Inside the Numbers: Franklin at Asheville football preview (10/25/06)

Well, here we go again!  Another season, another Franklin vs Asheville football match-up with key conference and state playoff implications.  A Franklin win would give them their fifth conference title in close to 80 years of football.  An Asheville win would guarantee them at least a share of the crown and a win at North Buncombe on November 3^rd would seal it for their fourth conference title in six years.    

Over the past six-plus seasons the two programs rank in the top five of area schools in wins with Asheville leading the way at 69-18 (79.3%) and Franklin ranking fifth with a 61-20 (75.3%) record (A.C. Reynolds 67-18, Swain County 62-27 and Brevard 62-26).

Asheville holds the overall series lead with a 9-2* record and have won the last four meetings.

COACHES

AHS – Danny Wilkins, seventh season at Asheville (69-18), 74-52-1 overall

FHS – Josh Brooks, first season at Franklin (9-0), 9-0 overall

RECORDS

AHS 5-3, 3-1 MAC

FHS 9-0, 4-0 MAC

OPPONENTS RECORDS

AHS – 35-38 (47.94%)

L 7-28 vs Reynolds (9-0)

W 31-13 vs East Burke (3-7)

L 0-17 at Brevard (7-2)

W 36-3 at Freedom (2-6)

W 45-7 vs Enka (2-7)

L 13-35 at Roberson (6-3)

W 28-0 vs Erwin (5-5)

W 22-10 at Tuscola (1-8)

FHS – 34-49 (40.96%)

W 30-13 at Hayesville (4-5)

W 50-6 at Murphy (5-4)

W 44-0 vs Robbinsville (2-7)

W 50-12 at Swain County (3-6)

W 16-6 vs Smoky Mtn (5-4)

W 20-17 at Roberson (6-3)

W 16-7 vs Erwin (5-5)

W 35-10 at Tuscola (1-8)

W 36-7 vs North Buncombe (3-7)

OFFENSE

AHS – 22.75 points scored per game, 285.4 yards-per-game (178.0 rushing, 106.5 passing)

FHS – 33.00 points scored per game, 306.11 yards-per-game (201.89 rushing, 104.22 passing)

DEFENSE

AHS – 14.13 points allowed per game, 222.38 yards-per-game (135.5 rushing, 85.8 passing), forced 15 turnovers (+4 turnover margin)

FHS – 8.67 points allowed per game, 179.67 yards-per-game (87.00 rushing, 92.67 passing), forced 23 turnovers (+10 turnover margin)

PLAYER TO WATCH (AHS) – #45 Quinn Kirkland (Pre-season all-state, 6’0” 243 DT/RB; 62.5 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery), #10 Matt Bolanos (5’11” 186 RB/LB; 83 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions), #7 Johnny McMorris (5’8” 153 WR/DB; 54.5 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery), #2 Rahkeen Morgan (6’0” 170 QB/DB; 51-of-101 passing for 852 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, 79 carries for 383 yards and four touchdowns), #9 Rico Parks (5’9” 196 RB/LB; 70 carries for 407 yards and five touchdowns, nine receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown), #5 Troyce McCants (5’10” 152 WR/DB; 16 receptions for 320 yards and four touchdowns, five carries for 113 yards and a touchdown).

PLAYERS TO WATCH (FHS) – #3 Michael Carson (57 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, one blocked field goal), #71 Josh Stewart (Pre-season all-state, 6’4” 255), #36 Josh Young (52 tackles and three sacks on defense, 83 carries for 442 yards, 5.33ypc, and three touchdowns on offense),  #14 Christian Vose (57-of-98 passing for 938 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions), #4 Robert Browning (69 carries for 484 yards, 7.01ypc, and 11 touchdowns), #33 Chris Lequire (142 carries for 719 yards, 5.06ypc, and eight touchdowns), #19 Kyle Ward (35 receptions for 612 yards, 17.49ypc, and seven touchdowns),  #81 Charles “brick wall” Hall (37 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery), #2 Chase Henry (26-of-37 PAT attempts, 11-of-15 field goals), Larrry Nesbit (42 tackles, three sacks, one fumble recovery), #8 Trance Stoudemire (38 tackles) and T.J. Brown (36 tackles, three interceptions).

*Includes games from 1947 against the Asheville Maroons.