FRANKLIN
The Franklin High School Broncos played both their opening game of the season and also their first home game on Friday against the Drifters of Colonial Beach. The Broncos scheduled opener on Sept. 2 was postponed due to the inclement weather. For the Friday night opener it was hot, but the Broncos fans were out in large numbers as the Broncos opened the opener with a big “W” as they defeated the Drifters 28-16.

The Broncos opened its scoring on the opening kick-off as DeMarqe White raced untouched for 96 yards for the touchdown. Dariun Everett scored on the two-point conversion and the Broncos were off to the early 8-0 led.

But the celebration was short-lived as very quickly the Drifters answered back after a Bronco fumble and went on the scoreboard with a touch down and added the two-point conversion to put the score at 8 all in the first quarter of play.

The first quarter ended with the score tied at 8-all. But early in the second quarter the Drifters drove and scored on a 4-yard touchdown run by Cole Setliff. Lucan Lamar added the two point conversion to put the Drifters up 16-8.

The Broncos offense continued to move the ball and soon entered the red zone and Bronco QB Fred Lassiter crossed the goal line on a 4-yard run. The point after failed, but the Broncos closed the score to 16-14 with 4:34 remaining until the half.

After the Bronco defense held the Drifters and forced a turnover of the ball, the Bronco offense cranked up their last drive of the half and scored with: 40 remaining in the half on a 3 yard touchdown run by Lynn Lawson. The point after failed but the Broncos took a 20-16 led to the half.

In the second half both teams attempted to move the ball for pay dirt but only the Broncos were able to cross the goal line in the third quarter for a score. DeMarqe White broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run. The point after failed.

The Broncos were led in rushing by DeMarqe White with 105 yards and the team had a total of 293 rushing yards. For the Drifters Lucas Lamar lead in rushing with 47 yards and the team had a total of 161 yards.

The Broncos were lead in tackles by both Natron Lee and Kalil Thomas with six tackles apiece. For the Drifters, Feltner Wyatt had eight tackles.

Overall, the Broncos looked good for their first game of the season. Size-wise, they are bigger and showed a little mixture in running and passing even through QB Lassiter completed only one of three passes for a total of 50 yards. Both teams had a problem with fumbles during the game as both fumbled five times with the Drifters losing it three times while the Broncos lost it only once.

Bronco head coach Darren Parker, stated in comments after the game, “We have to go back to the drawing board and go back to practice. At the end of the day we are 1-0, but we have a lot of work to do in all four phrases of the game. As always, God is great.”