By Tom O’Brien
NEFJ Correspondent
FRANKLIN – With the Hockomock League title on the line, it was all King Philip as they routed Franklin 49-19 on Thanksgiving Day to take the Hockomock League Kelley-Rex division title.
“It’s such a hard grind. You got three days rest. To be able to come back and be physical and be able to make plays to win the game is huge,” said King Philip head coach Brian Lee.
The Warriors wasted little time scoring, driving down the field and finishing it off with a 14-yard touchdown run from senior running back Tallan King midway through the first.
“We knew we had to come out of the gate rolling. We came out on that first drive and scored,” said King.
Turnovers haunted both teams as Franklin senior quarterback Ethan Edmunds was picked off by Kyle Danson.
Two plays later, King would fumble the ball and give the ball right back to the Panthers at the end of the first quarter.
On the next Franklin drive, senior wide receiver Stephon Reed fumbled the ball again and the Warriors took over.
A few plays later, senior running back Ryan Greenwood took the ball 50-yards for the score to go up 14-0.
Edmunds threw another pick on the next drive to senior defensive back Liam McGrath and returned it to the Franklin 15-yard line. That set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Zach Gebhard to Tallan King to go up 21-0 midway through the second.
Franklin finally got a drive going and capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run from senior running back Alex Weber to cut into the Warriors lead. KP had one more scoring drive as King broke loose again for 56-yards to extend the lead to 28-7 late in the half.
The Warriors opened up the second half with another scoring drive as senior running back Keigan Canto-Osorio took it 47-yards for the score to extend the lead to 35-7.
“We complement each other every play. He gets a big run and I’m gonna get a big run back,” said Keigan Canto-Osorio.
Franklin wasted little time as they quickly marched down the field and Edmunds found Reed for the seven-yard score to cut the lead down to 35-14.
Franklin recovered an onside kick and quickly scored again with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Edmunds to Reed, making things a little interesting at 35-19.
The Panthers tried to recover another onside kick again, but failed.
The Warriors responded with another big play as Canto-Osorio found the end zone with a 50-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors up 42-19 midway through the third.
Edmunds fumbled the ball again on the next drive and the Warriors took over. KP closed the scoring when Ryan Greenwood took it in from two-yards out.
After both teams failed to capitalize on drives, Edmunds threw one last pick to defensive back Owen Hurwitz and the Warriors ran out the clock to end the game.
The Warrior offense scored seven times and the defense had five turnovers in the win.
“I’m just so proud of the kids and the coaches. You see that but you don’t see all the hard work that goes into it. These guys grind and respond to the expectations and the pressure. I just think the world of them,” said Lee
“It was a team effort today,” added Canto-Osorio.
King and Reed were Players of the Game.
“He played great. I got on him early for not playing physical enough and he responded by trucking somebody and got into the end zone. When he’s on, he’s a tough dude to stop. To have him and Keigan as a one-two punch is a lot,” said Lee on King.
“Very thankful, but it’s the whole team. I couldn’t of done it without Keigan or the whole offensive line,” added King.
King Philip (12-0) will play Hockomock League rival North Attleboro in the MIAA Division 3 Super Bowl next Friday night at Gillette Stadium, while Franklin ends the season at 5-6.
“Next week will be a rock fight. This week is about turkey,” said Lee.
