Da-Shaun Butts came through in the clutch for the Broncos in Friday's key regional match.
FRANKLIN- Tonight's game in Franklin was a big one and the winner would definitely have an edge if things come down to the games it appear they will. Colonial Beach definitely came out wanting to jump on the Broncos who were just coming off a victory over Essex. The Drifters would do just.
Corvian Davis would find room early pushing the ball into Broncos territory. Then moments later Cole Setliff would catch a pass on a perfect flag route and then powering the rest of the way inside the five. Davis would finish the drive powering in from 3 yards out to make it 6-0 Drifters.
The defense would show up next. The quickness of the Drifter defensive line disrupted a run and Franklin coughed it up at their own 40 yard line. Colonial Beach would waste no time trying to capitalize. Kindrick Smith would race 37 yards down the visiting sideline to get them into scoring position again. Kenneth Allison would end up doing the honors of getting the sex and Smith would run the conversion to make it 14-0 Drifters with 6:55 left in the first.
What makes Franklin different this season is that they don't crack under pressure but embrace it. The Broncos relaxed and moved down the field with short passes and gashing runs. Then from the Colonial Beach 35, Myroen Barrett would hit Old Dominion commit Dreyln Ford on a post for the touchdown to get the Broncos offense going.
Both teams would fall victim of good defense for most of the quarter and then Franklin would get a big pass completion down to the Drifter 8 yard line. From there, sophomore LaSean Nichols-Porter would crash in from 3 yards out and he would run the conversion to make it 14 all with 0:36 seconds before halftime.
In the second half, Franklin would steadily march down the field as Nichols-Porter and Da-Shaun Butts would begin to leave their marks on the Drifter defense. Barrett would end the drive with a 3 yard score to make it 20-14 Broncos with 8:08 left in the 3rd quarter.
Sophomore LaSean Nichols-Porter had all eyes on him all night by the Drifter defense.
If you think this is where the Broncos would just pull away in this game you would be wrong. Colonial Beach responded like a quality team wanting a big win should. Davis would explode for a 42-yard run to get the Drifters to the Franklin 21. Smith would take a reverse unnoticed and cruise into the endzone to tie things back up. 20-20 with 6:01 left in the 3rd.
Barrett and the Broncos would soon answer late in the 3rd with Barrett hitting Tyvon Carr on big 80-yard touchdown pass. Carr break loose after the catch shaking off two Drifter defenders and dashing in for the score. 26-20 Broncos with 2:56 remaining in the 3rd.
Did we mention this was a big game? Colonial Beach dug deep and Seth Jewell would find Aneis Lyons for a 35-yard touchdown pass just barely over a minute later. The conversion would fail and it would be tied at 26 with 1:21 left in the 3rd.
Coach Karl Robertson of Franklin and Earl Payton of Colonial Beach had went blow for blow but it would be Robertson introducing a counter that the Drifters were not ready for late.
Colonial Beach offense couldn't escape the Franklin defense late in the contest.
Big time players make big time plays in big games. Senior Da-Shaun Butts would do just that for the Broncos. He would read a block perfectly and then race 53-yards untouched for the touchdown. Barrett would find Ford for the conversion making it 34-26 with 18 seconds to play in the 3rd.
Colonial Beach would then loose all the wind in the offensive sails as the Franklin defense would pressure the Drifters into turning over the ball. Barrett would get a huge interception at the Drifter 43 yard line giving Franklin the opportunity to distance themselves. They would do just that as Butts would plow 32-yards for another touchdown to make it 40-26 with 9:40 left in the 4th.
The Drifters could not sustain drives the rest of the way. Their last chance to get back into the contest would end with Jamontre Jones making a great grab in the endzone for the interception to seal it for Franklin. The Broncos move to 3-0 and will be off next week before hosting 3A Park View on the 21st. Colonial Beach (1-1) will make another long ride as they face Sussex Central.
COLONIAL BEACH 14 0 12 0 - 26
FRANKLIN 6 8 20 6 - 40
CB- Davis 3-yard run (run failed)
CB- Allison 1-yard run (Smith run)
F- Ford 35-yard pass from Barrett (run failed)
F- Nichols-Porter 3-yard run (Nichols-Porter run)
F- Barrett 3-yard run (run failed)
CB- Smith 21-yard run (pass failed)
F- T. Carr 80-yard pass from Barrett (pass failed)
CB- Lyons 35-yard pass from Jewell (run failed)
F- Butts 53-yard run (Ford pass from Barrett)
F- Butts 32-yard run (pass failed)
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KING WILLIAM 30 ESSEX 6
Essex got things going with Avante Banks returning the opening kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown signaling that the Trojans were ready in this one, but that would be all the scoring power Essex would have Friday night. The extra point would be no good. King William would answer on their drive as Lance Alfonso would find Marc Gresham for a 16 yard touchdown pass and Travis GIlbertson would get the conversion to make it 8-6 Cavaliers.
Corey Stewart would go in from a yard out for a score and Gresham would get the conversion making it 16-6 at the end of the 1st. Freshman Demond Claiborne would cap off their only scoring drive in the 2nd with fellow freshman Jayveon Robinson would get the conversion to make it 24-6 at the half. The defenses would go back and forth and then Kolbe Jorgenson would add a late score as King William moves to 3-0 while Essex drops to a surprising 1-2.
OTHER COASTAL PLAIN SCORES
Colonia Heights 23 Park View 14
Lancaster 24 Mathews 0
Northampton 31 Surry County 13
