The Franklinton Junior High Falcons football team dropped their season opener to a strong St Paul's middle school last Tuesday in a defensive battle, 20-0.
The game opened with neither team being able to gain an advantage over the other as it went back and forth until the halftime where the score was all knotted up at 0-0.
In the second half the St Paul's Wolves began to get some traction over the Falcons as they scored on an eight yard touchdown run at the 4:12 mark of the third. The two point conversion was stuffed by the Falcons defense to keep the score at 6-0.
On the Falcons ensuing possession they fumbled on third down and the Wolves recovered and returned it thirty three yards for a touchdown at the 2:27 mark. Again the Falcons defense stuffed the Wolves two point conversion attempt to keep the score at 12-0.
The Falcons next offensive series was also non productive and the punted after three plays. St Paul's offense took advantage of a tiring Falcons defense to score on a 53 yard pass at the 1:01 mark of the third quarter to make the score 18-0 before the two point conversion was also good for a 20-0 score.
The two teams again fought to a standstill in the fourth and neither team managed to score and the 20-0 score would be the final.
The Falcons veteran football coach Andy Creel said after the game. "I thought our kids played well at times against a big and physical St Paul's team."
The Falcons will host the Pine Junior High Raiders on October 5.
