CHARLES CITY—When Franklin High School raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter here Friday night, no one would have predicted that the Broncos would fall from the ranks of the unbeaten by game’s end.

Charles City scored 22 points in the third quarter, limited the Broncos to a single touchdown in the second half and escaped with a 44-41 victory in Tri-Rivers District play.

“There’s nothing to say but that we lost,” said Franklin High head coach Darren Parker, whose team was 7-0 and ranked fourth in the state in Group A heading into the game. “We’ve got to go back to the drawing board. We have Sussex in two weeks.”

Franklin gets an open date to lick its wounds before hosting Sussex Central in a key Tri-Rivers District clash on Nov. 5.

“We don’t make any excuses,” Parker said. “Tonight they beat us.”

Charles City, 5-2, returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown and got three rushing touchdowns in the final half from Trevor Jones, the last of which was a 6-yarder with 3:45 left on the clock.

Franklin had gotten its only second-half points on a 63-yard touchdown by Justin Grant with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

In the first half, Franklin got two rushing touchdowns each from Martinez Hill and Melquan Mitchell and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Trey Kigler to Prince Lockhart on the final play of the half.

Hill rambled for 214 yards on 23 carries to pace a potent Bronco ground attack. Mitchell added 95 yards and Grant 63.

Kigler completed 2 of 5 passes for 36 yards.

Franklin outgained the home 417-329 in total yardage but was hurt by three turnovers.

Charles City also dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for 29:24, compared to the Broncos’ 18:36.

Jonathan Boone led Franklin defensively with 7 tackles, while Justin Boone and Lockhart had 6 stops each. Justin Boone also recorded two sacks. Hill had an interception.