Erath Bobcats claim District 8-3A win over Franklin Hornets

Running back Elijah Mitchell rushed for 196 yards, leading the Erath Bobcats to a 47-34 District 8-3A victory over the Franklin Hornets here Friday at J. C. Dry Stadium.
Erath (4-2, 3-0) built up a 34-12 halftime cushion before spoiling the Hornets’ homecoming celebration with a 47-34 win.
Franklin (1-5, 0-3) opened the game with a thrilling 83-yard kickoff return by Charles Webb in the first quarter.
Erath jumped outfront by a 6-0 lead when Mitchell raced 31 yards for a touchdown. Dylan Floris booted the extra point, giving the Bobcats a 7-0 advantage.
Webb brought the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a score as the Hornets trailed the Bobcats by a 7-6 margin early in the first quarter.
Ben LeBlanc scored on a one-yard run before Floris connected on the extra-point, lifting the Bobcats outfront by a 13-6 margin.
Franklin’s Tylon Ireland scored on a 4-yard run enabling the Hornets to trim the Bobcats’ lead to 14-12.
Erath struck back with a touchdown run of 28 yards from Scott Moore to stretch its lead to 21-12 at the end of the first period.
In the second quarter, Moore added a two-yard TD prior to Jaylen Sinegal grabbing a 14-yard TD from Ben LeBlanc to hand the Bobcats a 34-12 halftime cushion.
Coy LeBlanc scored on a 2-yard run as the Bobcats extended their lead to 41-12 in the third quarter.
Franklin answered the Bobcats’ score when Ireland fired a 70-yard scoring strike to Kyran Webb.
In the fourth quarter, Erath quarterback Ben LeBlanc raced 18 yards for a score before the Hornets found paydirt with a pair of scores of their own.
Franklin’s Kyran Webb hauled in a 9-yard TD pass before Ireland scored on the two-point conversion.
Ireland later called his own number on a one-yard plunge and the subsequent two-point conversion.
Erath’s Mitchell finished the night with 17 carries for 196 yard and one touchdown. Ben LeBlanc ran nine times for 82 yards and two scores. Scott Moore rushed 15 times for 113 yards and 2 TDs.
Franklin’s Tylon Ireland ran 18 times for 101 yards with two TDs.
Erath’s Ben LeBlanc connected on 2 of 5 passes for 35 yards and one score.
Ireland connected on 12 of 25 passes for 159 yards and two scores.
Franklin’s Charles Webb caught four passes for 118 yards and one TD. Devynn Armstead hauled in four passes for 47 yards while John Boyd also caught four passes for 24 yards. Zachary Anderson had two catches for 22 yard with Lamar Joseph catching one pass for five yards and Kyran Webb making two catches for 79 yards and a pair of TDs.
Franklin will travel to face the North Vermilion Patriots on Friday in District 8-3A action.