Ever since Coach Ben Parker’s 1944 Russellville Panthers beat Franklin-Simpson 46-0 in 1944, these two neighbors have met continuously on the football field in some of the most memorable games in both schools’ gridiron history. They continue that rivalry Friday when the Cats come calling.
Russellville won the first six meetings between the two teams, including 47-19 in the Panthers’ undefeated 1950 season that found Coach Jimmy Haynes’ team ranked second in the state overall before the classification and playoff system began.
Momentum switched after that, and the Cats got their first win in the series in 1951 by a 20-6 margin. By the time Coach Ken Barrett arrived on the field that now bears his name in 1976, F-S led the all-time series 17-14-1. And it took Barrett a few years to get his first victory over the Cats. Both teams have won state championships over the years, but the games between the former SKY League rivals (Bowling Green and Glasgow were the only other two schools in the SKY for decades) always have been meaningful.
Franklin-Simpson has dominated the series in the 21st century. The Panthers went 2-9 against the Wildcats the first 11 years of the 2000s. The last two years haven’t been close. F-S won 42-7 the last time they were on Ninth Street in 2010, and last year the Cats won 55-21 on the way to a state Class 4A runner-up finish. Russellville’s last win over Franklin came in 2007 by a 29-17 score. Mikie Benton—now in his second year as the starting safety for the Kentucky Wildcats—was the Panther quarterback that night.
The possibilities of a Russellville win over their oldest rival this year have been enhanced this fall. Long-time F-S coach and athletic director Tim Schlosser has become the school’s principal, ending his coaching days. His successor, Coach Doug Preston, came to town with impressive credentials, but his first Wildcat team is struggling. The Wildcats come to town with a 1-4 record. All four losses have been to teams ranked in the top 10 in the state in their classes.
In last Friday’s homecoming game, Franklin’s defense allowed visiting Caldwell County 49 points and over 500 yards total offense behind Tiger sophomore quarterback, Elijah Sindelar.
The offense has struggled as well. Junior quarterback Eli Hurt has completed 14 of 43 passes for the Wildcats. Chris Holman, also a junior, is the leading rusher with 274 yards. Phillip Kitchens and Vintavious Ficklen are the other two primary rushers. Holman and Marquiez Robbins are the team’s leading receivers with four catches each. Robbins, a track sprinter, has returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns.
Russellville is 3-2 with wins over Trigg County, Hopkins County Central and Todd Central and losses to Fort Campbell and South Warren. Coach John Myers, who has a 63-38 record in nine seasons at the Panther helm, has gone the opposite direction of Schlosser. He was serving as both principal and coach of the much smaller school, but now he has turned the principal’s job over to Kim McDaniel and moved into the central office, where he is overseeing transportation and maintenance.
Russellville is also led by a junior quarterback, Barrett Croslin. He’s 20 of 63 passing for 246 yards and six touchdowns. He also has scored two touchdowns rushing. Classmate Demarcus Hampton is the leading rusher at 9.3 yards per carry on 29 carries. Senior Zach Hines has rushed 36 times for 117 yards. Hines has returned a kick 87 yards for a TD. Hines has also caught five passes for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The receiver, however, is senior Josh Hampton, who has eight receptions for 122 yards and three TDs. Desmond Quarles has three catches and a TD. He would be used more as a rusher and receiver if he weren’t so important to the defense.
Croslin has intercepted three passes on defense with Christian Naylor and Coco Darden picking off two each. Daniel Duncan and D.J. Hoosier have been among the top defenders. Baseball standout Corey Wright has been an asset with his kicking.
Myers told Franklin Favorite sportswriter Brian Davis, “Franklin is very talented and a better football team than their record shows. It’s a friendly rivalry between the two schools, and so with the Wildcats coming to Russellville, this should get the kids and the community very excited for Friday night.”
Game time is 7 p.m. It will be aired over both WRJS and WFKN.