Midseason Football Update: Franklin Still Seeking Consistency

So far, 2011 has been a bit of an up-and-down campaign for an Indians squad looking to cement its own identity as a team after reaching the state finals last year.

Franklin currently occupies the seventh place slot in the Class 3A North standings at 3-2, but the team can help itself mightily in the coming weeks by taking a couple of games against division opponents on the road. The Indians are 3-0 at Clarence E. McWilliams Stadium this year.

It starts Thursday when Franklin travels to take on a talented Milford Mill squad sitting atop the division in a virtual five-way tie at 4-1.  

Included in that tie is a surprising Parkville squad who the Indians will face November 2. A win over Perry Hall—a strong Class 4A team—the following week would also do wonders to improve Franklin’s “point average,” the determining factor the MPSSAA uses to select the top four teams for the playoffs from each region.

So far this season, the Indians have worked to gain consistency on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they’ve relied on do-it-all players Ian Thomas and Reggie Ellis in the receiving game and out of the backfield to ease the transition for first-year quarterback Jackson Thornton.

Defensively, Franklin has excelled at not allowing the big play, instead making teams drive the length of the field. In wins over Eastern Tech and Towson the Indians have been downright filthy (in a good way) on defense.

However, against the I-formation attacks of Henry Wise and Catonsville, the Indians have struggled to slow down the opponents' ground game.

Using the momentum from its 41-6 drubbing of Towson last week, Franklin will look to secure their first road victories of the season while taking care of business at home against the likes of Kenwood and Woodlawn.