Every alternate year since 1944, the Franklin-Simpson Wildcats have come calling to Rhea Stadium for one of Kentucky’s oldest continuing rivalries. Tonight marks another of those visits in the teams’ regular season finales.
Russellville football historian Greg Owens says, “This matchup of traditional state powers in their own classes began in 1944 with the Panthers winning the first seven meetings. Since then things have not been as favorable for the Panthers. Franklin-Simpson has proven to be one of the state’s best for over 60 years, winning two 3A State titles. The Panthers’ overall record against the Wildcats is 24-48-1 making this the 74th consecutive meeting between these nearby schools.”
The last two seasons the Panthers have taken a combined 17-1 record into the Franklin game, but have lost by a total score of 68-19.
The combatants don’t come into the 2017 game with quite as sparkling records as they did last year. The Panthers were regional champions and in the Final Four for the second straight year. The Wildcats were undefeated at 14-0 before losing to Johnson Central in the state championship game.
This year Coach John Meyer’sPanthers are 6-3 and in the rare position of not being district champion in a year in which Mayfield is not in the district. After starting their season at 2-3, Coach Doug Preston’s Wildcats are now 6-3 and the number one seed in Class 4A’s District 2.
Russellville’s offense relies primarily on the ground game. The leading rushers: Jacolbie Mason 435 yards on 63 carries for 3 touchdowns; Javeron Robey 489 yards on 32 carries for 4 scores; Ed Barber (who missed two games with an injury) 342 yards on 65 carries for 6 TDs; Jacob Naylor 279 yards on 41 carries for 2 TDs; and Damon Hales 219 yards on 48 carries and a touchdown.
The Panthers have outrushed their eight opponents (one win came on a forfeit) by over 500 yards—1,664 to 1,109 despite on keeping the ball on the ground by only two more plays. RHS has scored 16 rushing touchdowns as compared to 9 for their foes.
As the quarterback, Naylor has completed 31 passes on 79 tries for 572 yards and 8 touchdowns. Opposing passers have gone 58 of 140 for 658 yards and 6 TDs.
Devin Quarles has caught 10 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Anthony Woodard has 6 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs. Barber has caught 5 aerials and a score. Kobe Kerr has a great ratio of catching 3 passes for 61 yards and 2 TDs.
Barber is also the leading tackler with 75, including 16 for losses. Close behind is Robey with 70 and 11. Naylor has 62 and 4 while Hales has 44 and 5 and Teon Morris 33 and 6. Impressively, Dre Woodard has made his 10 tackles count with 6 tackles for losses and Corey Dowlen has 5 tackles for losses, almost half the dozen he totaled.
For Franklin, Cade Harvey has taken up where his brother Grant left off, leading the team by example and totaling 70 tackles. There’s a big dropoff to James Baker’s 53 tackles and Collin Preston’s 42.
On offense, Tre Bass leads the team with 944 rushing yards on 62 carries. Carlos McKinney with 740 yards on 123 carries is second. Saul Brady has 525 yards on 87 totes.
Quarterback Rylan Thomas, who is a good baseball pitcher, is the quarterback but has had trouble replacing the graduated Jackson Caudill. Javon Covington is the leading receiver.
Freshman soccer player Cole Hollingsworth has been an excellent kicker, on both kickoffs and place kicks replacing the graduated Maddie Alexander.
Despite heavy rains, the game is being played and can be heard on WRUS radio on both AM and internet.