Franklin 35, Hitchcock 21
Regional semifinal
Friday, Nov. 28, 2024
By Douglas Pils
NEW CANEY – Franklin coach Mark Fannin hasn’t made many mistakes in the past five seasons as the Lions’ football coach.
But last Friday night after Franklin (10-2) had eliminated Hitchcock 35-21 in the regional quarterfinals at Randall Reed Stadium, Fannin fumbled an important line he had given his team each of the previous four seasons.
So, senior Jayden Jackson stepped up to deliver the message.
“Teams that get remembered play in December,” said Jackson as his teammates and Fannin roared in celebration with another golden football trophy.
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Sets up another rematch
The victory was a repeat of the 2022 regional semifinal when Franklin beat Hitchcock 53-18. And it sets up another rematch from 2022, a regional final showdown against Columbus (12-1). The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday at John Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park.
The Lions beat the Cardinals 24-21 in 2022 thanks to a last-minute touchdown by current Baylor star running back Bryson Washington. This year, Columbus boasts a pair of cousins who signed with TCU this week on National Signing Day.
Quarterback Adam Schobel is a four-star standout, while defensive end John Schobel is a three-star recruit. Their fathers are Matt and Aaron Schobel, respectively, and both played at TCU and in the NFL. Running back Grayson Ridgeon has committed to play at North Carolina State and has several other offers after transferring from six-man power Benjamin.
The Cardinals’ lone loss this year was a 37-36 overtime thriller to Hitchcock, so the Lions can expect another tough matchup this week.
Confidence-building win
Much of the talk last week centered on the Bulldogs having the outside speed and inside strength to take down the Lions. That kind of talk is out there again this week as Columbus seeks to snap Franklin’s four-year hold on the Region III title.
Jackson, who has committed to play running back at Wyoming, likes the confidence the Lions gained by winning so convincingly.
“This game did a lot for us,” said Jackson, who rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. “You know, it showed how much heart we have. Too many people, you know, they doubt us. They count us out. … They always talk about Franklin as the underdog. So when we hear that, that motivates us. … It proves a lot; of how much we are and who we are.”
Lebouf’s ‘big’ return
Franklin jumped out to a 20-7 halftime lead thanks to Jackson’s 21- and 34-yard touchdown runs and senior Landon Lebouf’s 82-yard kickoff return after Hitchcock tied the game at 7-7.
“It was big,” Lebouf said. “It’s something that you want after giving up a touchdown. It gives you that momentum right back for the defense to go back out there and make another stop.”
The Lions took a commanding 28-7 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter on Jackson’s third touchdown and his two-point conversion run.
Defense steps up
Up until that point, the Franklin defense had given up just eight first downs and Labouf had stopped an 11-play drive with an interception at the Franklin 7. Hitchcock’s lone first-half score came after a fumbled exchange a few players later at the Lions 25.
Fannin loved how the defense played up until a couple of late fourth-quarter touchdowns.
“I thought defensively we played very well,” said Fannin, who’s now 25-2 in the playoffs the past five seasons. “Holding a Hitchcock team that’s loaded with athletes, you know, I thought our defense came out, and they were playing with their hair on fire all night long.
“They were flying to the football. We were executing. … You know, the second half kind of got a little bit ugly, but I was overall pleased with how we played.”
Jackson’s second touchdown, the 34-yard run, was a one-play drive after senior defensive back Josh Lopez forced a Hitchcock fumble and then Lopez recovered it with 2:28 left in the first half.
“It was fantastic. It was crazy,” said Lopez, who made 7.5 tackles and broke up a pass along with the important fumble and recovery.”
Heading off a comeback
In the fourth quarter, Hitchcock closed to 28-14 with 6:37 to go, but Franklin answered right back after a failed onside kick. Four plays later, senior Collin Smitherman sped away from the Bulldogs for a 32-yard touchdown and a 35-14 lead with 4:10 to go.
It was Smitherman’s seventh score this year and he’s up to 642 yards on the season, second on the team behind Jackson’s 2,332 yards.
Lifting up teammates
It was fitting that Jackson delivered the finishing line after the game. He started the game delivering inspiration in a big team huddle before Franklin ran onto the field.
“I had no doubt in my mind who was gonna win this football game,” Jackson said. “So I just had to motivate our O-line, our DBs, because for the past few weeks, people have been trying to bully us.
“You know, everyone’s been making not good comments about our O-line. So I just had to get those guys going and motivate them that they were going to be tested in this game. And so I felt like my motivational speech was good, and we executed this game.”
The Lions will need more of that motivation and execution against a Columbus team loaded with talent and its own motivation to avenge the 2022 loss.
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