Franklin football’s regular season is officially underway.
After six extra months of waiting, the Panthers finally began what was supposed to be the 2020 football season with a trip to Hayesville March 1. In an unusual Monday night game against the Yellow Jackets, the Panthers started their season off with a big win.
The first quarter went off without a hitch for the Panthers, thanks to multiple bad snaps by Hayesville and solid runs from FHS fullback Evan Klatt. After kicking off to Hayesville to start the game, Franklin forced a quick three-and-out deep in Yellow Jacket territory. On the ensuing punt, the Panthers got a hand on the kick and recovered the ball at the Hayesville 26 for an early scoring opportunity. Klatt got several tough yards on Franklin’s first series, gaining six yards on two carries down to the Hayesville 20. On third and 4, the Panthers got a big play from quarterback Chris McGuire, who hit junior receiver Grant Adams on a big pass to the Hayesville 6. Klatt would punch it in to put Franklin up 7-0.
After receiving the kickoff with 8:29 left in the quarter, Hayesville tried to kickstart its offense, but couldn’t make it turn over. After a big hit by Bradley Stiles and a near-fumble by the Hayesville quarterback, Hayesville lined up to punt deep in its own territory. Disaster struck again for the Jackets’ special teams on the punt, when the long snapper sent a bad snap back toward his own end zone. Senior Gavin Awtrey recovered the ball for a Franklin touchdown.
After kicking off for a third time in the game, Franklin’s defense stifled Hayesville again. On fourth and 1 from their own 37, the Yellow Jackets botched another snap, turning the ball over on downs at their own 31.
Franklin leaned on its running game again in its second drive, with Klatt finding plenty of room to run behind the Panthers’ line. Klatt was a Swiss Army knife for Franklin in the game, gaining tough yards all night on offense and adding several nice tackles on defense. Slowly, the Panthers drove deeper toward the Jackets’ goal line, gaining tough yards on the ground into the red zone. On fourth and 2 from the Hayesville 12, Franklin coach Josh Brooks rolled the dice, sending his offense back out to try and put the Jackets down three scores. The gamble paid off when McGuire held the ball on a keeper and advanced the ball to the Jackets’ 9. Klatt would carry down to the 1 to end the quarter.
The second quarter started off well for the Panthers when McGuire kept the ball on a sneak and punched it in to go up 20-0. Franklin’s luck soon changed when Hayesville blocked the extra point try to keep the Panthers at 20.
Hayesville continued its momentum after the PAT, getting a nice return back to its 46 on the kickoff. The Jackets’ offense started to gain traction on the ensuing drive, breaking a big run to the right down to the Franklin 35. The center-quarterback exchange nearly derailed another Hayesville drive after the run, as the quarterback bobbled another snap but fell on the ball at the Franklin 26. Hayesville rode its running game into the end zone several plays later to cut the Panther lead to 20-7.
McGuire took back some momentum on the kickoff, giving Franklin solid field position on a return to the 44. After two big runs by Klatt and sophomore Ty Handley brought the Panthers to the Hayesville 34, Brooks again rolled the dice, dialing up a pass for McGuire in order to catch the Jackets off guard. The gamble again paid off when McGuire found junior Keagan Pollock on a deep jump ball down inside the Hayesville 5. McGuire punched it in two plays later to put the Panthers up 26-7.
After just missing a two-point conversion on a pass attempt to senior Seth Crupi, Franklin gave Hayesville good field position on a short kick to their 37. On third and 4 a few plays later from just inside the Franklin half, Hayesville attempted a short pass to the flat but was intercepted by sophomore Davis Anders, who anticipated the throw and made a nice play on the ball for the turnover. Franklin couldn’t capitalize on the interception, though, committing back-to-back penalties to back the ball up to its own 17. Franklin ran out the clock and entered halftime up 26-7.
Franklin came out swinging to start the third, receiving the second-half kickoff and driving all the way back to the Hayesville red zone. The Panthers couldn’t put the game out of reach however, as a fumble gave the ball back to Hayesville on its own 13. After a big sack stopped Hayesville on 3rd and 9 from their own 30, Franklin received the ball at its own 34 but was also unable to covert. When Hayesville bobbled the punt inside its own half, Franklin recovered the fumble for prime field position at the Jacket 37. With Franklin facing 4th and short deep inside the red zone several plays later, Brooks again tried to put the game away, sending McGuire to the edge on a keeper to the right. The Panthers could not convert and turned the ball over on downs near the Hayesville 10 to end the quarter.
Despite the turnover, Franklin would put the game on ice to start the fourth quarter. On a deep pass play from the spot of the turnover, Hayesville’s quarterback took a deep drop back and ran into junior Cameron Cody inside his own end zone for a safety. The two points gave Franklin a 28-7 lead and the ball. Both teams traded unsuccessful drives until the final whistle.