Sun Nov 08 2009
BEDFORD - The killer instinct is back.
Coming off a bye week in the middle of fall break, Frankfort High appeared refreshed and revitalized in its district game against Trimble County. The Panthers cruised to a dominating 56-6 victory, jumping out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter.
After watching his team stumble through a half in its last game against Bracken County, FHS coach Craig Foley said he a more aggressive Panther squad Friday.
"We got to have more of a killer instinct," Foley said. "We had that a few weeks ago, but we fell apart at Bracken. Tonight, they put the foot on the pedal and kept going. It was good to see that."
The Panthers struck fast and frequently in the first half, scoring touchdowns on seven possessions. Two of the scores came on one-play possessions.
After trading turnovers with the Raiders to start the game, quarterback Keri Metcalf connected with Dwight Tillman for a 55-yard touchdown pass to start the onslaught. Andrew Grider's extra point made it 7-0.
On its next offensive possession, Frankfort took its time, running another play before reaching the end zone. Following an incomplete pass, Quan Weaver took a handoff off up the left side 34 yards to paydirt. Weaver would go on to score on runs of 32 and 77 yards in the game.
"Our bye week was perfect because it let Quan get healthy and he ran hard tonight and showed it," Foley said.
Tillman accounted for FHS' third touchdown of the game with 5:38 in the first quarter when he reached behind on a pass over the middle and snagged a 16-yard score. In the second quarter, the 6' 1'' receiver capped an 11-play 84-yard drive when he cut back on a pitch to the left side for a 44-yard score to push the lead to 35-0 with Grider's extra point.
Jeff Dunmire got in on the scoring bonanza as well, plunging up the middle twice for touchdowns from 3- and 5-yards out.
On defense, the Panthers harassed Trimble County quarterback Larry Sullivan and the Raiders' many receivers, forcing four fumbles. Trimble County runs the A-11 offense, a spread attack taken to the extreme in which just about every player on the line is an eligible receiver. It doesn't matter how many receivers are on the field, however, if they don't secure the football.
"Coach Conway has done a good job with the strip drill and the secondary," Foley said. "It paid off tonight. They put their hand in and stripped the ball out and recovered them, which is nice too."
Trimble County's frustration showed in the second quarter when Raider wide receiver Michael Edens, who fumbled the ball three times in the first half, pounded his fists on the ground and yelled at himself after Metcalf stole the ball right out of his hands.
Metcalf said he thought the strip was key to the Panthers' success later in the game.
"My hand was right on the ball, so I ripped it and it just popped right out," he said. "I think that's what changed the whole game for us because we kept ripping it. They weren't holding on to the ball as tight as they needed to."
With the score 49-0 at halftime, the teams played with a running clock in the second half. Trimble County (1-5) broke through on offense with 5:47 in the contest on a pass from Jordan Blanton to Cody Webster. The score stood 56-6 after the Raiders' extra point was blocked.
Frankfort High (5-1) is now 3-0 in district play and will play for the district championship in two weeks against Eminence, now 6-1 and also unbeaten in the district at 3-0.
This week, however, the Panthers will have their sights set on taking down Western Hills, the third and final intercity grudge match this year. Should the Panthers win, a rock-paper-scissors dynamic would be the story for local teams this season.
Foley said beating the Wolverines will be no easy task.
"They've been in the weight room for (WHHS coach) Don (Miller)," he said. "They believe now, which is a big part for high school kids. We're going to have our hands full there's no doubt about it."
Metcalf echoed Foley's sentiments.
"The key next week is to keep our heads straight, come out and compete, compete, compete," he said.
"Me and Dwight got to keep connecting, the line has to keep doing what they're doing and the running backs have to keep running hard."
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