Franklin upset bid falls short, season ends in first round of playoffs

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Franklin vs. King’s Mountain 11/5/21

By Randall Koenig

 

On a cold but clear night, with the temperature 42 degrees, the players were ready for their match at John Gamble Stadium.  Franklin won the coin toss and defered to the second half. After a short opening drive by the Mountaineers, they were forced to punt the ball back to the waiting Franklin Panthers.  Franklin started their first drive at their own 20-yard line, but unfortunately after an 11-play drive, they Panthers were unable to covert on a 4th and 2 and turned the ball over on downs.. On the ensuing drive, the Mountaineers strike first with a 17-yard touchdown pass. Extra point was good making the score Franklin 0 – King’s Mountain 7 with 5:25 left in the first quarter.  The Mountaineers kick the ball back to Franklin who starts at their own 16-yard line.  Franklin goes on an 11-play drive, once again goes for a 4th and 5, McGuire’s pass is incomplete giving the ball back to the Mountaineers at their own 34-yard line, with :34 seconds left in the 1st quarter.  End of the first quarter the score remains Franklin 0 King’s Mountain 7.

A good defensive stance by the Franklin Panthers forces the Mountaineers to punt the ball back to the Panthers who take over at their 28-yard line.  Franklin goes on another drive with a good mix of pass and run, drives the ball back to the 36-yard line of the Mountaineers where they attempt a 4th and 1, and get stuffed.  Mountaineers take over the ball on their 36-yard line with 5:34 left in the first half. Franklin forces a quick 3 and out and receives the punt at their own 34-yard line with 3:49 left in the first half.  Franklin drives the ball down on 7 plays and scores a touchdown by McGuire on a quarterback keeper.  Extra point was good tying the score at 7-7 at 2:04 left in the 2nd quarter.  The half ends with the score Franklin Panthers 7 King’s Mountain 7.

 

To start the 3rd quarter the Franklin Panthers receive the punt, as they deferred to the second half on the coin toss that started the game.  Franklin takes over on their 25-yard line.  Franklin goes 3 and out and punts the ball back to the Mountaineers who start their 1st possession at their own 34-yard line with 9:32 left in the quarter.  Mountaineers goes 3 and out forcing a punt back to the Franklin Panthers, Pollock receives the punt and returns it to mid-field where Franklin starts their drive at their own 49-yard line. Two powerful runs by Henley moving the ball back to the 30-yard line, on the very next play McGuire hooks up with Pollock for a 30-yard touchdown.  Extra point is good putting Franklin in the lead for the first time with the score Franklin 14 King’s Mountain 7 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.  

 

Franklin kicks the ball back to King’s Mountain who take over 1st and 10 and their own 33-yard line. King’s Mountain throws 3 straight incompletions and must punt the ball back to Franklin who take the ball over at their own 37-yard line with 7:55 left in the quarter.  Franklin goes on a drive of 6 plays, and then punts the ball back to King’s Mountain who take over at their own 41-yard line.  King’s Mountain, on some good running and pass plays drives the ball down to the Franklin 5-yard line with 12:5 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Mountaineer quarterback throws a quick slant of 5-yards for a touchdown.  Extra point is good making the score tied at 14-14 with :05 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. After the Mountaineer touchdown, they kick the ball back to the Franklin squad who take over at their 24-yard line. This ends the 3rd quarter with the score tied at 14-14.

 

Franklin goes on a drive, driving the ball to the 21-yard line of the Mountaineers on 4th and 3 the Panthers bring on kicker Munoz who converts on a 38-yard field goal, giving Franklin a 17-14 lead with 7:01 left in the 4th quarter.  On the ensuing kickoff from Franklin to the Mountaineers, the Mountaineers fumble and Franklin recovers on the Mountaineer 34-yard line, with 6:56 left in the 4th quarter.  Franklin drives from the Mountaineer 34-yard line all the way to the 2-yard line with great clock management comes to a critical 4th and 2 with 2:12 left and Franklin calls time-out. Franklin tries a quarterback keeper which the Mountaineers were ready for, and Chris McGuire gets hit for a 2-yard loss.  Mountaineers take over at the 4-yard line with 2:08 left in the game. Mountaineers throw 2 complete passes putting the ball at the Franklin 48-yard line with 1:15 left in the ball game.  Mountaineers run a jet sweep down to the Franklin 21-yard line with :21 left in the game. On the next play, the Mountaineer quarterback throws to his wide receiver for the game winning 21-yard touchdown with :17 seconds left in the game. Mountaineers kick the ball back to Franklin for one more opportunity and Franklin fumbles the ball.  Mountaineers recover the football putting the final stamp on the game.  Final score King’s Mountaineers 21 and Franklin Panthers 17. 

 

A well fought game by both teams but Franklin comes up short and will end the season at 6-5, and the Mountaineers move to 9-2 and on to the next round of the playoffs. Thank you to all the Seniors for all their dedication and hard work, as we the fans have enjoyed watching you over the past 4 years. Thank you also to Coach Brooks and his coaching staff for a great season. 

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