After 75 years, the Panther Pit has seen its last regular-season game.
Ahead of major renovations planned for immediately following the season, Friday, Nov. 1, was a unique night in the stadium’s history, with generations of Panther fans gathering to give it a proper send-off. In a 24-7 loss to Pisgah, Franklin dropped to 6-2 overall ahead of their season finale at Smoky Mountain this Friday.
After a full slate of pre-game ceremonies, including Senior Night honors for the school’s fall sports, fans were treated to a unique spectacle just before kickoff. Following a short flight across town from Angel Medical Center, the hospital’s Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA) team landed their distinctive green helicopter at midfield to deliver the game ball. Crew members delivered the ball to Mr. Howard Johnson, the oldest known living Panther football player and a veteran of the Panther Pit’s inagural season in 1948-49.
Franklin’s defense looked sharp on Pisgah’s first drive, forcing a punt on a third-and-4 sack by senior lineman Thai Carver. Pisgah returned the favor on Franklin’s opening drive however, intercepting a Panther pass at their own 40 on second-and-8.
From there the Black Bears’ offense gained some traction, driving deep into Panther territory despite pressure from Garrett Young and an excellent deep pass defensed from Aiden Sizemore. On third-and-14 from the 16 however, Pisgah found a receiver in the end zone for the game’s first score.
Pisgah got the ball back in a hurry on Franklin’s next drive, intercepting another Panther pass early in the second quarter. From their own 27 the Bears drove all the way to the Panther 11, but were stopped by another Carver pressure on third-and-4. Pisgah kicked a 27-yard field goal to extend their lead.
Franklin’s turnover woes continued on their last possession of the half, driving 50 yards into Black Bear territory but fumbling a handoff. Pisgah recovered the loose ball and defended their 10-0 lead until the half.
After a halftime ceremony featuring generations of athletes, coaches, administration and contibutors to the Pit, both defenses traded stops throughout the third quarter. In its final minutes Franklin’s offense finally kicked into gear, driving 56 yards in 10 plays behind tough runs from Garrett Young and timely completions from Anderson Terrell. On second-and-4 from the 6 Young turned in Franklin’s play of the night, breaking three tackles to cut his team’s deficit to 10-7.
Franklin’s defense held firm to start Pisgah’s next possession, getting a tackle for loss from Avery Carpenter and a third-and-4 stop from Young and Lance Parker. On fourth-and-2 from their own 48 Pisgah lined up in punt formation, but instead snapped the ball to the upback who ran up the middle for a first down.
Despite tight coverage including a near-interception from Braylen Dezarn, Pisgah found a receiver on third-and-7 from the 29 for a wide-open touchdown.
Down 17-7 with seven minutes to play, Franklin desperately needed a score on their next drive, but ran into more tough defense from the Black Bears. On fourth-and-10 from their own 47, Terrell and Braydon Hervey nearly connected on a deep pass, but the ball fell incomplete for a turnover on downs. Pisgah scored in the final minute to deal Franklin a 24-7 defeat.
“Just too many mistakes. Unfortunately we lost to a team that was more physical than we were tonight, and I felt like they played a little harder than us tonight,” said head coach Josh Brooks after the game. “I haven’t said that much in my career – that’s a credit to Pisgah tonight. We just can’t make those mistakes against a good team, and trust me, we’ve got to coach better – we’ve got to do a better job.”
In a truly unique game in the Pit’s 75-year history, featuring a standing-room-only crowd of generations of Panther luminaries, a Pisgah win was not what most fans had on their bingo cards. True to form however, Brooks refused to use the game’s unique atmosphere as a crutch.
“I’ll never make an excuse, but there was a lot going on today. Those are facts; that’s not poor-mouthing,” he said. “It is whatever you want to call it – sentimental, it is emotional, because it wasn’t just the seniors’ last night, it was everyone’s last night [in the Panther Pit, barring a possible home playoff game]. But again – they’re not gonna make excuses, I’m not gonna make excuses about that; we’ve still got to find a way to get the job done. We didn’t tonight, but the sun will come up tomorrow.”
In their second straight loss, the Panthers dropped to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain Seven Conference, just behind three teams tied for first at 4-1. One of the teams tied for first was Smoky Mountain, who hosts Franklin for a regular season finale in Sylva this Friday. Franklin ended the week as the 15th-ranked team in the 3A West Region.