Franklin hopes win over Oakwood enough for playoffs

Franklin relies on a strong running game, defense to roll past Oakwood.

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By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 2:21 AM Saturday, October 31, 2009

OAKWOOD — A solid running game and a stout defense kept Franklin’s playoff hopes alive, at least overnight.

The visiting Wildcats bashed Oakwood 28-7 in convincing fashion to finish the season 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division.

But will it be enough to make the postseason playoffs?

Franklin entered the game ranked 10th in the Harbin computer points and needed to win and for a few teams ahead of it to lose to earn a playoff spot in the top 8 among area Division III, Region 12 teams.

“I’m really proud of these seniors,” Franklin coach Rodney Roberts said. “I pray to God that we as a coaching staff can get to work with them for at least another week. This has been a great year.”

After the game, Roberts told the team that, thanks to them, Franklin football fans expect the team to be playing for league championships and playoff appearances each year.

Regardless of whether the ’Cats have a Week 11 playoff game or not, senior Eric Hildenbrand said it was a great year for the senior class of 24 players.

“We don’t have anything to be ashamed of,” he said. “This game was big for us, and each one of us can be proud of the way we played this season. ... I just hope we can get a chance to play another week.”

Franklin racked up 265 yards rushing, and Hildenbrand was a big reason why. The 6-foot, 185-pounder rambled for 120 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Dylan Salyers scored two first-half touchdown runs and Cody Priest added another. Jordan Pruitt was perfect on his extra-point attempts and Franklin led 21-0 with 3:22 left in the opening half.

Oakwood’s Colin Morris put the Lumberjacks on the scoreboard with a 2-yard run at the 1:15 mark, and Scott Harman booted the extra point to make the halftime score 21-7 Franklin.

Franklin’s final score came on a 36-yard pass from Ben Sizemore to Justin Salyers with four minutes left to play.

Morris finished with a game-high 141 yards rushing on 25 carries, but the rest of the Oakwood offense was held to 25 yards.

“I admire our kids for hanging in there and fighting,” Oakwood coach Paul Stone said. “Franklin took it to us up front, and we knew athletically that they were going to be very, very strong. Rodney’s kids are always very well prepared. To me, I looked out there and liked how our kids were fighting the whole time we were out there, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

Oakwood (1-9, 1-5 SWBL Southwestern) will miss the postseason playoffs for the first time in four years. Twelve Lumberjack seniors played their last game.

“I’m disappointed for the seniors, they’re a good group of kids, but their body of work includes three trips to the playoffs,” Stone said.

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