Coach Darren Parker and the Broncos jumped out to an early lead and closed late.
FRANKLIN- It was homecoming night for the Franklin Broncos who were looking to rebound from their lost to Park View on Monday night. The Broncos came out like they did versus the Dragons by going to the air as quarterback Fred Lassiter threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Natron Lee to put the Broncos up 6-0.
Surry was getting their toughest test of the season and came out ready offensively. The Cougars ran a double pass play where Traymaz Tynes would throw a 72-yard touchdown pass tom Rodney Pierce to nod the game up 6-6 with 6:37 left to play in the 1st quarter.
Franklin would march back down the field running behind tackle Edward Boone and Tyrique Warren. Alexander Allen would do the honors from 4 yards out while Lassiter will power his way through for the two-point conversion. Then following a drive of incomplete passes Surry would have to punt. They would find out that Lee is also a great punt returner. Lee would race 52-yards into the endzone to make it 22-6 as Dariun Everette would go in for the two with 2:26 left in the 1st.
Franklin's Dariun Everette finds daylight on his way to a first down.
Franklin wasn't done as Surry's misconnections didn't run time off the clock and Franklin was able to turn to Dashawn Butts who powered in from 2 yards out to make it 28-6 Franklin at the end of the 1st quarter. The game appeared to be while in hand. Franklin went to the air again in the 2nd as Lassiter would hit Drelyn Ford for a 53-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-6 Broncos in control.
The Cougars would miss on a few more opportunities to score. The most painful was right before the half when Surry would have the ball at the Franklin 10-yard line but could make the catches. Quarterback Darius Savedge threw a beautiful pass in the pack of the endzone but it went threw the receivers hands as the teams went into halftime 34-6.
After a long halftime extended by homecoming festivities seemed to work against the Broncos. Surry found themselves. Savedge would work through his progressions and would find Pierce for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 34-12 at the 11:16 mark of the 3rd quarter.
Tynes gets some crucial yards to keep a drive alive for the Cougars.
Following a Franklin fumble, Savedge would hit Pierce again. This one was from 35-yards out as he would race into the endzone making it 34-20 with all the momentum going to Surry. Following the failed conversion by Surry and prepping for the Franklin return, head official Lee McDaniels fell to on his back.
Initially spectators thought the official may have dehydrated but the frantic motions of the first responders indicated it was much more as the game became and after thought. As the official was taken off the field. Both teams gathered in the middle of the field in prayer for McDaniels and his family. No word of his condition was none at press time.
Emotional moment at Franklin High School as official Lee McDaniels is rushed for treatment.
After a while the remaining officials went on to restart the game. Surry would stop Franklin and would try to cut the lead even more but Savedge's pass across the middle attempting to get a first down would be intercepted by Butts. Lassiter would go in from 13-yards out given Franklin some cushion as the Broncos led 40-20 with 1:44 left in the 3rd quarter.
Surry would answer immediately as Pierce would take the kick-off from his own 20-yard line and race all the way for a touchdown. They would recover a fumble in the endzone for the two-points to make it 40-28 with 1:30 seconds left to play in the 3rd. Unfortunately, Surry would not score again.
Lassiter and Everette would both score off short touchdown runs that were time consuming drives. Franklin was able to run well in the second half which made the difference.
Surry's Pierce had 189 yards receiving on the night with 4 total touchdowns.
Next up for the Broncos (4-1) will be a trip to Lawrenceville where they will face off against the Brunswick Bulldogs. Surry(3-2) will host the Windsor Dukes as they try to lock up a playoff spot in the top 12.
SURRY 6 0 22 0 - 28
FRANKLIN 28 6 6 16 - 56
F- Lee 20-yard pass from Lassiter (run failed)
S- Pierce 72-yard pass from Tynes (run failed)
F- Allen 4-yard run (Lassiter run)
F- Lee 52-yard punt return (Everette run)
F- Butts 2-yard run (run failed)
F- Ford 53-yard pass from Lassiter (run failed)
S- Pierce 65-yard pass from Savedge (run failed)
S- Pierce 35-yard pass from Savedge (Tynes run)
F- Lassiter 13-yard run (run failed)
S- Pierce 80-yard run (Dennis Hatch recovery)
F- Lassiter 2-yard run (Allen run)
F- Everette 4-yard run (Lassiter run)
