Jody Franklin played only one down for Haskell Indian Nations University’s football team Saturday afternoon.

And he’ll never forget it.

Franklin, a reserve quarterback, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Penass with 54 seconds remaining to give the Fightin’ Indians a 12-6 victory over South Dakota Tech at Haskell Stadium.

“There was pressure from my teammates to produce,” Franklin said, “so I couldn’t let them down. All I wanted to do was get it up there and let Kevin get it.”

Penass did his part, leaping above a Tech defender to pull down the game-winner at the back of the end zone.

“I knew I had to make a play,” said Penass, who had dropped two passes earlier on one of Haskell’s many aborted offensive drives.

Haskell Indian Nations University's Micah Swimmer, left, Meyakenew Kakkak, bottom, and Randy Jackson pursue a loose ball, along with South Dakota Tech's Lukas Munsell (5). The Fightin' Indians beat the Hardrockers, 12-6, Saturday at Haskell Stadium.

HINU coach Eric Brock stressed he hadn’t lost faith in Penass after those bungled receptions.

“I just patted him on the back,” Brock said, “and said, ‘Kev, you’ll get another chance.'”

Franklin, meanwhile, hadn’t had a chance at all until starting quarterback Kaleb Harris had the wind knocked out of him at the end of a six-yard scramble that had given the Indians first-and-10 at the Hardrockers’ 11-yard line.

After Harris was helped to the bench by team trainers, in went Franklin, who had played most of the second half of Haskell’s 50-0 victory over Trinity Bible College the previous week, but hadn’t thrown a pass.

Brock didn’t hesitate to have Franklin launch one, however.

“I figured they would think sending in a new quarterback then that you’re going to run the ball,” the Indians’ coach said. “So I called for a fade route.”

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Moments later, Franklin produced, much to the joy of his parents, who had driven about 1,000 miles from their home in Farmington, N.M., to watch their son play. The Franklins planned to celebrate by dining out Saturday night.

“I want to go an eat some good food, something besides cafeteria food,” Franklin said, smiling.

Franklin may have made the play of the game, but starter Harris owned the statistics. The sophomore from Claremore, Okla., completed 23 of 45 passes for 338 yards, including a 71-yard catch-and-run pass to Cody Wilson that fueled the Indians’ late drive.

Wilson finished with five catches for 150 yards. Hunter Smith, the other wide receiver, had eight receptions for 74 yards.

Yet the Indians’ only other TD of the day was a defensive score – a 52-yard interception return by defensive back Terrill Denny early in the second quarter.

Haskell’s offensive unit ran a healthy 76 plays for a gaudy 460 yards, but didn’t score until less than a minute remained, primarily because the Indians were whistled 16 times for a staggering 160 penalty yards. Five of the flags were for holding. Another was for an illegal block.

“Penalties are something you can fix, and we need to work on them,” Brock said, “but you can’t fix not having athletes.”

Haskell’s defense surrendered 279 yards, most of it to Jerome Hofferden, whose 60-yard TD gallop on the second play of the second half helped the freshman running back finish with 207 yards rushing.

Haskell played without all-league defensive back and kick returner Cory Murphy, who had suffered a groin injury in Thursday’s practice. Brock tossed a bouquet at Micah Swimmer, a freshman who subbed for Murphy.

“Micah went out and did just what we asked him to do,” Brock said. “I was proud of that.”

Brock is also proud the Indians are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in a dozen years.

“That’s something we can hang our hats on,” the Haskell coach said, “but we don’t want to finish 2-9. Two and oh is fine, but Saint Mary is next.”

Haskell will travel to Leavenworth next Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff with the KCAC school.