MOORESVILLE
Franklin might have come of age against Class 4A rival No. 2 Mooresville on Friday night.
Even though the Grizzly Cubs fell to the Pioneers, 39-30, they proved they are a team that others had better not take lightly the rest of the season.
Sophomore quarterback Nick Patterson’s 23-yard run with 1:07 left and the resulting two-point conversion ended a wild game that was tied three times.
“We want to be a good team and we came out and played like a good team, but we have to find a way to win those,” Franklin coach Chris Coll said. “I’m pleased with how we played, but I’m not pleased with a close loss. We’re not satisfied.
“That’s not our ultimate goal.”
For a time, Franklin (3-3, 2-2 Mid-State) looked like the second-ranked team. The Cubs’ opening drive was a thing of beauty, covering 84 yards in 11 plays, culminating in sophomore John Shepard’s 10-yard run.
Mooresville countered with a drive of its own, capped by Breken Greene’s 12-yard run.
This appeared to be a shootout in the making.
Franklin took the lead 17-10 thanks to another nice drive that was capped by another Shepard run, this one from the 2.
Mooresville finally got its passing attack going with 55 seconds left in the first half, as sophomore quarterback Nick Patterson hit Dane Stevenson from 22 yards out to tie the score.
It was a real battle in the first half with only more to come.
Franklin didn’t change its game plan either, effectively running and passing against the Pioneers. That was evidenced by Shepard’s third touchdown run of the game, a bullish 17-yard score.
Mooresville didn’t panic, scoring on a pass play from Patterson to Malachi Warren from 26 yards.
Patterson also hit Gideon Brimmage on what appeared to be a short pass, but Brimmage rumbled his way for a 67-yard score that gave the Pioneers the lead for good.
Franklin quarterback Reed Roberts scored on a 5-yard run, but Mooresville’s big Zach Finley blocked Nick Woods’ extra-point attempt to keep it at 31-30.
The Cubs had a few opportunities to get the go-ahead score but came up short a yard on a fourth-and-10 with under two minutes to go.
“Offensively we could have gained control,” Coll said. “We had a few breakdowns here and there, just little things, but we’ll work on those.”
Roberts completed 21 of 36 passes for 290 yards. He spread the wealth, hitting five different receivers. On the ground, Franklin did well, rushing for a total of 234 yards, with Jalen Ward getting 109.
Greene led all rushers with 172 yards, while Patterson ran for 84 and passed for 242 and three touchdowns.
Both teams missed field goals.
Mooresville (6-0, 4-0) remained unbeaten and is in control of the Mid-State Conference race.
Franklin returns home for its next game against Plainfield.
