Football: Brentwood at Franklin – enough said

On the gridiron, it is the oldest and most heated rivalry in Williamson County.  If it were a tiddlywinks competition between Franklin and Brentwood, it would draw a crowd.

Think about opening the high school football season, a religion in itself in the South, with a match between the two.

“Isn’t it going to be great for our kids, our teams and our schools?” asked Bruins head coach Ron Crawford, who holds a 10-7 record over the Rebels.  “We look at it as positive, a week to get ready for a team we have great respect for.  

“They absolutely wore our hind-ends out last year, but this is 2017,” he said with a smile.

The two schools have been in different classes for the last four years, but another TSSAA reorganization placed them back together, making the opening game not only a rivalry contest, but a critical region game.  Because of that, Crawford knows his team must be improved over last week’s performance at the first Williamson County Jamboree.

“We can’t be as sloppy as we were last week,” he said. “We had three big penalties, a touchdown called back.  We overcame that in a jamboree, but we can’t overcome that at Franklin.”

One of the Bruins’ bright spots was senior quarterback Carson Shacklett, who threw for 113 yards and two scores in a single quarter of work in the jamboree.

“It’s been a long preseason but we’re ready for Franklin,” he said. “We’ve got some great weapons out there and I’m glad I get to throw to them.”

Franklin is hoping to repeat the success of the past four years, consecutive wins by an average of more than 20 points, including last year’s 41-7 rout at Brentwood. 

Franklin coach Donnie Webb is looking forward to the challenge of facing Brentwood and the Bruins’ 35 returning seniors.

“What a great way to kick off the school year and both team’s football seasons with Brentwood vs Franklin,” Webb said. “We are up for the challenge of playing such an experienced team.  I know Brentwood will be prepared and I hope our team is up for the challenge.”

Webb lost a great deal to graduation. 

While quarterback Carter Hendry is back, and on the heels of a very good jamboree night, the Rebels will be pressed to replace a plethora of offensive and defensive graduates, both on the line and in the backfield.  

The Rebels do boast possibly the best offensive lineman in the county to run behind in Max Wray, a 6-9, 295-pound behemoth committed to Ohio State.  He gets help from Kyle Means and Hunter Waldrum, who will also turn around and play defense, along with Christian Moolman.

Game experience in the backfield is at a premium, with Webb indicating he could try a three-man rotation in the backfield as Matt Gaca, Rashad Jenkins and Michael Crowther.

No matter the outcome, Webb knows what to expect going in.

“As Keith Jackson used to say, ‘WHOA NELLIE, this is going to be a great one.’”