Panther football is through to the 3A state playoffs.
On Friday, Nov. 8, the Panthers traveled to Sylva for their last game of the regular season, a Mountain Seven Conference clash with Smoky Mountain. Despite a 35-14 loss, Franklin ended the year as the 3A West’s 19th-ranked team, and will travel to #14 Statesville for a first-round matchup Nov. 15.
Senior talisman Braydon Hervey sparked the Panthers right out of the gate, nearly returning the opening kickoff to midfield. Franklin fumbled three plays later however, and Smoky recovered the loose ball.
The Mustangs took advantage of their resulting field position, driving 50 yards on eight straight carries to Franklin’s 3. There they found the end zone on second-and-goal for the game’s first score.
Franklin’s offense responded on their next drive, getting tough runs of their own from Hervey, Garrett Young and Anderson Terrell. Hervey capped a 16-play, 72-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown to tie the gane.
Smoky’s offense nearly stalled on their next drive, facing third-and-17 from their own 14 after a holding penalty. Mustang quarterback Jarek Jones found a receiver open deep downfield however, who gained 72 yards to the opposite 14. Smoky scored on a second-and-goal carry from the 2 with two minutes left in the half.
Despite another strong kickoff return from Hervey, Franklin’s offense was forced to punt on the ensuing drive. The Panthers couldn’t connect on the snap however, and Smoky recovered the loose ball.
From Franklin’s 35 with just 30 seconds left, Jones gained 22 yards on a third-and-10 carry, then found a receiver for a 13-yard touchdown. The extra point put Smoky up 21-7 with just four seconds left in the half.
Smoky’s offense stayed hot after the break, driving 72 yards on 11 plays to the Panther 5. There they scored on a second-and-goal carry to make it 28-7.
Franklin’s kickoff unit continued a superb game moments later, paving the way for a 52-yard return from Talon Smith. From Smoky’s 25 Franklin capitalized on their field position, getting a fourth-and-goal touchdown carry from Addix Sutton six plays later.
Still down 28-14 with just over a quarter to play, Franklin attempted an onside kick after the score, but Smoky recovered at their own 46. From there the Mustangs drove 39 yards on five plays, led by a 24-yard carry to the 27.
Franklin’s defense held firm in their own “red zone” however, getting a key run stop from senior Caryll Cook on third-and-12. On fourth down Smoky’s kicker missed a 34-yard field goal, perhaps trying to avoid a block from a streaking Smith.
Franklin’s offense couldn’t respond however, turning the ball over on downs on their last two drives. After taking over at Franklin’s 8, Smoky scored again with a minute to play, and defended their 35-14 lead to the final whistle.
“I thought I saw a good fight, and a good effort,” said head coach Josh Brooks after the game. “We got beat by a really good, physical football team that just did what they do so well. They lost three games in a row – they lost to Murphy, lost to T.C. [Roberson] and lost to Pisgah, and after the Pisgah game they just got into this two-tight-end set and just started doing what they do best, and it hasn’t changed. And then they turn around and they’re sound and physical on defense, so there’s just not much room for error.”
In falling to Smoky, Franklin ended their season with a 6-3 record overall, placing fourth in a strong Mountain Seven at 3-3. In the official 3A West playoff bracket released Nov. 10, Franklin earned the region’s #19 seed, and planned a trip to #14 Statesville for a first-round matchup Nov. 15. The Greyhounds will enter the game with an 8-2 record overall, having finished third out of eight teams in a difficult Western Foothills Conference.