:26 seconds

It took Meadville just 26 seconds to score Friday night at Bender Field. They never looked back.

​Meadville is a very good football team.

Very good.

​Franklin is struggling to rebuild a program while being situated in one of the toughest regions in District 10.

Coach Matt Turk's club has been battling youth and injury trying to find a way to compete. Turk noted late Friday night the strength of his junior varsity kids who have been called upon to do double duty. "I'm extremely proud of these young athletes," he said after the loss to Meadville.

​Turk said several injuries have forced the staff to play several JV players, even though they played a full junior varsity game just few days earlier.

Franklin knew going into Friday they weren't going to win. The Bulldogs have state championship potential. But, as they do each week, they showed up ready to play their hardest to see where the cards fell.

Anything can happen in sports. Penalties get called shifting momentum, a bobbled ball ends up on the turf creating unexpected opportunity, or one superior team simply comes into a contest underestimating their opponent.

None of that happened in Meadville Friday night, as expected. The "Dawgs" shut out the Knight's 77-0

Franklin's tough season has perhaps a little silver lining. Next week they are set to face Conneaut Area who is also winless. The Eagles have only scored 26 points on the season. They did play a tough first half against Oil City Friday night keeping the offensive powerhouse to only 16 points. But gave up 18 unanswered points in the second half.

Franklin has scored 40 points on the season and have been shutout one less than the Eagles thanks to a strong field goal kicker.

​Friday's game in Franklin will be the Knight's senior night.