Andy Scheidler
sports@thefranklinpress.com
Friday marks the final football game of the season for Franklin, which means it’s the last chance to play a complete game.
The Panthers (1-9, 1-3 Mountain Six Conference) will finish an unusual season at Smoky Mountain (7-3, 3-1 MSC).
“I’d like to see us play the best game we’ve played all year,” coach Josh Brooks said. “I know we haven’t done that.”
Brooks is in his 14th season at the helm. The Panthers came into this season averaging 9.4 wins per year under his guidance.
But inexperience, youth and injuries have taken their toll and led to the most losses in two decades.
The Panthers have struggled with missed tackles, leading to big plays. They’ve gotten flagged frequently for pre-snap penalties. And they’ve turned the ball over too much.
“I’m really hoping we can minimize those mistakes and play the best we’ve played all year,” Brooks said.
Smoky is holding out hopes for a share of a conference title. If Pisgah beats Brevard, and Smoky tops Franklin, there would be a three-way tie atop the standings.
The Panthers are in the unusual position of ending the regular season with no state playoff game on the horizon. It will be the first time the program has failed to qualify for the NCHSAA playoffs since 1999.
For 11 seniors, it will be their final time stepping onto the gridiron wearing the Franklin uniform.
Most of Franklin’s starters on offense and defense are juniors or sophomores, and one is a freshman.
Freshman Brayden Watts has played linebacker and fullback on varsity since the fourth game of the season.
“It’s been fun,” Watts said. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a challenge. I’m a lot better than I was because I learned a bunch on varsity. You can’t play the same; you’ve got to play up.”
Watts has 31 tackles, which ranks ninth on the team despite playing in only seven games.
Sophomore Daylon Henry is another underclassman who has played primarily on varsity this season. The defensive back saw his first action in the second half of the third game against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
“It was more challenging from the beginning,” said Henry, whose 42 tackles rank fifth on the team. “I had to step up and fill in some places.”
Stopping Smoky’s dual-threats in the backfield will be the focus on Friday. Will Frady, who is listed at 200 pounds, is the power back. He has more than 1,400 yards rushing.
Dustin Stephens is the change of pace, shifty back. He has over 1,100 yards rushing and over 500 receiving.
Blocking for them is an offensive line that features five returning starters from a year ago.
“We’ve got to stop them from running the ball and stop the big play,” Brooks said.
Smoky won last year’s Battle of Cowee Mountain 28-21. It snapped a streak of 11 consecutive wins for the Panthers in the rivalry.
FHS has won 18 of the last 20 games in the series.
Although the Panthers are coming off a 41-7 loss to Pisgah, Brooks doesn’t consider it a step back in their progress. He hopes the Panthers can eliminate some of their mistakes and give the Mustangs their best shot.
“If a big play is considered 20 yards or more, we’ve just got to minimize that stuff,” Brooks said. “We did pretty good down there against them last year, and if we do it the same this year, then we’ll give ourselves a chance.”