FRANKLIN—What more can be said about Franklin High School’s brilliant 2008 football season? Against the odds the Broncos won the Group A Division 1 state championship. The question for 2009 is can Franklin repeat?

Despite the loss of a large senior class, Franklin head coach Darren Parker said the team has key starters back from last year’s state championship team. Among those players are Lacurt Boone, offensive and defensive tackle, Daquan Clemons, linebacker and running back, Justin Everett, offensive guard and defensive tackle, Trey Keigler defensive back and the new starter at quarterback, Derek Boone, linebacker and running back, Justin Grant, wide receiver and defensive back, and Shaquan Cook, wide receiver and defensive back.

On offense, Keigler will be responsible for running the power I, which the Broncos have run with devastating effectiveness the last five years.

Parker said the Broncos will change up defenses depending on the opponent.

Franklin’s schedule has new opponents this year. Gone are Arcadia and Colonial Beach and in are Mathews and Middlesex. “Every two years, you have a new schedule and some teams we keep and some are dropped, but that is decided on by the region,” Parker said.

Parker said the long term goal for Franklin this year is to repeat as state champions. A short term goal is to get better every week and to have the players excel in the classroom as well as the football field.

“Right now we are the reigning state champions. Everyone we play against will be tough. We study their offense and defense, but the main thing as a staff and as a team is that we get better everyday. We have a certain level that we want to play at and practice on that same level,” Parker said.

“These kids have done a great job this season. We have had very aggressive and exciting practices. We just don’t say that we are looking forward to finishing the whole season 14-0. We try to reach that everyday in practices and also in the classroom because education comes first,” Parker noted.

The Broncos were ranked 10th in the VirginiaPreps.com preseason Group A poll.