|
Undefeated Franklin will play SM at 8 p.m. Friday
Undefeated Franklin will bring a 3-0 record to Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field to play Smoky Mountain Friday.
The game has a special starting time of 8 p.m. Fireworks are planned at halftime.
“They will come out and play with a lot of aggression,” SM Coach Tim Hawkins said of the Panthers. “They are solid in every phase of the game – kicking, defense and offense. They don’t dazzle you with a lot of offensive plays, but what they do they do well.”
Franklin has a variety of offensive weapons. Alex Croteau is an elusive hard runner, according to Hawkins. The coach called quarterback Chase Holland an accurate passer. Hawkins labeled fullback Derek Church a great blocker and noted receiver Preston Sanders is one of the best in the area.
Defensive standouts Hawkins mentioned include linebacker Michael Carson, defensive tackle Zach Ray and defensive end Jesse Buchanan.
Coach Fred Goldsmith’s team uses the I on offense and a 50 defense.
“We’re going to have to shore up some of the things we do,” Hawkins said. “We’re going to have to get points in the red zone. Defensively, the biggest thing is we’ve got to stop the run. We’ve got to stop them from getting to the corner.”
The teams have had a common opponent in Murphy. The Bulldogs topped SM 40-16 Friday. Franklin owns a 42-21 win over Murphy.
The Panthers have also defeated Rabun County, Ga. (35-14) and Robbinsville (46-6).
Franklin has won 10 of the last 11 games in the series to take a 10-7 series edge. The Panthers won 20-17 last year.
Friday’s loss to Murphy dropped the Mustangs to 1-3.
“We’re consistently moving the football now,” Hawkins said. “That’s the positive take from the game. We played very poor defensively like we haven’t played in the last two weeks.”
The Bulldogs ran through the SM defense for 432 rushing yards.
“You don’t have a real good chance to win when you can’t stop people,” Hawkins said. “We’ve got to get better defensively.”
The Mustangs moved the ball well between the 20s but often hurt themselves with penalties or by being caught for a loss, according to Hawkins.
“Cory Siler ran the football hard again, and our offensive line played pretty good again,” he said.
Siler finished with 116 rushing yards.
Fullback T.J. Bradley and tight end Josh Jones were singled out for their blocking.
“Defensively, everyone kind of got out of the way and stepped to the side,” the coach said.
Bradley was SM’s top tackler with nine, including two for losses. C.J. Franks was in on seven tackles.
Jordan Panther missed the game with an elbow infection but should return for the Franklin contest. Center Matt Nations, recovering from a knee injury, saw his first action of the year in the second half.
|
