Franklin County wins back and forth affair 41-26 on Luckett’s big night
William Byrd H.S., Vinton Va. The Franklin County Eagles traveled to Robert A. Patterson Stadium in Vinton to take on the William Byrd Terriers on a cold Friday night in a Blue Ridge District matchup at the Terriers home field. Both teams came in with a victory under their belt after winning their season opener. The first half was a see-saw affair where big plays allowed the Eagles to keep pace with a William Byrd rushing attack spearheaded by RB 1 Elamin Shareef (27 rushes, 142 yards) and QB 7 Dylan Hatfield (20 rushes, 114 yards) that at times looked unstoppable. Franklin Co. made adjustments at the half that slowed the Terriers’ ground game and in turn put on a display of their own with their passing attack featuring the combination of QB 6
Eli Foutz to WR 5 Josh Luckett that accounted for 3 passing TDs on the night. Eagles’ Coach J.R. Edwards commented after the game that “I think we learned how to play four quarters tonight” and he was pleased that his team responded to Byrd’s physical 1st half play and was able to make plays of their own to pull away for the 41-26 victory.
William Byrd RB 1 El-Amin Shareef gets the party started early with a TD run
First Quarter –
Franklin County found themselves in a hole early after fumbling the opening kickoff and then Byrd’s Elamin Shareef ran for a 15-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage. The extra point failed and the Terriers had a 6-0 lead 17 seconds into the game. The Eagles’ answered on their next possession with a 9 minute, 15-play drive that covered 68 yards when RB 10 Jayron Smith scored from 4 yards out. K 21 Chandler Holley’s PAT was good and the Eagles were up 7-6 at the end of the first.
Franklin County RB/LB 10 JaRon Smith is a big part of the Eagles run game
Second Quarter –
Two plays into the 2nd quarter, William Byrd capped a 59 yard drive when RB 1 Shareef picked up his second TD with a 3 yard run.
Byrd’s Shareef scores his second TD to give Byrd the lead early
K/WR 5 Hunter Harris connected on the PAT and Byrd took the lead 13-7. The teams traded punts on their next possessions, but WR 5 Luckett returned the Byrd punt 55 yards for a TD, his first of 4 on the night, when he caught what appeared to be a ball headed out of bounds in full stride and sprinted to the end zone and the Eagles regained the lead 14-13.
Franklin County WR 5 Josh Luckett runs back a punt 55-yards for a score
The Terriers ground game was relentless and they moved 66 yards on 9 straight rushing plays and went back on top with QB 7 Hatfield’s 10 yard TD scamper, 20-14. 
Both teams fumbled on their next possessions and the Eagles recovered the Terrier fumble on the Byrd 38 yard line with 30 seconds in the half. After connecting with WR 5 Luckett on an 8 yard pass, QB 6 Foutz called his number again and completed a 30 yard TD strike to WR 5 Luckett to give FC a 21-20 lead at the break.
Eagle WR 5 Luckett caught 6 passes for 156 yards for 3 TDs and scored on a punt return
Third Quarter –
William Byrd received the 2nd half kickoff and had to punt after picking up one first down. The snap sailed high and Franklin County recovered at the Byrd fourteen yard line. After a penalty, and a two yard loss, QB 6 Foutz found WR 5 Luckett for a 21 yard TD reception and K 21 Holley’s PAT made it 28-20.
Franklin County QB 6 Eli Foutz stands tall in the pocket
Following another Byrd punt, QB 6 Foutz connected again with WR 5 Luckett on a 52 yard catch and run TD and the Eagles took at 34-20 lead into the 4th quarter after the PAT was blocked.
Byrd WR/DB 9 Ethan Tinsley looks for room to run after a catch
Fourth Quarter –
Franklin County’s RB 10 Smith scored his second touchdown on a 29 yard run at the 5:17 mark of the 4th quarter and the Eagles stretched their lead to 41-20. There was no quit in the Terriers though, and QB 7 Hatfield connected with WR 9 Ethan Tinsley twice for gains of 10 and 11 yards and also with WR 35 Issac Fix for two receptions for 24 yards before scoring his second rushing TD from 4 yards out with 2:51 remaining. The final score was 41-26 Franklin County.
Franklin County (2-0) will entertain Staunton River (0-1) on Friday. William Byrd (1-1) travels to Daleville to take on Lord Botetourt (2-0).
– The Machine
Offense:
Rushing– Franklin Co – Smith 13-64, 2 TD, Fum, Foutz 2-3, Belcher 4-13, Stafford 3-6, William Byrd– Shareef 27-142, 2 TD, Fum, Hatfield 20-114, 2 TD
Passing– Franklin Co – Foutz 11/19, 218, 3 TD William Byrd– Hatfield 5/13, 83, 2 INT
Receiving– Franklin Co – Luckett 6-156, 3 TD, Bowling 1-1, Grindstaff 1-13, Wright 1-9, Holland 1-3, Smith 1-36, Wiliam Byrd– Williams 1-38, Tinsley 2-21, Fix 2-24
Punting– Franklin Co– Luckett 2-40.5 William Byrd – Hatfield 3-28.6
Scoring:
- WB: Shareef 15-yard TD run: PAT No good
- FC: J Smith 4-yard TD run: Holley PAT
- WB: Shareef 3-yard TD run: Harris PAT
- FC: Luckett 55-yard punt return for TD: Holley PAT
- WB: Hatfield 10-yard TD run: Harris PAT
- FC: Foutz to Luckett 30-yard TD catch: Holley PAT
- FC: Foutz to Luckett 21-yard TD catch: Holley PAT
- FC: Foutz to Luckett 52-yard TD catch: PAT Blocked
- FC: J Smith 29-yard TD run: Holley PAT
- WB: Hatfield 4-yard TD run: Harris PAT
