Franklin’s season ends with 20-12 loss
Published 11:37 pm Friday, November 11, 2011
FRANKLIN–After holding a 12-6 lead for most of the Division 1 Eastern Section playoff game on Friday night, Franklin lost 20-12 to Bath County.
Playing at Armory Field, the No. 5 seeded Broncos could not stop the No. 12 Chargers, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to end the Bronco’s season at 6-4. The Chargers improved to 4-6.
The Chargers on their first possession used a combination of runs and passes to score the first touchdown on a one-yard run by Tyler Deeds. The kick failed.
Bronco Travis Brown broke free up the middle on Franklin’s next possession to score a 43-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed and the score was tied 6-all.
The Broncos recovered a Charger fumble late in the first quarter and capitalized on it early in the second quarter to score on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Delvontae Boone. The two-point conversion failed.
The remainder of the second quarter was spent with punts and fumbles by both teams. The half ended with the Broncos up 12-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Broncos were held on offense deep in their own territory and were forced to punt.
The Chargers getting good field position at the Bronco 35-yard line scored on a Raymond Miller to Chris Nichols six-yard touchdown pass. On the two-point conversion, Miller connected with Aaron Newmarker to put the visitors ahead 14-12 with 8:40 left in the game.
On the next Bronco possession, a delay of game penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct moved the ball deep into Bronco territory resulting in Franklin having to punt.
The Chargers starting at mid-field advanced the pigskin and scored on a 17-yard run by Dariene Hepler. The two-point conversion failed, and the Chargers led 20-12 with 2:46 left in the game.
The Broncos using a two-minute drill tried to advance the ball, but failed and the ball went to the Chargers on downs before the final horn sounded.
Zack Hopkins and Tavis McKinney both had seven tackles apiece for the Broncos.
In rushing, Brown led with 110 yards.