faninthestand

The streak needs to continue - the trophy case would look bare without the Helmet! It has never seen the inside of Centennial High School - sure the players have seen it, every year that Franklin brings it out - holds it high - and takes it back home to it's rightfull place in it's Franklin Trophy case!

I'm OK with the prediction - especially without claiming who is on top!

I do I was there, and very cold - as we waited for the timely delay to be resolved! I would love to see a Gallatin Franklin game in round 3, no worry about lighting - but man the defensive battle would be incredible!

Believe me, this group of Seniors are keenly aware of the streak. They are not celebrating anything about last Friday night. They enjoyed their good fortune (I believe you create that good fortune), but are focussed on the task at hand - THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN! These guys also know that with a win, they guarantee getting a Region Championship that they don't have to share. (Past years Franklin has shared region championship with Brentwood and Brentwood / DC - but lost seeding position on tie breakers)

One other Stat to swallow: When Franklin ended up in the Boro in 2004, they averaged only 2.3 points per game more than this group, but the defense was giving up twice as many points at 12.43. This group can definitely reach the same point as the 2004 team. One striking simillarity, no one else believed they could get there in 2004 as well.

my guess eagle2 is that you are from Indy and have not seen that horrible offense for a few weeks. That horrible offense has averaged 22.78 points per game (leaving out OT points) while the defense has given up 6.22 (again no OT points). All the while playing the 4th toughest schedule in the state in 5A according to CoachT. Granted - in the Indy game the offense took a nap, we can all debate why, injuries, inexperienced QB, overconfident, Indy Defense or what ever you like. The QB has made great strides since the Indy game, not only in managing the offense (remember he is just a Sophomore and moved here over the summer) but in the arc of his passes. More direct, less air, and more accurate. Threw a bad ball on the screen (defender made a great read) - but otherwise his quick hits were on the mark. I'll take our "horrible offense" along with our strellar defense over anyone elses outside looking in offense and defense! With a 16.5 average margin of victory, the offense is just fine.

Offense needs to show some more improvement before I am convinced they can get beyond Qtr Finals. QB looks more poised as he has gotten more reps - tough to tell how much improved due to strong DC defense last Friday. Defense is strong, quick and relentless. May give up some yard between the 20's, but bow's their backs when needed to keep points off the board. (3 shutoouts in last 3 games in regulation) For the season only given up 6.22 points per game (again leaving out OT), in the past 4 games only 1.5 PPG. Again if Defense wins championships - Franklin has as good a shot as anybody with Webb coaching up these guys!

The spitting may be eroneous - but the comment on the announcer is right on the mark. Obnoxious is not a strong enough term to classify what the fans have to listen to at an Indy game. Have the gentlemen attend a Franklin game and he will understand how a High School sporting event needs to be commented over a PA system. Remebering what they speak of at the beginning about it being an event looking for good sportsmanship - then "performing" the way he does seem hypocritical. Congrats to Indy's players for a good season.

I've been biting my tongue all weekend about the DC Franklin tug of war last friday. I call it a tug of war simply for the reason that both teams had their moments of pulling the other in the direction needed for a win. But until the clock reads zero (or in this case OT) - until one team pulls the other totally over the line, it can be debated for years to come - who dominated whom. Bottom line - Franklin got it done! Kicking is a big part of Football when it comes to playoff battles and evenly matched teams. Last Friday night - Franklin was the better team because when it was on the line - they executed and Dickson Co did not. Both teams deserve a ton of respect for leaving it all on the field, and both teams should be proud of the sportsmanship displayed. I especially appreciate our PA announcer - who does not rub the opponents face into the home team successes, and to the Scoreboard operator who took the score off the board quickly after the OT session concluded. Good Luck to the Cougars, and well done Rebels!

Region Championship has not yet been decided - and Franklin will be well reminded all week of that fact. Screw up this game, and a Dickson County win against Ravenwood - and everything Franklin gained this past week will be lost. Focus will be there for the Rebels this week. As to Centennial finding and offense that works - it worked against Columbia, don't get too excited. Everthing looks good against Columbia.

The reason why folks are so quick to pounce on the short comings of Indy in the past couple weeks is due to how loudly the boasting was by Indy fans when they were having better fortunes. If you can't take the criticism - don't be so quick to look for applause. Region 6-5A is one of the the toughest regions to play in - some times it is better to hold on to your claima of top dog until you've run the gammit and played out the schedule.

If 2 Teams are tied with similar Region Records the tie breaker is head to head. If more than two teams are tied with Region Records: Head to Head is first, if this doesn't solve; Overall Record, if this doesn't work then I am lost at what comes next. I beleive Fromthetop had it laid out pretty well in a previous post.

Using Campbell or not using Campbell has not been the issue. O-Line will determine the outcome of this one. Given time - Sellers can deliver the goods. Earlier in the year - I would concurr that we had a difficult time getting the ball to Campbell, but in the last few games - too many dropped passes when the ball was delivered. I see Campbell having a big night this week, along with Frohock and Sellers. Defensively, Coach Webb has the speed and heart on defense he loves to use. Swarming, quick, hard hitting, tough nosed kids with a desire that matches Webb's intensity. Great game / Great atmosphere / great fan support. What more could you ask for in high school football!

