Wildcats pound Bulldogs for fifth victory
October 12, 2021 at 9:42 p.m.
Wildcats pound Bulldogs for fifth victory
By Will Fehlinger-
Those were the words of Franklin County head coach Wes Gillman after his team dismantled host Batesville, 34-7, on the Bulldogs’ senior night Friday. Since a big loss to the Dogs his first year, Gillman’s squads own a 124-21 advantage over BHS across the last four contests.
“We match up well with Batesville and our kids were motivated,” he added.
FC hammered home those points in a matter of 39 seconds to start the game. Junior quarterback Brady Morehead carried up the middle for 25 yards on the first play from scrimmage and senior Bridger Bolos broke free for a 60-yard touchdown on the next snap despite a personal foul on Batesville.
Together with senior Jacob Schatzle, the backfield trio combined for nearly 475 yards on the ground. Morehead eclipsed 200 yards and Bolos 150.
“The common denominator is our offensive line,” Gillman said of Kaden Erfman, Brayden Back, Ben Becker, Peyton McCreary and Austin Hill. “They were physical and sustained blocks. We had some holding penalties and snap infractions, but overall, they dominated the line of scrimmage.”
Thirteen penalties for 120 yards were about the only stain on the Wildcats’ scoresheet as the visitors had over 500 yards of offense, held BHS to under 200 and turned the ball over just once on an interception to end the first half.
By that time, the guests had built a 20-0 cushion and Morehead added to it with a 6-yard scamper at 4:17 of the third period; Bolos ran in the conversion for a 28-0 lead.
The QB played the whole game after splitting snaps with Quinn Gillman the previous two weeks. Along with his ground game, Morehead completed most of his passes.
“What we were doing was working,” said the coach. “It’s hard to predict from week to week. Quinn generated a spark against Greensburg and can play multiple positions. With (Hunter) Geis out, he’ll continue to be a factor in our secondary and on the ready if we need any offensive relief.”
After a pair of first downs, BHS punted on its first possession. FC then went 80 yards on eight plays to go up by two scores. The chunk play was Morehead’s run around the left end for 49 yards on a 3rd-and-3. He later ran it in from the 9-yard-line to go up 14-0.
FC’s defensive line halted the Dogs on a 4th-and-2 early in the second quarter, but Batesville returned the favor by stuffing the Cats on the BHS 10-yard line after a solid drive that included a Morehead 33-yard run.
A punt return by Schatzle set up FC at the Bulldog 43 later in the half. A holding call would push the guests back to their own 48 before Schatzle got to the next level on a 52-yard TD run.
A quick three-and-out gave FC one more chance before halftime. From the BHS 29, Trenton Roell picked off a Morehead pass as time expired.
Sandwiched between two Batesville turnovers on downs in the third frame, the Cats conducted a 9-play, 74-yard drive that Morehead capped off.
Batesville was given a prime opportunity early in the fourth when a bad snap in punt formation put the ball at the FC 13.
A fumbled snap and three incompletions later, however, FC reclaimed possession at its own 14. On the next snap, Bolos appeared to complete an incredible 86-yard TD run in which he came out on the other side of seemingly the entire BHS defense and raced home. An iffy block in the back was called on Schatzle at midfield to reset the ball at FC’s 41.
BHS then did something it hadn’t done since Oct. 11, 2019, and that’s score against the Wildcats. QB Travis Lecher completed passes to Luke Wilson and Bryson Bonelli and a personal foul on FC placed the ball inside the 10. On 3rd-and-4, Lecher found Wilson in the end zone for six.
Six runs and a completion later, FC answered. Morehead’s third TD came from 2 yards out with under 14 seconds left.
Gillman hopes the ground attack remains intact with postseason approaching. FC will travel to Lawrenceburg for the sectional opener Oct. 22.
“It really depends on what our guys do up front,” he said. “You strive for doing that every week, but the reality is a lot of that depends on your opponent’s physicality and our kids being ready to play.”
FC (5-3) will host its senior night Friday, 7 p.m., as Beech Grove visits. Batesville (4-4) finishes up at Connersville before hosting winless Rushville to begin Sect. 31.
Scoring
Wildcats 34, Bulldogs 7
Franklin Co. – 14 6 8 6 - 34
Batesville - 0 0 0 7 - 7
First Quarter
FC – Bolos 60-yard run, 11:21. Morehead run.
FC – Morehead 9-yard run, 2:04. Run failed.
Second Quarter
FC – Schatzle 52-yard run, 1:49. Run failed.
Third Quarter
FC – Morehead 6-yard run, 4:17. Bolos run.
Fourth Quarter
B – Wilson 3-yard pass from Lecher, 4:03. Braiden Foster kick.
FC – Morehead 2-yard run, :13.8. Run failed.
Total yards: FC 530, B 181
Passing: FC 56, B 114
Rushing: FC 474, B 67
First downs: FC 16, B 11
Fumbles/lost: FC 0, B 3/0
Penalties: FC 13-120, B 2-20
Franklin Co.- Rushing: Bolos 17-154, Morehead 21-223, Schatzle 5-97. Passing: Morehead 5-9-56 (INT). Receiving: Kristian Prows 1-13, Schatzle 3-36, Andrew Merritt 1-7.
Batesville - Rushing: Deacon Hamilton 8-23, Evan Williamson 4-(-1), Gage Pohlman 9-24, Lecher 8-19, Brad Westerfeld 1-2. Passing: Lecher 9-23-114. Receiving: Bonelli 5-74, Wilson 3-27, Westerfeld 1-13.
