Area, Nov. 17, 2022
Franklin 32, Anahuac 7
By Douglas Pils
Story originally ran in the Franklin News Weekly
WALLER – What started out as a slugfest between Franklin and Anahuac in the area playoff round turned into another showcase for the Lions’ defense and Bryson Washington’s ability to deliver knockout blows.
After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Lions (12-0) stormed out of the break with four touchdowns and the defense held the Panthers to 48 yards with two three-and-out drives, one interception and a turnover on downs.
It all added up to a 32-7 victory for the state’s No. 1 team in Class 3A Division 1 and a trip to the regional semifinals against Hitchcock (11-1), a 36-31 winner over Woodville. The game with the Bulldogs will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah.
“I told the guys this was the kind of game we were going to have and how we responded in the second half showed signs of a good football team,” Franklin coach Mark Fannin said. “We came out ready to play in the second half.”
Anahuac (9-3) came out moving the ball against Franklin. The first drive lasted 12 plays and ended on an incomplete fourth-and-2 pass by freshman Brady Barrier into the end zone from the Lions 22.
Franklin answered with a 13-play drive that covered 76 yards and was capped by Jayden Jackson’s 2-yard run. Cort Lowry’s extra point was wide left, so Franklin led 6-0.
The Panthers cashed in on their second drive after 14 plays and 76 yards. Anahuac converted two fourth-down plays on the drive and it led 7-6 after Landon Corbitt’s 1-yard dive and Oscar Garza’s extra point.
The Lions’ next drive stalled at the Panthers 43 after a holding penalty and a sack on back-to-back plays. With 1:26 left in the half, Anahuac threatened again, but Barrier’s pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by junior Devyn Hidrogo on the final play of the second quarter.
“Our team needed me to make a play, so I just went and made a play,” said Hidrogo, who added another interception during the Lions’ dominant second half. He now has four on the season.
Hidrogo’s strong kickoff return set up Franklin at its 43 to open the second half. Ten plays later, Jackson had his second touchdown on a 1-yard run and the Lions took a 12-7 lead that was never threatened.
After a three-and-out by Anahuac, the Lions quickly put together a nine-play drive covering 69 yards. Washington had a 20-yard run on the second play. He converted a fourth-and-1 with two hard-fought yards at the Panthers 38 and he ended it with a 23-yard run for an 18-7 lead.
Panic seemed to set in for Anahuac after that, because it opened the next drive with four straight penalties before punting on fourth-and-19 from its 20. Two plays later, Washington effectively closed the deal with a 45-yard sprint on an inside reverse. Lowry’s extra point made it 25-7.
“I just knew we had to come out in the second half ready to fight,” junior defensive lineman Major Kimbrough said. “That’s what we were telling the team in there that we can’t give up. We pretty much knew that.”
Panic was not seen by the Lions at any point during the game and that’s something Fannin talks about.
“I’ve been preaching do not panic, don’t hit the panic button,” said Fannin, who’s now 40-3 as the Lions’ head coach the past three seasons. “Because if you start panicking, our minds start overthinking stuff. I told them next-play mentality and that’s something we’ve been harping on here recently.”
Franklin tacked on the final touchdown, a 1-yard run by Collin Smitherman, after Hidrogo’s second interception. It came one play after a Lions interception.
Washington led Franklin with 150 yards and two scores on 16 carries, while Jackson had 102 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. In all, the Lions had 314 yards, 304 rushing.
Franklin made four stops on fourth down to kill Anahuac drives, three in the second half. On offense, the Lions converted three of five fourth-down attempts, another sign that they didn’t let panic set in.
“It just means when we get down and face adversity to just push through it,” Hidrogo said. “We’re a good team so we’ve just got to push through those moments.
“I’m just thinking they can’t stay with us the whole game. We kept stepping on their throat and they’re going to give up eventually.”
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