None of the players had seen a playoff win for their school until now. First since 1996.
FRANKLIN- Charles City use to be in the Tri-Rivers district and one of their biggest memories in recent years was upsetting Franklin on their homefield. Back then it was Trevor Jones who excited the Panther faithful and creating an instant classic in the minds of most Panther fans. His brother Kyle got his opportunity to create a lasting memory for him and his teammates and they did just that. Things looked like a game they wanted to forget early though.
The game was setting up to be a smash mouth contest with Franklin’s rushing attack being the wall of water and the Panthers being a stressed dam trying to hold it together. Several drives into the game the Panthers always found a way to stop the rushing attack for cashing in. This would all change late in the 2nd with 2:38 before halftime when senior running back Alexander Allen pounded his way in from a yard out. He would also get the conversion making it 8-0 Broncos.
Alexander Allen ran hard early to give the Broncos control of the contest.
Franklin came out of halftime looking to shoot the door of opportunity. The Broncos pounded behind the solid blocking of Edward Boone and his teammates. The smaller Panthers could not stop the stampede moving down the field and soon it would be Allen going in from 3-yards out to make it 14-0 Broncos at the 9:00 mark in the 3rd.
After leaving the Panther offense frustrated, Franklin decided to put the nail in the coffin. Facing a 3rd and 42 from their own 33, Fred Lassiter would find Ryan Aylward for a 32 yard gain setting up a 4th and 10 at the Panther 35. Lassiter would forget about getting the first down as he found DeMarge White for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Dashawn Butts would get the conversion and Franklin led 22-0 with 1:05 left in the 3rd quarter.
Cecil Tyler found some daylight on a few big runs to help ignite the Panthers.
Franklin may have started to believe it was over too soon. They got relaxed on offense comfortably ahead and Mason Jefferson would find a crease on the visitors sideline and that was all she wrote. The dynamic offensive threat raced 54-yards for the touchdown with 43 seconds before what could be his final quarter of high school football. On the conversion he would find Justin Thomas for the grab.
Big time players make big time plays in big games. Jones would do just that to jump start the belief of the Panther faithful who made the drive down south. With Franklin making a drive toward another score, he would strip the ball from a Bronco ball carrier and would race 62-yards for the touchdown. Cecil Tyler would get the two-point conversion and at the 10:53 second mark in the 4th the score was 22-16.
The Panthers would then pay for kicking a squib too deep. It was too deep into the wrong hands as Natron Lee would scoop and take off like a bolt of lightening streaking down the middle and eventually to the home sideline trying to extinguish the flame of hope the Panthers had with 10:42 left to play.
After trying to get an unsuccessful onside kick, Franklin went with a bigger defensive front to try to stop Jefferson from being able to see in the pocket. The taller Broncos did however gained in size they would lose in speed. Jefferson would hit Tyler who made a great grab and then knew exactly where he was to reach over the line for the touchdown to make it 28-22 with 8:12 left.
From there it appeared Franklin would be able to run the ball and preserve a close. This especially appeared true after Charles City drive folded with only 2:23 left to play. Franklin’s icing of the game came down to getting a first down. Charles City would call their final timeout with 1:27 left to play. 4th and 3 as Lassiter raced toward the maker but would be brought down short by Jefferson’s tackle. Lassiter did reach his 6’ 4” frame to what appeared to be the first. Unfortunately for the Broncos, the ref appeared to have seen his knee touch down marking him short by inches.
Fred Lassiter would be marked inches short on this 4th and 3 run that change their season.
Charles City was tremendously overjoyed and ready to take full advantage. Jefferson would find Troy Crawley for a 15-yard gain and Franklin would also be called for a facemask on the play. The next play Jefferson would get a big 35-yard run putting them into scoring territory. After a 5 –yard Panther penalty, Jefferson would find a lane to his right, dash, and then fly into the endzone for the game locking score 28-28 with 0:22 remaining.
Franklin called a timeout to plan on stopping the conversion and stressed how this was a must make play. Something went wrong as Tyler easily went in on the left side of the line giving the Panthers a 30-28 lead.
Following a 17-yard reception by Aylward, the Broncos would let 10 seconds drop off the clock before calling timeout. This left them with 6 seconds left and Lassiter would short arm a pass to Lee and that was all. Franklin’s season was over and Charles City got their first playoff win since 1996.
Lassiter finished the game 7 of 11 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown pass while Allen led the Broncos in rushing with 17 carries for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Mason Jefferson hugs his offensive coordinator after an amazing 4th quarter comeback.
Jefferson had 20 carries for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Panthers. Crawley led them team with 12 tackles on the night.
Coach Steward Greene will now guide his team to Colonial Beach next Friday for what should be another exciting game. The Panthers move to 6-5 while Franklin ends their season with a 7-4 record.
Franklin outgained Charles City 419 to 207 yards on the night in total offense. 3 Franklin turnovers proved to be costly.
CHARLES CITY 0 0 8 22 - 30
FRANKLIN 0 8 14 6 - 28
F- Allen 1 yard run (Allen run)
F- Allen 3 yard run (run failed)
F- White 35 yard pass from Lassiter (Butts run)
C- Jefferson 54 yard run (Thomas pass from Jefferson)
C- Jones 62 yard fumble return (Tyler run)
F- Lee 70 yard kick-off return (run failed)
C- Tyler 19 yard pass from Jefferson (run failed)
C- Jefferson 15 yard run (Tyler run)
ALTAVISTA 63 SURRY COUNTY 16
Surry County had the pace and the plan right and led 8-7 in the first quarter but things took a terrible turn in the 2nd as the Colonels scored 42 unanswered points. Quarterback Jake Adams completed all his passes to Mateo Maulbeck in which 3 went for touchdowns. Altavista will now travel to Victoria to face Central Lunenburg.
TABB 35 PARK VIEW 16
Park View broke open a scoreless game in the 2nd when German Neville would hit Trevelle Ratliff on a 29-yard pass. However, Rodney Haggins Jr would strike rushing for a 54-yard touchdown. The Dragons answered with a Tyrone Fisher run to take a 16-7 lead at the half. From there it was all Tabb. The Tigers rushed for 430 yards winning their first playoff game since 1993.
IC NORCOM 30 SOUTHAMPTON 0
Southampton wasn’t ready for the big stage as they could only muster 33 yards rushing against the Greyhounds. The Indians star back Tayriel Ruffin had 21 carries for only 13 yards. Quinton Jones led the Norcom with 95 yards rushing as they will face the winner of Phoebus and Warhill.
ESSEX 55 WILLIAM CAMPBELL 20
The Trojans have finally got their offense rolling like they imagine it would. KJ Dameron rushed for 258 yards on 24 carries resulting in 5 touchdowns as the Essex took care of the Generals. As a team Essex rushed for 456 yards and now set up the big game with Riverheads.
BUFFALO GAP 8 BRUNSWICK 6
Treven Easter answered early with a 3 yard run to give Brunswick a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. The failed two point conversion would end their season though. As Gap would score the much needed touchdown and get their conversion in the second. Neither team could do anything in the 2nd half.
OTHER REGION A SCORES
Goochland 49 Washington & Lee 7
Luray 27 Northumberland 18
Madison County 63 Nandua 26
Strasburg 41 King William 20
