Murphy – The Bulldogs ran into a high school football buzzsaw Friday night against Franklin, primarily one Panther in particular – senior running back Braydon Hervey.
The Panthers (1-0) beat the Bulldogs (0-1) 33-13 in Murphy’s season opener Friday night at David Gentry Field. Hervey took the opening kickoff all the way to start the game, or at least everyone in the stands thought he did. Luckily for the Bulldogs, and they wouldn’t have much the rest of the night, he stepped out of bounds on the Murphy 40 yard line.
However, it didn’t matter, as Franklin would score six plays later to take a 7-0 lead. Murphy answered quickly. After taking the ensuing kickoff, Brady Grant found Ryan Payne for a 76-yard touchdown strike to tie the score at seven.
After that, the wheels started coming off for the home team.
Franklin scored on its next possession, when Panther quarterback Anderson Terrell found Hervey for a 74-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers would extend their lead in the second quarter, as they held Murphy on their ensuing possession and drove down to the Bulldogs’ 4 yard line.
Terrell found Brock Bradley for the second touchdown pass of the night, and Franklin went up 20-7. Murphy blocked the extra point kick.
The Bulldogs started their next drive at their 20 yard line, and on the third play from scrimmage Brady Grant’s pass was picked off and returned to the Bulldogs’ 2 yard line. On the next play, Hervey scored his third touchdown of the night, the point after making the score 27-7.
Murphy’s best scoring chance in the first half ended when the Bulldogs were unable to convert a fourth-down play late in the second quarter. Adam Cook put the Dogs back in business in Panther territory when he picked off a pass and returned it to Franklin’s 40, but the Dogs were forced to punt.
Murphy had to punt after its first possession, then Hervey busted a 67-yard touchdown run on Franklin’s third play from scrimmage. Franklin went for two and the Dogs held to make the score 33-7.
The teams exchanged possessions for the rest of the third period. Murphy finally mounted a scoring drive in the fourth quarter, then stopped Franklin on a fourth-down play to take over on the Panthers’ 48 yard line.
Will Shore was instrumental in the drive, as he had three good gains on the ground at crucial moments. Kadence Leatherwood capped it off with a 12-yard touchdown sprint. Jerry Bui’s extra point caromed off the goal post, which netted the final 33-13 Franklin win.
Murphy finished with 361 yards on offense to Franklin’s 241. The offensive leader for the Dogs was Payne, who finished the night with seven receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown, while Murphy’s leading rusher was Leatherwood with 48 yards on 11 carries. Grant went for 11-21 for 192 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
“Franklin is a good ball team, and there have been many years that we have lost to Franklin and had a good year,” coach Joseph Watson said afterward. “We have some resilient kids that want to work hard to do what we are asking them to do. You are never going to be where you want to be at the first game of the season and, after watching the film, there are several things we need to work on this week.”
When asked about Hervey, Watson said, “He gave us a hard time not just on offense, but on defense as well. His speed will make him dangerous for any opponent.”
The Bulldogs will face a Heard County (2-0) of Franklin, Ga., this Friday night at home for their second of five non-conference matchups. Youth football teams will be recognized before the game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Their first conference game is Oct. 4 at Hayesville.