(Stats should be considered unofficial)
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Those were the words of Franklin County head coach Wes Gillman after his team dismantled host Batesville, 34-7, on the Bulldogs’ senior night Friday. Since a big loss to the Dogs his first year, Gillman’s squads own a 124-21 advantage over BHS across the last four contests.
“We match up well with Batesville and our kids were motivated,” he added.
FC hammered home those points in a matter of 39 seconds to start the game. Junior quarterback Brady Morehead carried up the middle for 25 yards on the first play from scrimmage and senior Bridger Bolos broke free for a 60-yard touchdown on the next snap despite a personal foul on Batesville.
Together with senior Jacob Schatzle, the backfield trio combined for nearly 475 yards on the ground. Morehead eclipsed 200 yards and Bolos 150.
“The common denominator is our offensive line,” Gillman said of Kaden Erfman, Brayden Back, Ben Becker, Peyton McCreary and Austin Hill. “They were physical and sustained blocks. We had some holding penalties and snap infractions, but overall, they dominated the line of scrimmage.”
Thirteen penalties for 120 yards were about the only stain on the Wildcats’ scoresheet as the visitors had over 500 yards of offense, held BHS to under 200 and turned the ball over just once on an interception to end the first half.
By that time, the guests had built a 20-0 cushion and Morehead added to it with a 6-yard scamper at 4:17 of the third period; Bolos ran in the conversion for a 28-0 lead.
The QB played the whole game after splitting snaps with Quinn Gillman the previous two weeks. Along with his ground game, Morehead completed most of his passes.
“What we were doing was working,” said the coach. “It’s hard to predict from week to week. Quinn generated a spark against Greensburg and can play multiple positions. With (Hunter) Geis out, he’ll continue to be a factor in our secondary and on the ready if we need any offensive relief.”
After a pair of first downs, BHS punted on its first possession. FC then went 80 yards on eight plays to go up by two scores. The chunk play was Morehead’s run around the left end for 49 yards on a 3rd-and-3. He later ran it in from the 9-yard-line to go up 14-0.
FC’s defensive line halted the Dogs on a 4th-and-2 early in the second quarter, but Batesville returned the favor by stuffing the Cats on the BHS 10-yard line after a solid drive that included a Morehead 33-yard run.
A punt return by Schatzle set up FC at the Bulldog 43 later in the half. A holding call would push the guests back to their own 48 before Schatzle got to the next level on a 52-yard TD run.
A quick three-and-out gave FC one more chance before halftime. From the BHS 29, Trenton Roell picked off a Morehead pass as time expired.
Sandwiched between two Batesville turnovers on downs in the third frame, the Cats conducted a 9-play, 74-yard drive that Morehead capped off.
Batesville was given a prime opportunity early in the fourth when a bad snap in punt formation put the ball at the FC 13.
A fumbled snap and three incompletions later, however, FC reclaimed possession at its own 14. On the next snap, Bolos appeared to complete an incredible 86-yard TD run in which he came out on the other side of seemingly the entire BHS defense and raced home. An iffy block in the back was called on Schatzle at midfield to reset the ball at FC’s 41.
BHS then did something it hadn’t done since Oct. 11, 2019, and that’s score against the Wildcats. QB Travis Lecher completed passes to Luke Wilson and Bryson Bonelli and a personal foul on FC placed the ball inside the 10. On 3rd-and-4, Lecher found Wilson in the end zone for six.
Six runs and a completion later, FC answered. Morehead’s third TD came from 2 yards out with under 14 seconds left.
Gillman hopes the ground attack remains intact with postseason approaching. FC will travel to Lawrenceburg for the sectional opener Oct. 22.
“It really depends on what our guys do up front,” he said. “You strive for doing that every week, but the reality is a lot of that depends on your opponent’s physicality and our kids being ready to play.”
FC (5-3) will host its senior night Friday, 7 p.m., as Beech Grove visits. Batesville (4-4) finishes up at Connersville before hosting winless Rushville to begin Sect. 31.
Scoring
Wildcats 34, Bulldogs 7
Franklin Co. – 14 6 8 6 - 34
Batesville - 0 0 0 7 - 7
First Quarter
FC – Bolos 60-yard run, 11:21. Morehead run.
FC – Morehead 9-yard run, 2:04. Run failed.
Second Quarter
FC – Schatzle 52-yard run, 1:49. Run failed.
Third Quarter
FC – Morehead 6-yard run, 4:17. Bolos run.
Fourth Quarter
B – Wilson 3-yard pass from Lecher, 4:03. Braiden Foster kick.
FC – Morehead 2-yard run, :13.8. Run failed.
Total yards: FC 530, B 181
Passing: FC 56, B 114
Rushing: FC 474, B 67
First downs: FC 16, B 11
Fumbles/lost: FC 0, B 3/0
Penalties: FC 13-120, B 2-20
Franklin Co.- Rushing: Bolos 17-154, Morehead 21-223, Schatzle 5-97. Passing: Morehead 5-9-56 (INT). Receiving: Kristian Prows 1-13, Schatzle 3-36, Andrew Merritt 1-7.
Batesville - Rushing: Deacon Hamilton 8-23, Evan Williamson 4-(-1), Gage Pohlman 9-24, Lecher 8-19, Brad Westerfeld 1-2. Passing: Lecher 9-23-114. Receiving: Bonelli 5-74, Wilson 3-27, Westerfeld 1-13.
(Stats should be considered unofficial)
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