After trading kickoff returns, Franklin rolls past Charles City

Charles City linebacker Jaquane Wyatt pulls down Franklin running back Marcus Stephens.

Andre' Jones photo

When Charles City’s Avery Jones responded with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown after the Group A number three ranked Franklin Broncos opened the game with a similar return, Panthers head coach Steward Greene thought his team came for a showdown.

Unfortunately, the showdown became a no show for the Panthers (3-4, 1-1 Tri-Rivers) as the visiting Broncos (7-0, 2-0) backed up their high ranking with a 30-point first quarter on their way to a 51-12 victory in Tri-Rivers District football last Friday.

After Travis Brown opened the game for the Broncos with a 92-yard kickoff return and Jones answered for the Panthers, the Broncos used their traditional stacked backfield formation to pound the Panthers.

Marcus Stephens rushed for 53 yards on the ensuing drive to set up Brown’s four-yard touchdown run. After a three and out for the Panthers, the Broncos uncharacteristically took to the air, with quarterback Laquadric Pittman completing a 49-yard pass to Corey Porter over Jones’ outstretched hands to push the lead to 22-6. With less than 30 seconds in the first quarter, Tyree Jones would add another touchdown run to up the score to 30-6 after one quarter.

With the Panther offense unable to get any type of flow going, the Broncos continued to march on the ground. Brown would add a 44-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Then with less than a minute remaining until halftime, the Broncos would add two quick touchdowns, one from Terry Warren on a five-yard run and a Pittman to Stephens 36-yard pass after an onside kick recovery to make it 51-6 at the half.

The Panthers would mount their only positive drive during the final quarter against the Bronco subs. After the Panthers’ Bobby Collins recovered a fumble, quarterback Jovan Howard completed three consecutive passes, with the last going to wide receiver Jaelan Cotman for 13 yards.

After the game, Greene said that it was a night where he thought the outcome would be different.

“After we answered Franklin’s score with our own, I said to myself that we’ve come to play,” said Greene. “Unfortunately, we didn’t make the plays we needed to do.”

Overall, the Broncos rushed for 330 yards with 11 different backs. By contrast, Charles City ran for only 32 yards with five backs.

“We all had a terrible night,” said Greene. “We [coaching staff] made some bad decisions, and the players just couldn’t get anything going between the chalk. It’s just that tough stretch that we deal with in this district.”

Tough could be a heavy understatement, as the Panthers travel to Group A number four Sussex Central this Friday. The Tigers are led by Darien Curley, who rushed for 327 yards and five touchdowns last Friday against Windsor.

“We have to be more physical with these teams, because they’re going to be physical with us,” concluded Greene.

Franklin———— 30 21 0 0 —— 51
Charles City——- 6 0 0 6 —— 12
1st Quarter
Frank (11:52)- Brown 92 yard kickoff return (run fail) 6-0
CC (11:33)- Jones 94 yard kickoff return (kick fail) 6-6
Frank (9:02)- Brown 5 yard run (Brown Run) 12-6
Frank (3:53)- Porter 49 yard pass from Pittman (Warren run) 22-6
Frank (:24)- Jones 12 yard run (Stephens run) 30-6
2nd Quarter
Frank (8:07)- Brown 44 yard run (Padilla kick) 37-6
Frank (:47)- Warren 5 yard run (Padilla kick) 44-6
Frank (:16)- Stephens 36 yard pass from Pittman (Padilla kick) 51-5
4th Quarter
CC (:11)- Cotman 13 yard pass from Howard (kick fail) 51-12

Rushing (attempts/yards)
Franklin- Stephens 16/118, Brown 11/108, Warren 7/26, Lane 4/26, Crommwell 4/24, Jones 2/13, Williams 2/-3, Porter 1/11, Blacknall 1/6, Wright 1/4, Pittman 1/-3.
CC- Howard 11/9, Greene 2/10, Carroll 2/4, Jones 1/5, Vaden 1/4.
Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
Franklin- Pittman 2/3/85, 2 TD.
CC- Howard 6/10/50, 1 TD; Jones 2/6/15.
Receiving (receptions/yards)
Franklin- Porter 1/49, Stephens 1/36.
CC- Cotman 5/53, Wyatt 1/7, Jones 1/7, Greene 1/-2.