Franklin advances to second round following 38-14 rout of Morehead

The Franklin Panthers advanced to the second round of the N.C. 3A playoffs for the sixth consecutive season following a 38-14 victory over the visiting Eden Morehead Panthers on Friday night.  The win improves Franklin , #7 seed, to 11-1 on the season as they travel next Friday to Winston-Salem to face #2 seed Carver.  Franklin ’s 11^th win ties the all-time single season school record for victories with the 1976 (state champs), 2002 and 2005 Panther teams.

Franklin ’s offensive line of Josh Stewart, Ross Spence, Will Davis, Chris Bell, Justin Smith, Jared Gates, Ethan Elliott and Robert Mullins led the way to 416 total yards as senior RB Chris Lequire rushed 22 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns.  Junior QB Christian Vose connected on 7-of-10 attempts for 166 yards and two scores as Franklin ran 60 plays to Morehead’s 42.  Senior WR Kyle Ward caught three passes for 115 yards and a score, while junior TE Robert Mullins scored his second touchdown of the season (15-yard reception) and finished with two catches for 35 yards.  Senior kicker Chase Henry was good on all five of his PAT attempts and extended his school record for single season field goals to 12 with a 32-yarder.

The Franklin defense did allow 276 total yards to Morehead, but most of that yardage came on two scoring runs of 47 and 37 yards.  Morehead’s two-headed rushing attack, led by Demario Hairston and Torez Spady, where held in check and limited to around 150 yards and one touchdown after averaging 215 yards and 2.5 scores coming into the game.  Tanner Cook picked off his fourth pass of the season for Franklin .

SCORING BY QUARTERS

EMHS 7-0-7-0=14

FHS 0-21-7-10=38

SCORING SUMMARY

1^st Quarter

EM – Dillard 47-yard run (Price kick)

2^nd Quarter

F – Lequire 4-yard run (Henry kick)

F – Mullins 15-yard pass from Vose (Henry kick)

F – Ward 48-yard pass from Vose (Henry kick)

3^rd Quarter

F – Lequire 10-yard run (Henry kick)

EM – Spady 37-yard run (Price kick)

4^th Quarter

F – Henry 32-yard field goal

F – Lequire 1-yard run (Henry kick)

RECORDS

EMHS 7-5

FHS 11-1

NEXT WEEK (November 17^th)     

#7 seed Franklin at #2 seed Winston-Salem Carver, 11-1 (2^nd round of playoffs)