Franklin rode its run game and Riverdale turnovers to a dominate win in its home opener on Friday night, in a game that felt much more one-sided than the 34-20 final score.
“It was a football team staying the course,” said coach Donnie Webb. “What a great atmosphere, I cannot say enough about our offensive game plan. We are going to be ok.”
Rebels On the Right Course
After a slow start from both teams, the Rebels burst out toward the end of the first quarter, but so did Riverdale.
A long bomb by Riverdale with three minutes left in the first quarter stunned the Franklin crowd, dredging up memories of last week’s loss to Centennial.
But here we did not go again.
Franklin responded within a minute, when a 54-yard dam break by Lannom Craddock (22 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs) tied things at 7.
David Bane, eliciting chants of “Baaaaane” on the sideline, recovered a fumble on Riverdale’s next possession. Franklin turned it into a 14-7 lead when Kyle Evans (6-8, 67 yards, 2 TD) found Gentry Neese for a 36-yard touchdown.
Suddenly Franklin not only led but looked dominant.
Riverdale responded early in the 2nd to tie the game again. But a muffed a punt with 2:46 left in the half gave Franklin the ball off a turnover for the third time in the half with excellent field position. (The first time came off an interception early in the first, leading to a missed Rebel field goal.)
Craddock quickly scored, punching through the line to put Franklin up going into the half, and for good.
Franklin’s student section for tonight’s first football game 💜🏈 pic.twitter.com/uVP2vdwr5u
— ＄Amandaconda $ (@ughhmanda) August 29, 2015
After the break Franklin slowed the game down, killing almost half the 3rd quarter on its opening drive.
Then with less than a minute left in the quarter, Franklin caused yet another turnover, forcing a Riverdale fumble that Conner Palk jumped on in the end zone.
With Franklin up 34-14, things began to get chippy. Riverdale got called on, among others, block in the back and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalties as time trickled out.
Riverdale scored a consolation-prize touchdown yet late in the fourth, but Franklin got the ball back and ran out the clock.
Franklin hosts Overton next week, in its first game in its newly rearranged division
