Franklin Football sets school record with 36-7 victory over North Buncombe (10/23/06)

For the first time in school history, a span of 80 years, a Franklin Panther football team has started the season 9-0 following a 36-7 victory over the visiting North Buncombe Black Hawks on Friday night.  Franklin’s defense limited North Buncombe to 119 total yards (-12 rushing, 131 passing) in another dominating performance, while senior RB Chris Lequire rushed for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns to pace a Franklin offense that rolled up 460 yards.  The victory is Franklin’s sixth straight against North Buncombe (12-6 all-time) during which the Panthers have outscored the Hawks 228-27.

Leading 12-7 at the half, Franklin created some breathing room in the third quarter as Robert Browning (12 carries, 97 yards) and Lequire (23 carries, 154 yards) scored from two and 10-yards out, respectively.  Browning tacked on his 11^th rushing touchdown of the season from 11-yards out in the fourth quarter, while Chase Henry (1-3 PAT, 1-2 FGA) closed out the scoring with his school record 11^th field goal of the season from 19-yard out.  Junior QB Christian Vose added 126 yards passing (6-14, two interceptions), which included a 78-yard scoring strike to senior WR Kyle Ward (six receptions, 126 yards) in the second quarter.

Michael Carson, Josh Young, Larry Nesbit and Nathan Arvey paced the Franklin defense with numerous tackles-for-loss as the Panthers limited the Black Hawks to -12 yards rushing on 19 attempts.  Take away a 65-yard North Buncombe scoring strike in the first quarter and the Franklin defense held the Hawks to 54 total yards in 44 plays (1.23 yards-per-play).

SCORING BY QUARTERS

NBHS 7-0-0-0=7

FHS 6-6-14-10-36

SCORING SUMMARY

1^st Quarter

F – Chris Lequire 9-yard run(Chase Henry kick failed)

NB – Bryson Webb 65-yard pass from Robbie Nallenweg (Zack Killow kick)

2^nd Quarter

F – Kyle Ward 78-yard pass from Christian Vose (Vose pass failed)

3^rd Quarter

F – Robert Browning 2-yard run (Henry kick failed)

F – Lequire 10-yard run (Lequire run)

4^th Quarter

F – Browning 11-yard run (Henry kick)

F – Henry 19-yard field goal

RECORDS

NBHS 3-7 (1-4 in MAC)

FHS 9-0 (4-0 in MAC)