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Broncos deny Farinet, Drifters

November 23, 2008 12:36 am

BY KURT NICOLL

The Franklin football team stared adversity in the face and managed to survive to play another day.

Memories of three past losses to the Colonial Beach Drifters, including last month's setback in the closing seconds, were fresh in the minds of players, coaches and fans alike as Dylan Farinet marched the defending Region A champions from their own 15 deep into Broncos territory in the final three minutes.

On the last play of the game, Farinet was stopped initially well short of the goal line on a fourth-and-four run, but he stayed upright and fought for additional progress.

When the whistle was blown, the junior quarterback was inches shy of pay dirt, preserving the Broncos' 16-14 victory and snapping the Drifters' 11-game unbeaten streak.

"There were two teams here who wanted it bad," Franklin head coach Darren Parker said. "I wouldn't even call it a game--I'd call it a war.

"My hat's off to coach [Jeremy] Jack and his team. Anybody could have won. It was a great game."

Franklin capitalized on two turnovers to score its touchdowns. And the defense stepped up big, limiting leading receiver T.T. Carey to only one catch and making another goal-line stand in the first half.

Malik Brown went from goat to hero on the same play with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. After having his pass attempt intercepted by Carey, he returned Carey's subsequent fumble 49 yards to the Drifters' 5-yard line. Isaiah Hudson scored two plays later.

"Travon Britt hit [Carey] and the ball popped up in the air," the defender and regional defensive MVP said. "I wasn't really sharp, because I was a little tired. But it was all right. We still got the touchdown."

The Broncos' second TD was even more demoralizing for the Drifters faithful. Beach linebacker Deshawn Viers stopped Hudson a yard shy of a touchdown on a fourth-and-two call.

On the ensuing possession, an errant exchange on first down resulted in a fumble. Before the ball could go out of bounds (which would have resulted in a safety), defensive lineman Lacurt Boone pounced on the ball, tying the score with 2:26 left in the third quarter. Hudson added the winning two-point conversion.

Travis Cundiff scored both Beach touchdowns, one on a nifty 26-yard run where he regained his balance after nearly being tripped up by Britt near the Drifters sideline.

A 15-yard touchdown strike to Nick Peterson was nullified by an illegal block in the back.

"In championship games, you just can't have them [mistakes]," Jack said. "The turnovers last year caught up to us and we had a few mistakes in today's game. They came back to catch us.

"When you don't come away with points in a game like today's against a team like Franklin, it's going to make for a long afternoon."

With the Drifters offense struggling for much of the contest, it was the inspired play of the defense led by Chad Inscoe and Viers that kept the game close.

Russell Fields also gave the Drifters a final chance to win the game after booming a 50-yard punt from deep in his own end zone. Another first-down-saving tackle of Antonio Smith by Viers gave the ball back to the Drifters one last time.

With two tough challenges ahead, Parker and his staff are contemplating their second state championship in four years.

"Yes. I think this is a team of destiny," Parker said. "We just have to stay hungry and humble."

First Quarter

CB--T. Cundiff 26-yard run (T. Carey pass from D. Farinet).

Second Quarter

CB--T. Cundiff 20-yard pass from D. Farinet (run failed).

Fr--I. Hudson 7-yard run (I. Hudson run).

Third Quarter

Fr--L. Boone fumble recovery in the end zone (I. Hudson run).

TEAMSTATISTICS

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Passing: Colonial Beach--Dylan Farinet 7-19-1 144, TD. Franklin--Malik Brown 0-1-1 0; Donzell Sharon 0-1-0 0.

Receiving: Colonial Beach--Nick Peterson 3-86; Russell Fields 2-25; Travis Cundiff 1-20, TD; TT Carey 1-13.

Kurt Nicoll: 540/374-5441
Email: knicoll@freelancestar.com