Sports

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Maci Stork attempts a backhand against West Henderson Oct. 9.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Freshman Maci Stork attempts a backhand against West Henderson Oct. 9.

Tennis readies for M7C tourney

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
FHS women’s tennis is gearing up for its conference tournament. In a final week of regular season matches against Smoky Mountain Oct. 4 and first-place West Henderson Oct.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior tailback/defensive back Kellen Stiles tries to shed a tackle against East Henderson Sept. 17. Stiles earned Wayah Insurance Player of the Game honors against North Henderson with 119 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns, and a fumble recovery.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior tailback/defensive back Kellen Stiles tries to shed a tackle against East Henderson Sept. 17. Stiles earned Wayah Insurance Player of the Game honors against North Henderson with 119 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns, and a fumble recovery.

Panthers bury Knights

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Panther football is back on track after a big win over a conference rival. Ahead of their game Oct. 8 against new Mountain 7 Conference rival North Henderson, the Panthers had lost two straight M7C contests to fall to a conference record of 1-2.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Tailbacks Brayden Watts (#14) and Ty Handley (#15) throw a block for quarterback Chris McGuire against Tuscola Sept. 24. Handley gained 75 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown versus Pisgah.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Tailbacks Brayden Watts (#14) and Ty Handley (#15) throw a block for quarterback Chris McGuire against Tuscola Sept. 24. Handley gained 75 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown versus Pisgah.

Bears rally fells Panthers

Will Woolever
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Panther football suffered its second loss of the season following a late surge by Pisgah last Friday. In a Mountain Seven Conference clash between the Panthers and Black Bears Oct. 1, the longtime rivals each entered the contest with 4-1 overall records and M7C title hopes.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior Davis Anders lays a hit on a Tuscola ballcarrier as teammates (from left) Keagan Pollock, Ty Handley and Brayden Watts look on.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior Davis Anders lays a hit on a Tuscola ballcarrier as teammates (from left) Keagan Pollock, Ty Handley and Brayden Watts look on.

Panthers fall to Tuscola

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Panther football has been dealt their first loss of the season. In a Homecoming game matchup with new Mountain Seven Conference rival Tuscola Sept. 24, the 4-0 Panthers welcomed the Mountaineers to the Panther Pit for the teams’ first meeting as M7C foes.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior quarterback Chris McGuire outruns East Henderson defenders in the first quarter of their Sept. 17 blowout win. McGuire would score a 41-yard touchdown on the play.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior quarterback Chris McGuire outruns East Henderson defenders in the first quarter of their Sept. 17 blowout win. McGuire would score a 41-yard touchdown on the play.

Panthers ground Eagles

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Panther football maintained its perfect record with another blowout win last Friday. In a Hall of Fame game matchup with East Henderson at the Panther Pit Sept. 17, Josh Brooks’ team opened its Mountain Seven Conference schedule against a rebuilding Eagle squad.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior wide receiver/defensive back Grant Adams attempts to shed a tackle against Hayesville Aug. 27. Adams was named this week’s Wayah Insurance Player of the Game after catching the game-winning interception against Swain.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior wide receiver/defensive back Grant Adams attempts to shed a tackle against Hayesville Aug. 27. Adams was named this week’s Wayah Insurance Player of the Game after catching the game-winning interception against Swain.

Panthers outlast Swain

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Panther football is a perfect 3-0 to start the season. For its third straight game against Smoky Mountain Conference (1A) opponents before opening its conference schedule Sept. 17 against East Henderson, on Sept.
Press Photo/Will Woolever Sophomore middle hitter Avery Moffitt attempts a kill in Franklin’s 3-0 victory over Tuscola Sept. 1

Press Photo/Will Woolever Sophomore middle hitter Avery Moffitt attempts a kill in Franklin’s 3-0 victory over Tuscola Sept. 1

Wins costly for volleyball

Will Woolever
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Lady Panther volleyball has won two of three matches for the second week in a row. After beating Swain County and East Henderson to wrap up their week Aug. 25 and 26, the Panthers spent the last weekend of August preparing for a busy pre-Labor Day week.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior linebacker/fullback Brayden Watts (#14) celebrates after recovering a first-quarter Hayesville fumble Aug. 27.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Junior linebacker/fullback Brayden Watts (#14) celebrates after recovering a first-quarter Hayesville fumble Aug. 27.

Football stomps Hayesville

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Panther football is a convincing 2-0 to begin the season. After beating last year’s 1A state champion, Murphy, 35-15, avenging their 48-14 loss in Cherokee County this spring, Franklin emerged from the first week of the fall 2021 season with a 20-point win over one of the region’s top programs.
Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior running back/safety Kellen Stiles meets a Murphy linebacker in the hole in Franklin’s 35-15 win at the Panther Pit Aug. 20.

Press Photo/Will Woolever - Senior running back/safety Kellen Stiles meets a Murphy linebacker in the hole in Franklin’s 35-15 win at the Panther Pit Aug. 20.

Football beats 1A state champs

Will Woolever
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The 2021 FHS football season is off to a fast start. When head coach Josh Brooks scheduled Franklin’s first game against last year’s 1A State Champion Murphy Bulldogs, the idea was to give Panther football an early litmus test to start the season.
Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS All-Mountain Six selections Solomon Espinal (center, left) and Luis Torres try to slice through the Smoky Mountain defense in a game at Macon Middle School last season.

Press photo/Will Woolever - FHS All-Mountain Six selections Solomon Espinal (center, left) and Luis Torres try to slice through the Smoky Mountain defense in a game at Macon Middle School last season.

Soccer getting set for fall

News Staff
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
After a unique but successful spring that saw the Panthers finish with a winning record despite not having any seniors on the roster, this year the men’s soccer teams have been moved back to their normal fall season.