Keener out as Panthers QB

Franklin junior Luke Keener has torn an anterior cruciate ligament before starting his first varsity game at quarterback for the Panthers. The season-ending injury to Keener’s right knee occurred during practice. Franklin will now turn to sophomore Dalton Cochran to take over the offense. Cochran has looked steady in his duty as the Panthers signal caller in two preseason scrimmages this week against Hayesville and Charlotte Christian. The defending Western North Carolina Athletic Conference champions open their season Aug. 17 at Murphy.

Midnight Practice/ Intrasquad Scrimmage this Friday

Get ready for a real treat as the Panthers will hold a intra squad scrimmage this Friday night Aug 3rd at Midnight in the Panther Pit.

Conference Realignment Final Draft

The NCHSAA posted its final version of the conference realignment Wed 5/2/12. The previous drafts of conference realignment had Franklin in a new 2A only conference that would involve lots more travel. However many teams appealed and the complaints were heard and with the high cost of gasoline, the NCHSAA kept things the same as far as the WNCAC conference. In the final version remains the same as the past four years with the exception that Franklin will be a 2A School along with Brevard and Smoky Mtn. WNCAC Conference 2-A/3-A Brevard 2A Franklin 2A Smoky Mountain 2A East Henderson 3-A North Henderson 3-A Pisgah 3-A Tuscola 3-A West Henderson 3-A

Thomas Evans signs with University of Richmond

Lineman Thomas Evans has committed to play college football for the University of Richmond.

Evans was the 2011 Western North Carolina Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Citizen-Times All-WNC selection after the 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior made 58 tackles and nine sacks. He was also selected to the NCPreps.com all-state team. Evans and the Franklin defense allowed just 13.8 points a game.

Along with fellow All-WNC selections Jacob and Parrish Young, he was a four-year starter and part of 35 wins for the WNCAC champion Panthers (13-1).

Franklin coach Josh Brooks said that Evans committed after taking an official visit to Richmond this weekend. Evans had also planned to take visits to Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina University.

Evans, Young Bros make all WNC Team

Thomas Evans
Evans was named the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after making 58 tackles and nine sacks. Evans and the Franklin defense allowed just 13.8 points a game. Along with fellow All-WNC selections Jacob and Parrish Young, he was a four-year starter and part of 35 wins for Franklin.

Jacob Young
Young made the second-most tackles (64) for the WNC Athletic Conference champions and shared the WNCAC Offensive Player of the Year with his twin brother, Parrish, after rushing for 934 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 13 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Parrish Young
Young earned All-Western North Carolina Athletic Conference honors after making 60 tackles, five interceptions and two sacks. Young shared the WNC Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year with his twin brother, Jacob, after rushing for 775 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 17 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns.

Evans named to All State Team

Franklin senior lineman Thomas Evans is part of the NCPreps.com all-classifications all-state football team.

Evans was the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and also manned a spot on the WNCAC champions’ offensive line. He is the only area player on the all-state team.

Panthers ranked 13th in final poll

Final 2011 3A POLL

1. Havelock (16-0)
2. Northern Guilford (14-1)
3. West Rowan (13-3)
4. Crest (12-4)
5. Charlotte Catholic (13-1)
6. Douglas Byrd (13-1)
7. Burns (13-2)
8. Asheville (12-1)
9. Hunt (13-1)
10. A.L. Brown (12-2)
11. South Point (10-1)
12. Cleveland (11-4)
13. Franklin (13-1)

NCHSAA Second Draft Conference Realignment

2-A
■Brevard
■Franklin
■Hendersonville
■Madison
■Mountain Heritage
■Owen
■Smoky Mountain

Mountain Heritage was dropped in the second draft -

All WNCAC Team announced

Brevard - Tyler Mote, Jess Nichols and Jariya Robinson
E. Henderson - Steffon Hill, Tyler Sexton, Seth Owen, Thomas Waddell, Hayden Cole, Dillon Burrell and Caleb Hodsden
Franklin - Jakob Sayer, Nathan Raby, Jeb Brewer, Austin Gibson, Cody Lindley, Justin Bohner, Jeremiah Young, Jacob Young and Parrish Young
N. Henderson - Tre Carter, Bryce Caldwell and Andrew Edwards
Pisgah - Kyle Blume, Matthew Inman, Dalton James and Garrett Holland
Smoky Mtn - Tom Pawlowski, Michael George, Drew Londo, Ethan Fortner and Blake Smith Tuscola - Tyler Hyde, Ben Hooper, Levi Duffield, Hunter Creson and Carter Poore W. henderson - Corey Fisher and Garrett Lancaster

Coach of the Year: David Napert (Smoky Mountain).
Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Evans (Franklin).
Lineman of the Year: Hayden Cole (East Henderson).
Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Jacob Young (Franklin) and Parrish Young (Franklin).
Special Teams Player of the Year: Matthew Inman (Pisgah).

NCHSAA First draft Conference realignment

The NCHSAA has announced the first draft of the 2013 Conference realignment and it looks like Franklin will be placed in a new 2A conference beginning in 2013.

The First Draft will be

Brevard
Franklin
Hendersonville
Madison
Owen
Smoky Mountain
Mountain Heritage