–Balanced attack helps Roberson top Franklin
22 September 2007By Andy Scheidler-Special from the Franklin Press
Photos by Jim Kransberger
FRANKLIN – A few big offensive plays allowed Franklin to jump out to an early 14-0 lead over T.C. Roberson Friday. But the Rams didn’t panic and were effective in their passing and running games to produce a conference-opening 24-17 road victory.
"They hit us big on some big plays and got up on us early," Rams coach Jim Beatty said. "We just had to calm down. I thought we were a little bit too high coming into the ballgame with all the talk and everything. We let it get to us. And when we settled down, we started playing our game." Roberson (5-0, 1-0 in Mountain Athletic Conference) threw for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Rams attempted just two passes in the second half, as running back Justin Wynn took over.
Wynn carried the ball 31 times for 191 yards and one touchdown. His elusiveness and strength constantly earned the Rams a few extra yards nearly every carry.
"Justin is our workhorse," Beatty said. "Once we get the ball in his hands, we felt we spread them out a little bit and get them off of us a little bit because we had such a good first half passing. We had a lead and probably got a little bit too conservative. But hey, it worked."
Franklin (3-3, 0-1 MAC) scored on its first two drives of the game. Senior quarterback Christian Vose found Cody Herman for an 8-yard strike mid-way through the first quarter. After recovering a fumble, Vose hit Herman again for a 45-yard pass that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Josh Young and Franklin led 14-0 after the first quarter.
Roberson forced a safety on the Panthers’ next possession, when Young fumbled the ball in the end zone as Franklin recovered.
On the Rams’ next drive, Artis Gilmore threw a 38-yard touchdown to Nick Allison. On the following drive, quarterback Tripp Weaver connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass 
on a hook-and-ladder play. Weaver found Gilmore, who tossed the ball Wynn and he raced down the sideline for the score. A two-point conversion gave the Rams a 17-14 lead at halftime.
Wynn scored a 1-yard touchdown on Roberson’s first drive in the second half.
Franklin missed a 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, which proved costly. The Panthers later got into the red zone, but settled for a 24-yard field goal. The kick by Andrew Raby pulled Franklin within seven with three minutes remaining, but Wynn and the Rams were able to get two first downs and ran out the clock.
"The biggest thing our kids didn’t do tonight was quit," Panthers coach Josh Brooks said. "All we wanted all week was to give ourselves a chance to win at the end. We did that. You’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some."
Young was held to his first-sub 100-yard rushing game this season by the Rams defense. The senior running back had 28 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown.
The victory snapped a three-game skid for Roberson at the Panther Pit. Franklin also had won the previous five out of six games.
"Our goal is to be MAC conference champs this year," Beatty said. "We have to take it one game at a time. We knew they would play us hard. I’m just glad to get out of here with a win. I don’t care if we haven’t gotten a win here in 30 years, it’s good to come in here and get a win and be 1-0 in the MAC."
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