By: Steve Peake
When this game was originally scheduled Allister Berger was attending a wedding and would not be on the pitch for the rivalry game versus Brentwood High School. Thanks to a heavy downpour, the game was postponed and took place tonight instead and Allister Berger was very much in attendance.
He found the back of the net four times to lead his Rebels to a 4-0 win over their rivals, Brentwood.
“Coach told us there would be a huge gap in the midfield,” Berger said. “We played the ball really well, found open space and had some good shots.”
Franklin showed great pace early in the match but was unable to snag a goal as Brentwood thwarted any opportunity the Rebels would have inside the 18.
A team who hasn’t given up more than two goals in a game all season slowed down the Franklin scoring threats but played mostly defense throughout the match.
It took a fantastic strike from Allister Berger in the 26th minute for the Rebels to finally break through.
Berger took a pass from Daniel Encysol just outside the 18 and drilled it towards the right post. Brentwood thought they had made an unlikely save until the assistant referee signaled the ball had, indeed, crossed the line.
In the final minute of the first half, Franklin got a couple chances to add to their lead. The best opportunity came off a corner that found the head of Brad Ross who put it on target, forcing the goal keeper to leap up and tip the ball over the bar.
That took us into the break with Franklin leading 1-0.
The Rebels doubled their lead 9 minutes into the second half.
Austin Baker sent a delicious ball down the near side of the field that was collected by, none other than, Allister Berger. Berger took a knock in the box but stayed up and made one more touch before driving home his second goal of the match.
“Allister was totally dominant in the game.” Head Coach Mike Burgoyne said. “Some of the reason he had the ability to do that was the pressure that was taken off of him by Daniel Enciso who was playing an attacking midfield position.”
Berger would get the hat trick just a few minutes later off the corner from John Hopkins commit, Drew Collins. He would add the fourth with 24 minutes to play and again the assist went to Drew Collins.
Brentwood got one back in the 69th minute courtesy of Ken Harasawa but it was far too little and too late as Franklin improved to 11-0 on the season as they await the other undefeated team in Williamson County, the BGA Wildcats, tomorrow in our game of the week. Coach Burgoyne knows how tough that game will be.
“We were pumped after the game but I told the boys this is a quick turn around”
The game is scheduled to kick-off tomorrow at 6 PM at BGA.
