Franklin’s Kennard drops football

Standout Franklin High School quarterback Luke Kennard will forgo his senior year of football and will play basketball only. First-year Wildcats head coach Brad Childers confirmed Kennard’s decision Friday morning, the first day of preseason.

The decision wasn’t unexpected for the state’s 2013 co-Division III offensive player of the year. He’s among the nation’s top basketball recruits and has verbally committed to play at Duke University. He was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball and earned many other honors after averaging 40 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior.

In two seasons as Franklin’s starting QB, Kennard was a combined 289 for 510 passing for 3,888 yards, 49 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Wildcats were 9-2 last season and 10-2 in 2012, won outright Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern titles at 6-0 each year and qualified for the playoffs both seasons.

“Luke has chosen to focus on preparing for basketball,” Childers texted. “We respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best.”

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