| Non-District Road Game |
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District: 1-6A The Cougars hope to improve on a frustrating season of just a year ago. The Purple and Black are returning five offensive and five defensive starts. Quarterback Chris Kelly will be joined by a pair of explosive running backs in the backfield. Taj Crenshaw (5’7″ 175) was named 1-6A Newcomer of the Year after logging 425 rushing yards and scoring seven touchdowns. Tate Jerigan (5’7″ 180) added another 395 ground yards, while scoring four rushing TDs. Sophomore Pablo Gutierrez should play the role of change of pace back in 2018. Joaquin Lozano (5’10” 160) and Gabe Stonewall (6’2″ 165) look to be Kelly’s primary receiving targets. Lozano recorded 240 yards receiving in 2017, with Stonewall contributing another 320 yards from 21 receptions. Defensive end Johnny Cerros (5’11” 250) is a three-year starter and the anchor of the Cougar defense. He has been an All-District selection the past two seasons. Mickey Castro will secure the other end of the defensive line. While Cerros and Castro apply pressure on the outside, the Franklin defense relies on linebackers David Powers and Jeremiah Zuniga to handle everything up the middle. The Cougars also have a pair of ball-hawking defensive backs worthy of mentioning in Ethan Bustillos (5’9″ 160) and Abraham Anabi (6’0″ 160). While the Franklin offense scored an average of 35 points a game in 2017, its defense gave up 37… something the Cougars will need to remedy if they are going to improve last year’s fifth place district finish. Series Record: 1-0 (Permian won 61-0 in 2016) |
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