Franklin Edges Panorama in First Showing At Home

Panorama High School should have kicked the extra point after Cristian Gonzalez scampered into the end zone for his second touchdown.

Instead, they opted to go for two, giving football team the opportunity to hang on for a 20-19 non-league victory over the visiting Pythons on Friday night.

“We just got by on this one and managed to stay in the game long enough for that clock to expire,” Franklin head coach Eric Jaimes said.

PHS (0-4) kicker Geovanny Valdivia was 1-for-2 on PAT’s for the night, and missed a field goal in the second quarter, which may have led the Python coaching staff to go for the win instead of the tie.

Trailing Franklin by one point, 20-19, with 2:16 left to play, Panorama quarterback Enrique Camacho overthrew the outstretched hands of a diving Wilkin Coreas in the end zone.

FHS (3-1) got the ball back midfield after a failed onside kick attempt by Panorama with just over two minutes remaining. After a pair of handoffs to running back Max Guzman, third string quarterback Eduardo Mejia took a knee to run out the final 23 seconds on the game clock.

“We played good. We’re just trying to stay disciplined and that’s the main thing,” FHS defensive back Willy Davis said, who scored two touchdowns against PHS.

Davis scored the deciding touchdown for Franklin when he intercepted a pass from Camacho on the Panorama 22-yard line and ran it back for six late in the third quarter.

The Panthers held a slim one point lead, 14-13, over the Pythons heading into the locker room at the half.

Senior wide receiver James Turner also added a touchdown to the Panthers total in the second, when Mejia connected with a wide open Turner on a half back pass.

Franklin has a bye next week and is scheduled to return to the field on October 7, when the team takes on Verdugo Hills.

Jaimes said about the win, “Our kids just kept on playing and holding on, which is commendable.”