Centennial Blanks Franklin In Opener

Three Centennial football plays talk on the sidelines at a high school football game at Centennial Northeast High School on Friday Aug. 23, 2013.

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It seemed like all of Franklin was there, that’s how crowded it was Friday night at Centennial High School where the Cougars hosted Franklin in our Game of the Week.

An hour before the game already traffic was backed up. On the field it was Centennial that backed Franklin up all night, winning 20-0 with stifling defense and effective quarterback play.

Centennial Takes Upper Hand in Battle of Franklin Rivalry

In the teams’ third meeting in the last year, the Cougars  defense held Franklin to less than 50 yards of total offense.

The teams seemed to feel each other out until a break came for Centennial at the end of the first quarter. Spring Hill-transfer quarterback Blake Lovell marched the Cougars downfield with is arm and set up a one-yard touchdown run by Tyrel Dodson, drawing first blood in the Battle of Franklin.

Lovell kept it himself then on an 11-yard jolt just before the half that put Centennial up 14-0.

Franklin slowed Centennial some, holding the Cougars highly-regarded ground game to 117 yards on 33 carries. But Lovell kept finding ways.

He hit Austin Waddell in the third for a 35-yard score, inking in the score at 20-0. Lovell finished 11 of 17 for 160 yards a touchdown and an interception.

This was just the third time ever Centennial beat Franklin, but the second game in a row.

The Cougars ended the Rebels’ season last November, beating them in first round of the Class 6A playoffs 28-23. The week before that, Franklin beat the Cougars to end the regular season 37-34.

Centennial visits Indy next week. Franklin plays Murfreesboro Riverdale.

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