FRANKLIN – Winning streaks and sitting above .500 are still something that’s taking some getting used to for Franklin High School football seniors. But they’ll take it, especially after several lean seasons off Hillsboro Road.
The Admirals improved to 3-2 overall with a dominant 32-3 homecoming win against visiting Nolensville (3-2) on Friday.
“It is big going 3-2,” said Franklin senior quarterback Brewer Wilson. “Just being over a 50% winning percentage is huge.”
Fellow senior Sean Gaca, who hauled in one of Wilson’s three touchdown throws, said the team’s camaraderie is leading to more confidence.
“I feel like we are trusting each other more,” he said. “We got the guys to keep going, and we are confident.
“We are just able to roll.”
Franklin opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run from Jaylen Spring. Gaca followed with a 2-point conversion run for the 8-0 lead out of the gate.
Gaca also snagged an interception in the first quarter and an 18-yard strike from Wilson with just 1:34 to play in the first half on another busy night on both sides of the ball.
With 1:34 remaining in the first half, Brewer Wilson throws an 18 yard touchdown pass to Sean Gaca to stretch the Admirals lead to 15-3 after the made extra point. ?@whsports? pic.twitter.com/gZGwMnZtCy
— Charlie Bateman (@CharlieBateman2) September 21, 2024
“I give a lot of thanks to coach (Josh) Adkins on this – he lets me play a lot of different positions,” the versatile senior said. “He likes to give me the ball, which is great.”
In the middle of the second quarter, Nolensville scored their only points of the contest on a 31-yard field goal from junior JD Kuhlman.
Gaca and Wilson pushed the Franklin lead to 15-3 on their scoring connection and the Admirals snuck in another touchdown just before the break when Wilson fired a 51-yard strike to Lucas Young as time expired.
“I was able to throw the ball to Wils (Jackson), Lucas, Sean and Jack (Flynn) – they came down with it every time,” Wilson said of his receivers.
Franklin senior kicker Wayne Wells nailed a 24-yard field goal to stretch the Admirals advantage to 25-3 midway through the third quarter.
The Admirals padded their lead early in the fourth quarter on a TD on 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line as Wilson lobbed a pass to his senior tight end Flynn for Wilson’s third touchdown that provided the final score.
Besides the offense, Franklin’s defense impressed Friday, too. Nolensville entered the contest having outscored their last two opponents 80-0.
Wilson praised the defense for standing tall in the win and forcing plenty of three-and-outs.
“The defense had a huge day,” he said. "Coach Donnie Webb has got them right and showing out.”
The road doesn’t get easier for Nolensville, who will host Centennial in a Region 6-5A matchup next Friday. The Cougars managed a hard-fought 7-3 win at Springfield in Week 5 to improve to 4-1 overall.
Franklin will host the injury-plagued Summit boys at home next week looking to improve to 2-0 in Region 6-6A. The Spartans (1-4) were shutout by Brentwood (4-1) Friday, 31-0.
“I hope we come out confident,” Gaca said. “This game means a lot to us. We have coaches from last year playing for them.
“I feel like Summit is a big rivalry for us, and all the guys know and understand that. Going into film on Sunday, we just need to keep our head on straight.”
Franklin 32, Nolensville 3
NHS 0 3 0 0 – 3
FHS 8 14 3 7 – 32
Scoring Summary
1Q 3:18 FHS – Jaylen Spring 3 run (Sean Gaca run);
2Q 8:59 NHS – JD Kuhlmann 31 FG;
2Q 1:34 FHS – Gaca 18 pass from Brewer Wilson (Wayne Wells kick);
2Q 0:00 FHS – Lucas Young 51 pass from Wilson (Wells kick);
3Q 5:23 FHS – Wells 24 FG
4Q 11:06 FHS – Jack Flynn 2 pass from Wilson (Wells kick).