Finally got to see the struggling Knights

Column
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Sometimes life gets in the way. I had to miss the firs Franklin game of the season due to a prior commitment. I called up the Franklin Stream TV Facebook livened just in time to witness the injury to the quarterback on a sack followed by a bad snap that ended up in the endzone for a safety. 
Up to that point they were ahead 7-6.
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That was a terribly unfortunate way to lose a hard fought opening round game.
The game, despite the outcome seamed hopeful that the Knights defense was at least solid keeping the score low.

I was excited to get to a game.

But because of road games and other commitments it took until week five to get to a game.I was hopeful to be able to witness a win. North East was 0-4 on the seas, though their schedule had been tough, the Knights were 1-3 with sound pounding of winless Warren a couple weeks earlier.

​Nobody expected them to compete against a very good General McLane team the week prior.

Through the first quarter of the North East game it look as though the Knight's were in this game.

Other than a bad decision to toss a ball under pressure that resulted in an inception returned to the four-yard line, the Knights were in this game. 

In a weird ping-pong drive, Caden Mincer found the end-zone on 24-yard scamper. The drive was marred by penalties but also included two 30-yard plays. Mincer's touchdown came with just seconds left in the first quarter.

North East had scored on a 35-yard field-goal and a touchdown off the early interception.

Only a couple minutes into the second quarter, North East up 10-7, play was suspended due to lightning in the area. The delay sent teams back to the locker room for more than an hour.

This could've been good for the Knights. Their only win this season came in a game in Warren when the game was suspended. In that game the Knights were up and the weather was so bad they had to finish the game the following day. The Knight's exploded for 40 points.

But this game resumed play Saturday night. When they came out of the break, which I had to listen to and watch on The Stream because of another commitment,  it was all North East.

The Grape Pickers came out and drove the ball right down for a touchdown. But Franklin never got got back on track  and the Pickers  racked up 28 points to win 38-7. The game ended after 11 p.m.

With a lot of injuries and an inexperienced group of players, this is going to be another rough season for coach Matt Turk and crew. 

Having only seen one game in person, it's hard to say what can be done. 

They have some talent, but the line isn't moving the defense off the ball proving holes or giving the backfield the time for a play to develop.

Last year they graduated almost 20 seniors - that usually means youth in important roles, so it's not unexpected they could struggle offensively.

And unfortunately it's not going to easier for them in the second half of the season with Erie, Meadville and Oil City ahead as well as Lakeview and Eisenhower, buth with winning records. Erie is also only 1-4, but they played Hickory, Cathedral Prep, McDowell and Ohio's undefeated Lake Catholic. The Royals gave both McDowell and Hickory scares.

Turk needs to find this year's Cole Buckley. Last year the winless Knights, due to injury had to drastically change the offensive alignment and game plan in week six of the season. They took wide-out Buckley, put him behind center with a heavy focus on his abilities and rattled off four wins in the last five games only losing to powerhouse Meadville.

With half the season still to go, Turk will be looking for something to get the Knights back on track.