 23-7 game at the break.

After the teams traded punts to start the second half, the Green Terror took over from its own eight-yard line.

A false start backed the ball up to the four before Koester hit Oliveto on back-to-back double-digit gains to move the ball to the 30.

After another 13 plays, Perry Stefanelli (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) found the end zone for the first time in his career from four yards out to trim the deficit to 23-14.

A DeStefano 47-yard return set up the Diplomats at the McDaniel 37 and Zachary Bradley needed just one play to find Bobby Keyes to reestablish the 16-point advantage.

Koester needed just two plays to answer once again. After a loss on first down and a penalty, Koester hooked up with Oliveto and the fifth-year senior took it down his own sideline for a 75-yard score, making it a 30-21 game with 2:47 to play in the third quarter.

Taking over at its his own 35 with 1:40 to play, Koester found Breon Herbert (Silver Spring, Md./Blake) for a 21-yard game on first down.

After a seven-yard gain by Sean Montgomery (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) and an incomplete pass, Koester aired one out to Marquise Findley-Smith (Baltimore, Md./Atholton) in the end zone to make it a two-point game with 63 seconds to play.

The on-side kick attempt went out of bounds and the Diplomats were able to take two knees to escape with the win.

Andy Ullmann (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) led the defense with a career-best 11 tackles, including a pair of sacks.

Garvin Brooms (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) added 11 tackles of his own while Garrett Diehl (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) added 10 and two pass breakups.

 The Green Terror returns to action at Dickinson on Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m.

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