Panther football remains unbeaten following a game with their best opponent yet.
Just four days after routing North Henderson in the Panther Pit’s final Homecoming, on Tuesday, Oct. 15 the team traveled to Tuscola for a tougher test. In a 35-21 win Franklin improved to 6-0 overall, alone atop the Mountain Seven standings at 3-0 in the conference.
Anderson Terrell and Brock Bradley shot out of the gate for the Panthers, connecting on a 42-yard completion on the second play from scrimmage. Facing third-and-18 from Tuscola’s 29 Braydon Hervey kept the chains moving, catching a short Terrell pass to the left and outrunning defenders to the 5. On second-and-goal from the 4 Terrell capped one of his best drives of the season, following blockers to his right for a touchdown carry.
Franklin’s defense stood tall on Tuscola’s first drive, getting tight coverage from Braylen Dezarn on third-and-8 to force a three-and-out. Minutes later Terrell and Hervey combined for another huge third-and-long play, when the sophomore found the senior wide open for a 53-yard score. Daniel Riddle’s extra point put Franklin up 14-0 just seven minutes in.
After a third-down sack from Avery Carpenter forced another Tuscola punt, Franklin’s offense went back to work at their own 39, getting two key third-down plays from Addix Sutton to move the chains. On fourth-and-6 from the Mountie 35 Sutton came through in the clutch once again, following a convoy of blockers up the middle for a screen pass touchdown reception.
Down 21-0 Tuscola finally gained some traction, mounting a nine-play, 67-yard touchdown drive to cut their deficit. The Mounties’ defense carried their momentum into the next drive, applying tight coverage on a deep pass attempt to Dezarn to force a three-and-out.
Tuscola went for broke on the first play of their ensuing drive, completing a 46-yard pass up the right side to the Panther 12. They found the end zone on the next play to cut Franklin’s lead to 21-14.
With five minutes left in the half Tuscola’s defense stood tall again, forcing another Panther three-and-out. Junior Aiden Pitts soon returned the favor however, intercepting a Mountie pass on the drive’s first play at his own 40. Having been in danger moments earlier of watching their three-score lead evaporate, Franklin defended their advantage until halftime.
Both defenses stayed sharp throughout the third quarter, trading third-down stops including a deep pass defensed from Lance Parker and a sack from Maveric Waldroop.
Terrell kicked Franklin’s offense back into gear early in the fourth, gaining 20 yards with a quarterback keeper on the first play of the drive. He added completions to Dezarn and Hervey to set up first-and-goal at the 10, then kept the ball again for a nine-yard touchdown run moments later.
Down 28-14 with just seven minutes to play, Tuscola’s offense doubled their efforts on the next drive, completing a 37-yard pass to the Panther 3. Despite a first-and-goal run stop from Hervey and Parker, the Mounties scored on second-and-goal with 4:36 remaining.
Terrell stayed cool under pressure on Franklin’s next drive, finding Parker past the line to gain on a crucial third-and-8. On second-and-7 moments later Sutton broke the Mounties’ backs, finding a hole between right guard Bryson Gibbs and right tackle Mac Sinclair for a near-untouched 60-yard touchdown run.
Down 35-21 with just over two minutes to play, Tuscola mounted a desperate drive from their own 31. After excellent passes defensed from Dezarn and Hervey, senior Aiden Sizemore put the final nail in the coffin, intercepting a Mountie pass at his own 45. Franklin’s offense then ran out the clock for the conference win.
“I saw a great fight. I saw us beat a good team – a team that stretched us in ways we hadn’t been stretched this year, with them throwing the ball down the field and everything else,” said head coach Josh Brooks after the game. “We got pushed in a three-day prep, but we answered it and made the plays that we had to make when we had to make them to win the game. I’m proud of our guys – just a great road win. … This right here, what we call ‘Between the concrete’ is a tough place to win, so any time you can come here and win it’s a big deal.”
“It feels really good,” said senior Josh McGaha. “We fought really hard. It was a long game, and a really tough battle. They threw on us and had a pretty successful few drives, but it turned out really good.”
As part of a dominant defensive line along with Waldroop, Carpenter, Caryll Cook, Thai Carver and others, McGaha has played a key role in Franklin’s success. Eying an unbeaten regular season with just three conference games remaining, he credited the unit’s success to a simple formula.
“Playing technique, being coached up, and keeping that want-to-get-better drive,” he said. “Just really being coachable, and wanting to do more to get better.”
Having modified their schedule after missing two weeks due to Hurricane Helene, the Panthers had a long break following Tuesday’s game, with 10 days to prepare for a trip to West Henderson Oct. 25. The 6-0 Panthers ended the week as the fourth-ranked team in the 3A West Region.