Stunned and speechless were just some of the adjectives that you could use to describe the Franklin fans following the come from behind victory that the Murphy Bulldogs (2-0) pulled off Friday night in the Panther Pit.  The Franklin Panthers fell to 1-1 on the young season with 27-24 loss.  

        Franklin got on the scoreboard first in the First quarter as Josh Young plowed in from 1-yard (Andrew Raby PAT).  Murphy answered when Murphy RB Patrick Canizio caught a 5-yard TD from QB Luke Charles (Rhett Kephart PAT) as the first quarter was about to expire.  In the second quarter, Charles again connected with a touchdown pass to Georgie Kerber for 36-yards(PAT Failed).  Franklin was able to answer as Josh Young busted loose on a 56-yard run (Raby PAT) to give Franklin a 14-13 lead.  Franklin was able to strike again just before the halftime as Christian Vose took it in from 1-yard on a QB keeper (Raby PAT).  After halftime the teams traded punts and Franklin was able to mount another drive that ended in a Raby 35-yard Field Goal to put Franklin up 24-13.  The game looked like it was in the Panthers hands as the offense began a drive that was slowly chewing up ground and the clock, but that is when trouble struck.  With about 3 minutes left in the game, The running game stalled and Vose went to the air, only to be intercepted in the End zone by a Murphy defender.  Murphy had new life and Charles took the Dogs down the field almost effortlessly and scored on a 34-yard pass to Kevin Williams with 2:48 left in the game (2 point PAT failed).  Franklin had a 24-19 lead with the job of running out the clock.  But on the first play after the kickoff, Franklin fumbled on their own 24-yard line.  A run by Ian Reece and a late hit penalty put the Dogs on the 9-yard line.  Charles then hit Reece on a 9-yard scoring strike to put the game away (2 point PAT to Canizo good).  Franklin had one last opportunity, but was unable to move the ball on the fired up Bulldog defense.

     Franklin had another huge effort from Running back Josh Young as he rushed 34-times for 250 yards and two touchdowns.  On the season, Young has rushed for 563-yards. 

     Franklin has their hands full again next week as the Panthers continue the SMC swing with a trip to 2-0 Robbinsville to take on the Black Knights in Big Oaks Stadium.  Robbinsville has quietly started off 2-0 with some impressive numbers from the duo of Kurt Odom and Blake Anderson who rolled up 571 yards of rushing in a 50-25 win over Christ School last Saturday.         

FHS vs Murphy Photos