FRANKLIN —
Westwood’s district debut as a member of Class 2A was one the Panthers would rather forget.
Running the ball almost at will and scoring touchdowns on 11 of their opening 12 possessions, the Franklin Lions blitzed the Panthers, 82-35, Friday night in the District 11-2A, Division I opener for both teams at Lion Stadium.
Franklin’s lopsided victory spoiled a 244-yard rushing performance by Westwood quarterback Keke Hicks who was virtually a one-man show for the Panthers offensively. All but 26 of Hicks’ 244 yards came in the second half as the senior speedster scored three touchdowns in the contest on runs of 34, 66 and 67 yards, with the latter two coming in the final two quarters.
Only throwing the ball three times the entire game, the Lions sliced and diced the Panthers' defense by rushing for 568 yards. Chris Morrow led the ground assault with 203 yards on 20 carries, while Morgan Brewer added 169 yards on just six carries.
Morrow and Brewer each rushed for three touchdowns for the Lions who capped off their Homecoming festivities with the decisive, district-opening victory.
Franklin finished with 593 total yards offense, while Westwood had 356.
Amassing 308 total yards offense in the first half — all but 25 on the ground — the Lions reached the half-century mark with 20 seconds remaining until the intermission after Morrow’s 1-yard run and Jacob Dorsett’s ensuing PAT put Franklin in front, 50-13.
Franklin’s seventh touchdown of the half was set up when the Lions’ Zack Short scooped up a Hicks’ fumble at his own 44 and rumbled 43 yards to the Westwood 1 in the opening half’s waning seconds.
Morrow, who had 142 yards on 16 carries in the opening two quarters, scored his third touchdown of the first half on the ensuing play as Franklin was firmly in control.
Franklin (now 4-2 on the season) had 308 total yards offense in the first half, compared to just 94 for Westwood. The Lions had 18 first downs in the opening two quarters, while the Panthers managed four.
Most of Westwood’s first-half yardage came on a pair of first quarter touchdowns.
The first of the Panthers’ touchdowns came when Hicks, off a fake inside handoff, kept the ball and then out-raced a host of Lions en route to a 34-yard TD run.
After Franklin’s Darius Floyd returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, the Panthers scored on their following possession as Hicks found Dra Ross in perfect stride over the middle with a 48-yard scoring toss.
Westwood trailed, 29-13, at the end of a high-scoring opening quarter, but only managed one first down in the second quarter, coming on a penalty.
Westwood (2-4 on the season, 0-1 in district) hosts Teague next week at Panther Stadium in another league tilt.
Teague opened district play with a 35-14 victory over Trinity.
Local Sports
H.S. Football: Franklin too much for Westwood in Panthers 2A debut
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From the Sideline: Picking on the picks from Texas Football
2013 is the year that Lance Angel’s Palestine Wildcats make the leap.
It’s a year that will see perennial playoff teams Cayuga, Frankston and Oakwood back in the playoffs.
It’s a year that won’t see Westwood or Elkhart snap their playoff droughts, or see Grapeland return to the postseason.
At least, that’s what 2013 will be according to the “Bible of Texas football.” -
Palestine's Owens picks TCU
A whirlwind recruitment came to a resolution for Palestine star Jarrell Owens Tuesday.
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H.S. Baseball: Elkhart's Smith stellar at all-star weekend
By all accounts, former Elkhart baseball standout Levi Smith had a stellar weekend.
The former Elks’ catcher spent it in Round Rock, participating in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) all-star weekend.
He played in the 1A-3A all-star Saturday, batting in the clean-up spot for his team. But, it was the show he put on Friday that probably turned the most heads. -
Tennis: Palestine-native Ybarra captures East Texas Open title
In terms of his tennis, the last year had been a rough one for Palestine-native Ryan Ybarra.
After transferring from Texas Tech to UT-Tyler, Ybarra had seen his season come to a rough end thanks to a foot injury, and led him to wonder about his future in the sport.
In his own words, Ybarra was “burnt out.” -
H.S. Football: 5 local players to play in Saturday's FCA bowl
The annual FCA “Heart of a Champion” Bowl in Tyler Saturday will have a decidedly local flavor to it.
Five local players were among the almost 100 chosen to play in the game, which honors the best high school seniors from a 25-county area in Northeast Texas. -
H.S. Football: Palestine OL Thlang commits to ULM
The first of the area’s Class of 2014 football recruits has made a commitment.
Palestine offensive lineman Brian Thlang committed to the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Wednesday, days after attending the Warhawks camp with teammate Ben Luckett.
Thlang said he was won over at the camp with the ULM coaching staff. -
H.S. Football: Area coaches react to UIL's new 90-minute rule
In an effort to combat injuries, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) approved a limit on how much full contact can be made weekly during high school and middle school football practices.
The UIL, which governs athletics in Texas, approved a measure limiting contact to 90 minutes per week at a meeting on Tuesday. But, full contact is deemed to be “game-speed tackling and blocking to the ground.” -
H.S. Football: TCU latest to offer Palestine's Jarrell Owens
Palestine star senior-to-be Jarrell Owens picked up his fourth college offer on Tuesday, his second from a BCS school.
TCU offered the Class of 2014 linebacker/defensive end, joining Texas Tech as the two Big 12 schools currently courting Owens. -
H.S. Baseball: Trio of locals named to THSBCA all-state teams
Three local players were named some the state’s best baseball players Monday by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA).
Elkhart teammates Levi Smith (catcher) and Jacob Cheatham (third base) were both named first team players on the Class 2A team, while Cayuga pitcher Chantz Holland was named a first teamer in Class 1A. -
Sports Briefs: Week of 6/3/13
Sports briefs for the week beginning June 3, 2013, including a Lady Elk garage sale and updated information on Adrian Peterson Day.
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