Senior midfielder Griffin Atkison, left, has scored 14 of Franklin’s goals this season.
Daily Journal file photo
Coach boys soccer as long as Tony Harris has, and one is bound to field teams with varied strengths and skill sets.
Take, for example, his current squad.
While talented offensively, the Grizzly Cubs have been the definition of stingy once the ball is located anywhere near the general vicinity of junior goalkeeper Adam Ott.
Through eight matches, Franklin has only allowed 10 goals.
“It’s a pretty veteran team,” said Harris, whose team took a 5-1-2 record into Tuesday night’s home match against Columbus East. “I thought we would be able to score a little bit more, but knew we were going to be better defensively.”
Senior Luke Cambridge and junior J.D. Sever, starting defenders and two of Franklin’s three captains, team with junior defenders Riley Flora and Zach Newton in the back.
Meanwhile, Ott’s time in front of the net has already resulted in 34 saves — some, like the one he had in Franklin’s 3-1 victory over Whiteland last week, slightly more impressive than others.
“Adam showed signs last year as a sophomore that he could be special,” Harris said. “Over the summer, it just became very apparent that we just couldn’t keep him off the field.”
“Right now, we are most successful when it comes to defense,” added senior midfielder Griffin Atkison, a four-year starter and captain whose 14 goals amount to half the Grizzly Cubs’ total this season. “Adam has had an amazing year.”
Franklin’s other senior starters are midfielders Liam Clarke (two goals) and Brady Schmidt.
A strong junior class is continued with forwards Dylan Harris (two goals, two assists) and Cole Hufford and midfielder Ethan Elsner. The lone sophomore starter is Matt Payne.
Last weekend, the Grizzly Cubs traveled north to face Class A No. 3 University, a match that in some ways proved the perfect microcosm of the season so far.
Atkison scored Franklin’s lone goal, which was matched by the home squad in the first half. The Cubs and University were both scoreless in the second half, resulting in a 1-1 tie.
Franklin finished with 20 shots on goal to University’s two.
“I think offensively we’re pressing a bit too much,” Harris said. “But I do think we’re good offensively and we’re going to have a breakout match.”
The Grizzly Cubs, near the top of the Mid-State Conference standings with a 3-1 mark — their sole league loss came in overtime at Class 3A No. 12 Perry Meridian — hope to be hitting on all cylinders in early October when the postseason begins.
Due to tournament realignment, Franklin’s quest for its first sectional title will no longer be trying to win matches in the same Class 3A sectional as Center Grove, Perry Meridian and Southport. Instead, the Grizzly Cubs travel to Roncalli, which features its own challenges with the host Royals, both Columbus schools, Franklin Central, Greenwood and Whiteland.
Columbus North, ranked No. 7 in 3A, looms as the largest of those obstacles.
Atkison, who has scored 65 goals and been credited with 37 assists during his Franklin career, insists this group is certainly capable of producing special memories as the season plays out.
“I think it’s the chemistry. We’re all really good friends on this team, so it just builds a connection,” Atkison said. “It plays a pretty big role.”
