Franklin Downs Montwood 38-17 in Key 1-5A Battle

For the first ten minutes of this game, it looked like we were headed for a shootout.  Montwood struck first when Warren Redix took it in from 25 yards out.

Franklin answered with this Marcos Hernandez four yard touchdown run.

Before anyone had a chance to check the Yankees/Tigers game this one was tied at seven.  After Christian Haack's 49 yard touchdown reception the defenses really settled in.  Montwood added a field goal late in the second quarter, and Franklin took a 14-10 lead to the locker room.

Turnovers were the story of the second half.  Montwood thwarted a Franklin drive early in the second quarter with a forced fumble and recovery.

The Rams were driving and poised to take the lead until Franklin returned the favor and forced an Ebi Britton fumble near their own goal line.

Franklin took advantage of the turnover and kicked a 34 yard field goal to take a 17-10 lead with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

On the very next Montwood possession, the opportunistic Cougars recovered another fumble in Ram territory.  Two plays later Marcos Hernandez made Montwood pay on this 44 yard catch and run touchdown.

The Hernandez touchdown made it 23-10 Cougars late in the third.

The Rams were able to cut the lead to six on this five yard touchdown reception by Warren Redix early in the fourth, but that's as close as Montwood would get.

Franklin responded with a quick drive culminating with this Christian Haack four yard touchdown reception.

The Cougars successfully converted the two point try and led 31-17 with 9:39 left.  Franklin sealed the win by forcing the fourth Ram turnover of the second half, a Jacob Casteneda interception with 5:21 to go.

Fittingly, Marcos Hernandez put the icing on the cake with a stellar 39 yard touchdown run that gave Franklin a 38-17 lead with 4:07  remaining.  Hernandez was the man of the night.  He finished with 144 yards on the ground, 109 through the air, and three touchdowns.

After the game Franklin head coach Daren Walker talked about his not so secret weapon.

The Cougars now sit in the catbird seat in district 1-5A.  They are a perfect 5-0 in district, while Montwood fell to 3-1.

Chuck Veliz would be the last to make excuses, but the Rams were playing short handed Thursday night.  Quarterback Angel Garcia suffered a concussion in the win over El Dorado and was not cleared to play against Franklin.  Wesley Myers and Brandon Martinez were ineffective throwing the ball, and the Cougar defense loaded up against Ebi Britton.

Montwood will host Coronado next Friday while Franklin travels to Eastwood.