Who:  North Oldham (3-3) travels to #6 Franklin County (3-3) in a district matchup.

When:  Friday, 10/1/21   Kickoff 7:30 pm ET

Video Broadcast:  7 pm www.pegasussportsky.com    simulcast on twitter (@pegasusmike)

North Oldham, under first-year coach Jamie Brown, bounced Waggener last week, 17-0, in St. Matthews for the school's first win in this district (this is the third year for the current configuration of class 4A district 4, including Franklin County, Central, Waggener, Shelby County, and North Oldham).  The victory puts the Mustangs in the driver's seat for a playoff berth, which would be their first since 2018.

North Oldham, which lost its starting QB, Jace Bullock, a couple of games back, showed a definite improvement on offense under senior backup QB Nick Freeland, who threw the ball well.    The Mustangs got a field goal (after a 90+ yard drive) and a touchdown pass from Freeland to stake out a 10-0 lead at the half against the Wildcats, then added an insurance score on Liam Hutson's 7th interception of the year - and his third INT "pick six" of the season - with about two minutes left to seal the victory.

As has been the story of the year, the Mustang defense was the story of the ballgame.   North has now given up just 41 points in their last four games, and the Mustangs - following two safeties and two Pick Sixes last two weeks ago against Western - scored again on defense against Waggener.   North has 11 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries in six games this season.    Linebacker Michael Davis has 72 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 4 sacks on the season to lead this hungry bunch.   

North held Waggener to less than 50 yards of offense for the game.

Despite the improvement on offense, North struggled to finish drives last week, getting inside the 10 twice and failing to get any points.    The offense is showing rapid improvement as the coaches adjust the play-calling to take advantage of Freeland's skills, but the Mustangs will not be able to have drives come away empty against Franklin County; North is still averaging less than 200 yards of offense per game and less than 3 yards a play on the season.

Key for North will be how often they can get the ball into the hands of some of their speedy receivers, Blake Wetzel and Liam Hutson in particular.   Both have serious straight-line speed, if NO can protect Freeland long enough to get them the ball.

The Mustangs also have a "hidden" weapon in kicker/punter Lucas Silverthorn.    The senior kicker kept Waggener bottled up in their end of the field the entire second half last week with deep, accurate punts, and is capable of kicking long field goals.

Franklin County is, once again, the clear-cut favorite in the district, and one of the top teams in the state in class 4A.    The Flyers also opened district play with a big win last week, 56-8, over Shelby County, which looks to be having a rare down season under Todd Shipley.   It seems so odd to see a Flyer stat sheet in which Franklin threw the ball only 12 times for 86 yards (and two scores), but Franklin didn't need to go to the air, rushing for 328 yards and two scores, led by Kaden Moorman's 119 yards and 2 scores - on just 10 carries(!)    For the game, Franklin County averaged 13.1 yards per carry as five different players carried the ball and three scored.

Hurst helped his own cause on defense, returning an interception 107 yards for one of Franklin's touchdowns.   Peyton Ledford also had a pick six in the game.    Brenton Sears led the defensive effort with 12 total tackles.

Franklin has already played a beast of a schedule.   The Flyers lost to 4A #1 Corbin by 20, lost to 6A #7 Ballard by 18, and fell to 5A #4 Woodford County by just 3.    They, of course, still have to play district rival Central, ranked #4 in Class 4A.   Their three wins were somewhat expected:  over Scott County, Western Hills, and Shelby County.   

Again, it seems so odd to see a Franklin team that is averaging just 112 yards per game through the air....but Moorman's running (656 yards and 11 touchdowns) is largely making up for it.    Moorman, who has an offer on the table from UK, is key to this offense as the sophomore Hurst learns his craft at QB.   

On defense, the Flyers are more than capable.   Franklin's "D" has four defensive touchdowns this year already, including two INT returns by star Peyton Ledford.   Sears leads the team in total tackles, with 59, and Ledford has 7 TFLs to along with his two "pick sixes".

Franklin should be a heavy favorite in this ballgame - the Flyers won the last two years, 47-8 (2020), and 62-0  (2019), but this North Oldham team has more weapons than in the past and a whole new outlook.    The outcome should tell us quite a bit about how far Coach Brown's team has matured midway through his first season.

I'll post updates throughout the game as my broadcast allows.

CM

 

 

Franklin Co by 21!

Pregame show starts in 16 minutes.

I'll post updates as I can.

CM

Gavin Hurst 29 yard pass to Jayden Mattison for the TD

Franklin 7-0 with 8:57 in the first

Christian Moore, 13 yard run for a TD

Franklin 14-0 with 1:01 to play in the first.

Flyers with 5 first downs to 1 for North

Franklin first and goal at the NO one.

Flyers with 10 first downs

Kaden Moorman, 1 yard TD run

two point conversion run fails when Gavin Hurst is tackled by North's Ben Becerra in the backfield.

6:59 left in the half

Franklin County 20 North Oldham 0

 

Franklin County with 10 first downs....last TD drive started on their own 12

North with just 25 yards of offense unofficially

Kaden Moorman with a 44 yard punt return to the North one yard line with 5:03 left in the half

Moorman one yard run with 5:00 to play in the half

Franklin County 27-0

Franklin gets a late score just before the break.....Jayden Mattison connects with Braedyn Tracy on a 42 yard WR pass with 18.6 seconds left in the half.

At intermission, Franklin leads, 34-0

UNOFFICIAL

Franklin County  12 first downs   266 yards

North Oldham 3 first downs     3 yards

North's QB simply getting no time to set and throw.   Franklin with four sacks in the first half.

Kaden Moorman 77 yards rushing in the first half for FCHS

Franklin fumbles away the ball to start the second half, but North returns the favor with an INT.

First two turnovers of the game

Mack Pyle intercepts Hurst's pass with 7:49 to play in the 3rd.

FC still leads 34-0