Sometimes it is that one play that sums it all up. There is no question that the Franklin Knight's football team is having a rough go of it. We can watch from the sidelines and in the stands and just feel for these young athletes out there giving it their all just to come up short. On Friday when the 1-1 General McLane Lancers visited Franklin for the Knight's home opener, probably no one expected the Knights to win. They had only scored 16 points in two games while McLane competed well against undefeated Slippery Rock and beat a tough LeBouef team. But when Cole Buckley stepped into the backfield to punt early in the third quarter what occurred next is indicative of how the gods appear to be conspiring against them. Buckley's foot did not make best of contact with the ball and the kick came down not far from the line of scrimmage. Adding insult to injury, when the ball hit the turf it could've bounced forward, but it didn't. Instead it bounded backwards in Buckley’s direction. A silent sound of WTF echoed though the stadium. They lost yardage on a punt. If it wasn't bad enough that they lost their coach for two games due to a suspension, a handful of key starters to injury and they are in one tough mother of a league this year, then that punt basically went backwards. What in the name Zeus did these kids do to deserve this? Now this play had little affect on the outcome of the game, McLane was already up 20 to nothing and in full command. Even if Buckley's punt went for a school record, it is likely McLane was just that much better than the Knights Friday to still march down the field to score again. McLane was firing on all cylinders even converting a fourth down play on their opening drive. Only a couple plays later and they were in the end zone. On Franklin's first possession they were pushed for a negative 17 yards in three plays forcing a punt. But McLane muffed the punt and Franklin recovered giving the team hope that maybe fortune was smiling down on them. But then they again struggled to move the ball on the first two runs. On a third and long quarterback Hunter Marsteller, under pressure, launched one down field finding one of Cole Buckley’s hands but unfortunately not the other. So close. It would've been on heck of a grab, but had Buckley caught that pass it would've been a different ball game altogether. The Knight’s would’ve been close enough to sniff the goal line and it would've put McLane on its heels. At this point, only down a touchdown they would've had a chance to tie. One more hand on the ball... that was all they needed. Instead in comes Buckley to punt filling in for Nate Pfennigwerth out sick for the game. It was a beauty but sailed into the end-zone setting up McLane’s second possession at the 20. It only took one play for McLane QB Dylan Sheeder calling his own number to scoot through the middle of the line for an 80 yard score. McLane took a 20-0 lead into the second quarter. Their third drive ended in the same fashion as their first two, a handful of plays and they were again in the end zone. At the start of the second quarter Franklin seemed to move the ball a little with Toby Sanchez getting some tough positive yards. But a sack on fourth and 19 handed the ball back to McLane who then took it 54 yards for their fourth score. in the final possession of the half, Franklin moved the ball on a good run by Sanchez followed by another by Johnah Heckathorne but the drive then stalled and the clock ran out on them. Franklin got the ball to start the second half but failed to move it when that backwards punt happened. Again it only took McLane a few plays to score. On the next possession Franklin had some positive yardage again with a pass to Alex Wible and a nice reverse field run by Marsteller, but McLane’s defense stiffened forcing a turnover on downs. With a short field McLane made quick work of it to go up 39-0 setting the running clock mercy rule in motion. A couple series later the quarter ended and the reserves were sent in. McLane scored again and then took a knee on the final possession winning the contest 46-0. McLane moves to 2-1 on the season while Franklin, having only scored 16 points this season falls to 0-3. The Knight’s life doesn’t get any easier next week when they face region and backyard rival Oil City. The Oilers are looking every bit like the team that won three straight district championships from 2018 to 2020. The 3-0 Oilers took down Northeast 52-20. They have scored over 50 points in each of they’re games this season and their star running back Ethen Knox, who set a school record for yardage against the Knights last year, has over 1,000 yards rushing already this season. It's going to be a tough game on the road for coach Matt Turk's return.The gods do seem to be out to punish these poor Knights. |
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For a very comprehensive look ate Venango Sports visit our friend's website: yardsandpoints.com is a website dedicated the long history of the Oil City and Franklin football rivalry by former sports editor Penny Weichel. It is an amazing labor of love and valuable resource for history. It is our go-to here at 8and322.com. Categories |