LANCASTER, Pa. – A long touchdown jaunt by freshman quarterback Thomas Garlick got the Ursinus College football team off and rolling in Saturday's Centennial Conference tangle at Franklin & Marshall, but the Diplomats converted third downs and controlled the clock all afternoon to wear down the Bears in a 34-12 final.

Ursinus (0-3, 0-2) outgained Franklin & Marshall (2-1, 1-1) 291-290 for the day, but the home side went 9-of-14 on third down and held the ball for over 35 minutes in taking control with a dominant second quarter. Diplomats quarterback Tanner Erisman rushed for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the defense racked up six sacks against a trio of Bear signal-callers.

The Bears scored on two of their first three drives, including a 10-play, 65-yard march to open the contest. Senior Nicholas Ford staked the visitors to a 3-0 lead with a 35-yard field goal before the Ursinus defense forced garnered a takeaway two possessions later. Sophomore defensive tackle Charles Anderson stripped Erisman, the first forced fumble of his career, and senior Robert Glanville recovered on the opponent's 45-yard line.

Following a pass interference call, Garlick took off and made it all the way to the end zone for a 30-yard scoring run, extending the Ursinus lead to 9-0 with 3:52 remaining in the opening quarter.

Erisman returned the favor on the next possession, rumbling in from 35 yards out to get F&M on the board. That started a stretch of three consecutive scoring drives for the Diplomats, who used a big special teams play to go ahead to stay. After a Bears three-and-out, F&M blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a 14-9 lead.

Joshua Young followed another empty Ursinus trip with a 10-yard touchdown run, and the Diplomats added a field goal to cruise into the locker room with a 24-9 lead.

Ford booted another 35-yard field goal on the Bears' first drive of the second half, but Ursinus was unable to dent the scoreboard again. Another field goal by F&M made it 27-12, and Erisman's second scoring plunge sealed it with 2:58 remaining.

Erisman was 10-of-19 for 108 yards through the air for the Diplomats, who got three sacks from Luke Foukas.

Garlick finished 9-for-19 for 97 yards before giving way to senior captain Sal Bello – who went 6-of-8 for 73 yards – and senior Robert Backovin, who completed all four of his passes for 32 yards. Juniors Shawn Hackett (64 yards) and Carmen Fortino (29) joined senior Corey Kelly (59) with four catches apiece for the Bears. Freshman running back Stacey Gardner picked up 40 yards on just six carries, with Garlick toting 12 times for 48 yards and his first rushing touchdown.

Freshman Jack Spingler picked up a game-best 10 tackles on the defensive side, while junior Heath Hidlay doubled his previous career total with two sacks in addition to his first forced fumble. Sophomore Brian Meilinger notched his first career sack and senior Michael Narvid recorded his first fumble recovery.

Ursinus looks to get into the win column with a CC clash at McDaniel on Saturday, September 24.