FRANKLIN LIONS
Confident returners ready to reload
Lions lost big graduating class but have veteran leaders in place to lead in 2019 By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com
After 42 years of coaching, Franklin head football coach Mike Hedrick has been through this before. The Lions graduated eight defensive starters, including Northwestern State defensive back Jared Pedraza and second-team all-state linebacker Will Fannin. Franklin also lost key players offensively, including first-team all-state fullback Clayton Rosprim. “We’re going to rebuild,” Hedrick said. “We’re going to take the kids that we’ve got, the kids that want to play, and we feel like we’ll do well with these kids.” Datron Dixon is one of them. The senior running back and free safety took on a bigger leadership role this summer and led the other defensive backs through offseason drills. All of them play both ways, so Dixon had them running in parachutes to weigh them down and working through drills to improve footwork as they prepare for bigger roles. “Yeah, they’re younger, but they can fly around,” Dixon said. “They have experience, so not a lot of people are going to be able to throw the ball [against us].” Cody Duewall, a thirdteam all-state pick, will help lead the offensive and defensive lines, while Seth Spiller returns at halfback, and CJ Smith will line up at fullback. Like Dixon, Duewall said he is pleased with
20
ROSTER
FACTS
2 K Julio Bribescas, 5-8, 145, sr.; 3 TE/DT Charlie Scarpinato, 5-11, 200, soph.; 4 TB/C Datron Dixon, 5-10, 165, sr.; 5 QB/C Marcus Wade, 6-1, 160, soph.; 6 QE/C Zach Davis, 6-1, 150, sr.; 7 HB/SS Seth Shamblin, 5-9, 145, soph.; 8 TB/C Richard Muhumuza, 5-11, 160, sr.; 11 TB/C Nick Hrncir, 5-8, 150, jr.; 12 FB/LB Bobby Washington, 5-9, 150, soph.; 15 TB/FS Bryson Washington, 5-0, 165, fr.; 16 HB/SS Devin Barnes, 5-8, 150, jr.; 20 TB/C Justin Carrier, 5-10, 160, jr.; 24 TB/C Malcolm Murphy, 5-10, 165, soph.; 25 FB/LB CJ Smith, 5-10, 170, sr.; 30 HB/LB Mason Banister, 5-10, 165, sr.; 31 QE/SS Haze Tomascik, 6-0, 160, soph.; 32 TB/LB Felix Rojas, 5-10, 170, sr.; 33 HB/SS Seth Spiller, 6-1, 170, jr.; 34 FB/DE Ashton Ferguson, 5-11, 185, jr.; 44 FB/LB Kade Hebert, 5-10, 165, jr.; 50 OL/DT Trey Corn, 5-10, 290, jr.; 51 OL/DT Tyler Evans, 5-6, 150, sr.; 52 OL/DE Cody Owens, 5-10, 180, soph.; 54 OL/DE Keegan Wilson, 6-1, 215, jr.; 55 OL/LB Kobe Lebreche, 5-10, 210, sr.; 60 OL/DT Joseph Vega, 5-11, 210, jr.; 62 OL/DT Isaac Suarez, 5-10, 200, sr.; 70 OL/DE Russell Stegall, 6-0, 185, soph.; 77 OL/DL Cody Duewall, 6-2, 250, sr.; 80 TE/DE Anthony Czech, 5-11, 180, sr.; 81 QE/SS James Little, 5-10, 175, sr.; 82 TE/DE Asher Ward, 6-2, 170, sr. Coaches: head coach Mike Hedrick, Mark Fannin, Will Hedrick, Joe Hedrick, Matthew Anderson, Don Miller, Terry Maxwell, Jake Russ, Daniel Brewer, Zack Lierman, Jesse Rowell, William Bruns Manager: Devante Cain Trainer: Daniel Anderson
Head coach — Mike Hedrick (300-159-11 overall; 122-36 at Franklin) District — 11-3A Division I 2018 record — 10-2 (6-0 in 11-3A Division I) 2018 playoffs — bi district: def. Hardin 43-0; area: def. Troy 34-7; regional: lost to Grandview 24-21 Playoff appearances (31) — 1951, 1953, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977-79, 188384, 1986, 1988, 1996-98, 2003, 2007-18 Returning lettermen — 16 (6 offensive, 3 defensive starters) Key returners — RB/DB Datron Dixon (11-3A D1 A-D), OL/DL Cody Duewall (A-D) Key losses — RB/DB Jared Pedraza (MVP), LB Will Fannin (Def. MVP), RB Clayton Rosprim (Off. MVP), QB Colton Ortner (A-D), OL/DL Kolbe Watkins (A-D), OL Colton Rosprim (A-D), DL Legrand Stegall (A-D), DL Ryan Davis (A-D), RB/DB Ethan Spiller (A-D) RB/DB Avery Archibald (A-D), DB Blake Leamon (2nd A-D), DB Jacob Cook (2nd A-D), DL Cade Stewart (HM A-D) All-time record — 570-374-37 Playoff record — 34-30-1
the effort the underclassSCHEDULE men have shown. “We’ve got a lot of Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 Hearne 7:30 p.m. younger Last year: W 50-6 guys,” Due- Sept. 6 at Lorena 7:30 p.m. wall said. Last year: L 30-20 Sept. 13 Mart 7:30 p.m. “I need to Last year: W 21-0 show them District 11-3A Division I the ropes Sept. 27 Coldspring-Oakhurst 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 61-0 and take 7:30 p.m. them under Oct. 4 at Elkhart Last year: W 48-0 my wing Oct. 11 Palestine Westwood* 7:30 p.m. and show Last year: W 78-0 Oct. 25 at Trinity 7:30 p.m. them what SMITH Last year: W 75-0 to do.” Nov. 1 Diboll 7:30 p.m. Hedrick Last year: W 34-20 7:30 p.m. and his staff aren’t mak- Nov. 8 at Crockett Last year: W 73-28 ing any “earth-shattering” *Homecoming changes to the offensive or defensive schemes, regional round of the playbut he hopes to see some offs with a younger players grow into tough 24-21 their roles. Dixon said he loss to the is confident that will hapeventual pen, especially among his Class 3A fellow defensive backs. Division I So far, he said he’s been champion proud of sophomores MalGrandview, colm Murphy and Marcus and HedWade, freshman Bryson rick knows Washington and senior LITTLE the key James Little for improvto g etting ing their skills. back to that Last season ended in the point or further starts in
High School Football 2019
district play. Franklin, which went 10-2 last season, outscored its District 11-3A Division I opponents 369-48 last season, a run that featured four straight shutouts. In fact, the Lions didn’t allow a point from Sept. 14 to Oct. 25 counting a 21-0 victory over eventual 2A-II state champion Mart to end nondistrict play. A streak like that might be more difficult this season, but Duewall and Dixon say they excited about the team’s overall speed. Franklin will open the season at home against Hearne at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
TheEagle.com
Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Franklin offensive lineman Cody Duewall,left,again will block for dynamic tailback Datron Dixon this season. “We’ve got key kids back that played real well last year, and I think if we get the leadership out of those younger guys, then I think the other guys will buy in, and I think we’ll be OK,” Hedrick said. Checking in at No. 9 in Texas Football’s 3A-I rankings potentially puts a tar-
get on the Lions’ backs, but Hedrick likes the challenge, and Dixon said he is ready to let his game do the talking. “It maybe puts a little pressure on you, but it’s going to put some pressure on the kids,” Hedrick said. “We’ve got to go out and prove ourselves.”
Thursday, August 29, 2019
