Oil City homecoming and Route 8 rivalry oh my

Lots going on 

Just when you thought nothing else could be added to the Route 8 rivalry night, a praying mantis decides to take the field.

Not much to talk about game - wise. Everyone knew coming into this week four game that one team is struggling and one team is rolling. And though the first series seemed to indicate that the end result of this contest was not a given, it was soon after that reality kicked back in.

But more on that later. 

This was HoCo as the kids are calling it. And with that comes a king... 

and a queen...

and another queen.

Oil City co-ops with Cranberry and therefore they each have their own homecoming royalty. Before the start of the game with Franklin, Mason Brown and Mackenzie Karns were named Cranberry's king and queen.
Then at halftime Britain Snow was crowned Oil City's queen. O.C. doesn't have a homecoming king.

It was a beautiful night with a lot of good things going on. a friendly contest to create giant paper chains while raising money resulted in Franklin raising more money, but it was the Kirkland Cancer Foundation that was the winner. The effort raised $2,190.50. They announced this just before the second half kick-off.

Back to the football game. Franklin's defense came hot and did something very few teams have managed. They stopped Ethen Knox and forced a turnover on downs.

They followed that up with a long pass play when quarterback Jason Carey hit Cole Buckley for a big gain. That was short-lived however when Knox intercepted his next pass.

The Knights defense was still out to play but Knox and company began wearing them down and Knox finally saw some daylight with a 35-yard run to score.

Since Franklin was making it difficult for Knox a few others stepped up including Dane Ley who tossed a perfect ball to Hayden Wilson who the scampered stiff arming defenders all the way to the end-zone. The pass play spanned half a field.

Suddenly Oil City seemed to have it figured out. They kept pounding and Knox recorded three runs over 50 yards including an 80 yarder in the third Quarter. It seamed like an off night for the Oil City star runner, but according to Explore Venango and The Derrick it was his third game in a row totaling over 400 yards.

Maybe the yards just seemed harder as others got in on the action.

Reserves came in at the end and were even able to contribute. Noah Sanchez rushed for a pair of touchdowns late in the contest.

And Carl Chelton had some solid runs as well.

On Franklin's side they were without there starting quarterback Hunter Marsteller, but Jason Carey filled in nicely throwing the ball well despite Oil City's tough defense taking three of his passes away.

It was the return of coach Matt Turk after he served his two game suspension after being ejected from the first game of the season.

Oil City hits the road to face Northwestern next before returning home to take on another very hot Meadville team. Meadville obliterated Titusville Friday night.

Franklin returns home next week to face 2-2 Mercyhurst prep who will bring a two-game winning streak with them.