FSHS loses to Berwick

BERWICK _ The Berwick Panthers toppled the Franklin Hornets 23-14 in the District 9-3A opener here Thursday at Geisler Stadium.
Franklin (0-6, 0-1) committed three costly mistakess, allowing the Berwick Panthers an opportunity to post its first win over the Hornets in recent history.
Berwick (2-4, 1-0) opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal by Rogelio Rodriguez as five seconds elapsed off the clock in the second quarter for a 3-0 lead.
Franklin replaced the 3-0 deficit with a 6-3 advantage in the latter stages of the second quarter when LaDarrius Davis plowed over from the one-yard line for a 6-3 advantage.
Franklin’s David Kinchen set up the score with a 40-yard kick return, bringing the ball to rest on the Panthers’ 30-yard line.
Franklin went on a 12-play, 30-yard drive which culminated in the 6-3 cushion.
Franklin’s De’John Parker, Avontre Perro and Theirlan Armstead took turns running while bringing the ball to rest at the 14 where the Hornets faced a fourth-and-seven.
Armstead, the Hornets top rusher with nine carries for 51 yards, made his presence felt as he darted around the left end, giving the Hornets new life with a 12-yard gain at the Berwick two-yard line.
One play later, Davis scored to hand the Hornets a 6-3 lead at the half.
Midway through the third quarter, Panther quarterback Collin Louviere fired a spiral to big-play receiver Audwin Williams for the first of his two touchdowns to grab a 10-7 lead.
Williams, who had touchdown catches of 25 and 8 yards, plucked the pass out of thin air to hand the Panthers a 10-7 advantage.
Berwick’s go-ahead score was set up on a roughing-the-punter penalty after Franklin’s defense had forced Berwick to punt.
After the 15-yard markoff, the Panthers wasted no time in tossing a pass to the taller Williams, who reached high above the shorter Franklin defender for a 25-yard TD. Shannon Theriot added the extra-point as the Panthers notched a 10-7 lead with 7:03 showing on the clock in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Hornets regained the lead when Armstead scored on a 20-yard run around left end. Parker made good on the two-point conversion, giving Franklin a 14-10 lead with 11:09 showing in the fourth quarter.
Berwick quickly answered with a clutch 8-yard touchdown strike to Williams on fourth-down as the Panthers sailed ahead by a 17-10 margin with 5:09 remaining on the clock.
On the ensuing kickoff, Berwick recovered a Franklin fumble, keeping hope alive of posting a first-ever league victory over the Hornets.
Franklin’s defense stiffened, forcing a Berwick punt which landed at the Hornets’ 2-yard line.
A short time later, Berwick regained possession on downs when FSHS came up short on a fourth-and-four from the seven-yard line.
A few seconds later, Berwick’s Billoit scored on a four-yard run, sending the Panthers to the 23-14 victory.
Armstead led the Hornets in rushing on nine carries for 51 yards. Parker added six carries for 35 yards while Perro ran six times for 26 yards. Davis finished with 10 totes for 24 yards while Tylon Ireland had five carries for 25 yards.
Allen Randle completed 3 of 3 passes for 28 yards and Ireland connected on 1 of 4 passes for 35 yards.
Trevions Rouchon had one catch for 35 yards while Davis and DeAndre Charles finished with one catch apiece for 10 yards and Devynn Armstead had one catch for 8 yards.
Franklin will return to action next Friday at E. D. White in District 9-3A action.