Slow down, Franklin Road Academy. At least let us strap on our seatbelts before you stomp your foot on the gas.
I’m looking at you, Sam Harvin.
On the Panther’s first play Friday night against Division II-A opponent Ezell-Harding, the senior running back zoomed 61 yards for a touchdown. And that about set the speed for the rest of the night, with FRA en route to a 45-0 homecoming rout as Ezell faded farther and farther into the rearview.
(For scores from all Williamson County action, visit our Scoreboard.)
Nitro-Boosted First Half in FRA Homecoming
We are about 20 min from kick off! #WeAreFRA #Homecoming2015 pic.twitter.com/WferTAdvlm
— FRA athletics (@FRAathletics) October 2, 2015
The Panthers (7-0, 1-0) absolutely left Ezell in the dust, roundly dominating virtually ever aspect of the game. FRA gained 344 yards total offensive yards while holding the Eagles, who turned the ball over 6 times, to 90 just yards.
Powered by a dangerous run game and, probably, nitrous boosters FRA scored all 45 of its points in the first half. It must have been a fun night to be a Panther alumnus.
Ezell (2-3, 0-1) fumbled on its first possession, trailing 7-0 after the Harvin touchdown, and Spence Jones recovered for FRA.
On the Eagles 18-yard line, Thomas Fortune plowed into the end zone. With the extra point, the Panthers led 14-0 just 34 seconds into the game.
A few minutes later it was Larry Wilhoite’s turn. He capped a lightening and thunder Panther drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to make it a three touchdown deficit for Ezell.
To cap scoring in the first quarter, Harvin scored his second touchdown, off a 30-yard pass from Spence Jones. Harvin, with 91 total yards, scored both times he touched the ball on offense.
FRA scored on four of its five first quarter possessions.
In the second quarter Jones, who threw 3 for 8 for 78 yards and a TD, ran in a 14-yard score. A Ryan Clark field goal followed. Then, less than a minute before the half, Will Tansil snatched up an Eagle fumble and burned rubber 69-yards for the last FRA score of the game.
The 45-point halftime lead pretty much shut the door on Ezell, so the homecoming halftime procession, despite the rain, looked a little bit like a victory lap.
Ezell threw two interceptions and lost four of its six fumbles. FRA gained 266 yards rushing on a true team effort, as 9 players ran for at least 10 yards. Wilhoite led the convoy, with 4 carries for 57 yards.
Next week FRA hosts Lipscomb.
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