Not seeing the whole game - I am qualifying my comments. If Brentwood plays defense like they did in the 3rd and 4th Qtr against Centennial, I'm going with Independence. My gut takes me back to a few years ago when Brentwood came to play in the games that defined their seasons, if that team shows up - I pick Brentwood.

I happened to see bits and pieces of the second half of the Brentwood / Centennial game last night on the tube - the Cougar offense actually looked good on a few of the plays - including the pass for a touchdown and a scramble by the QB (#5). Both being when the score was 30 - 13, was this against the 2nd and 3rd unit from Brentwood - or their starters? If it was against the starters - Centennial has come quite a long way from when I saw the Fr Ryan game. Curious.

Hold on Ole Dad - I don't remember anyone from Franklin claiming they were going whip Riverdale like a red headed step child. I recall the Franklin fans being proud of what the 2004 team had accomplished when all the pundits called for it to be a rebuilding year and no better than 5th in their region. I recall everyone in Franklin expecting a close game, one that didn't materialize obviously - but let's not rewrite boasts of a but wooping by Franklin fans. Back to this game - Franklin has the athletes on defense who are quick to swarm to the ball, and are more than adequate in the secondary that Dickson County may become one dimensional. An earlier poster commented on Franklins offense struggling this year. That is an absolute fact - too many mistakes (holding, false starts, fumbles) have hurt the production of this unit. Yet all that said, Franklin still has averaged 28.4 Points per game against a strong schedule according to Coacht SOS stats. The last few weeks, the turnover bug seems to have been corrected, if the penalties subside - they could be dangerous. And if they can get Campbell off and running - good night.

Be safe heading over to Franklin - Bring a large crowd - and get set for a great game! Hopefully this is the game that Todd Campbell shows everyone why Tennessee is taking a shot with him! If this is his breakout game this year - it could be long night for the Cougars.

Take a deep breath DC001. 1P is simply pointing out by your own numbers - Franklins D shutdown both Indy and Brentwood compared to what DC's D did against those same two clubs. Also, you claim Franklin has not seen a power running game yet - they played Indy who ate up 270 yards of turf against your Cougar Defense. If that is not a power running game - then are you claiming your defense gives up large chunks of yardage to average running teams? Franklin held Indy's average running game (according to you) to less than half of your defense. If the old addage is true - "Defense wins Championships" - I like Franklin's Chances.

One game that the stats usually have to be ignored is the Franklin / Brentwood games. With the history these two programs have built, the fact that they are about 6 miles apart, most of the players have played pop warner ball together, and guys from one school are dating girls from the other - the stats don't measure the game! All things being equal - with 2 good teams getting together Friday night at Franklin - it will come down to the team that makes the fewest mistakes. That statement alone has me worried for Franklin. For the first 8 games - too many penalties on offense, too many dropped passes, and too many missed blocking assignments. They've gotten away with it in 7 of 8 games so far - starting Friday and on into the playoff's - they need to become more disciplined. If they do, they can go very deep into post season play.

Franklin's O didn't have to do much - when the Columbia O kept delivering the ball to the Franklin D, who needs an offense. Franklin D scored on a pick (first play from scrimmage for Columbia O), then after Franklin O scores to make it 14 - 0, the Franklin D decided they weren't through. Columbia tries to lateral to their Tailback - and a blitzing safety intercepts the lateral and returns it for a TD. Score at that Point: Franklin Defense 14 - Franklin Offense 7, Columbia looking for the locker room.

Franklin Opponents Records 35 wins 29 losses Dickson Opponents Records 32 wins 33 losses Franklin PF- 25.6 PA- 7.0 Dickson PF- 28.4 PA- 14.0 Common Opponents (5 Region 6-5A opponents) Franklin PF- 27.8 PA- 6.8 Dickson PF- 32.8 PA- 12.0

The saddest thing with this game is how few players will be on the sidelines. I was disappointed to see such few on the Columbia sidleines last friday - and have heard the numbers are down at Centennial. That to me is the truest measure of a coaches succes or lack of it - the number of players who continue to come out for a sport they grew up loving!

If Franklin wins then beats Centennial (who is struggling badly this year) - Franklin wins the Region. If Dickson Co wins - it's all theirs, regardless of the final week of the season. Let's break this one down, keeping all posts on this weeks matchup between 2 teams heading in the right direction as this one looms large.

The lights go out early on Columbia in this one (wait lights out only occurs at Gallatin in the playoffs )

Franklin is in barring a laughable result in the Centennial contest - beat DC and Franklin is #1, lose and it comes to tiebreakers for seed 2 or 3. Dickson Co - just as laughable would be a loss to NE - their in even if they loose both, end up with 2 region losses. Indy / Ravenwood loser next week has 3 losses in the region will need to scoreboard watch to see if they are in. Brentwood / Indy result most likely to determine who is in and who is out.