Franklin needed a win and some help from a Centennial loss to get into the state playoffs, and the Rebels got it all on Friday. With a 24-7 win over Dickson County (3-7, 0-5) and Centennial's 28-21 loss at Brentwood, Franklin (6-4, 2-3) got back to the postseason after a year hiatus. The Rebels, the fourth seed from Region 6-6A, will travel to Cane Ridge (10-0), the top seed from Region 5-5A, for the first round. Friday's matchup at Dickson County didn't start too favorably for Franklin, as a scoreless tie lasted nearly a quarter and a half before the Rebels got on the board. 

Matt Gaca provided FHS its opening score, a 2-yard rush with 6:47 left in the first half, and added a second touchdown three minutes later. A field goal brought the halftime score to 17-0, and it was all up to the Franklin defense from there. The Cougars had issues all night long against the tough FHS stoppers. The Rebels gave up only 115 total yards (37 passing) and forced two turnovers, both coming via interceptions. Dickson County managed just 2.4 yards per play. Guy Lipscomb had 7.5 tackles to lead Franklin, and he added two tackles for loss. Chapman Beaird had six tackles and an interception, his third of the season, and Cooper Palk also had a pick. A 25-yard pass from Joshua Nichols to Chancellor Bright in the third quarter finished a 24-0 run for the Rebels, and Dickson County found pay dirt for the only time late in the third frame. Gaca led the way offensively for the Rebels with 117 yards on 22 rushes and two TDs, and he also added a catch for 29 yards. He topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for this season with his performance. Nichols finished 9-of-16 passing for 159 yards and a TD, and Bright caught five balls for 101 yards and a score, his eighth TD catch of the season. The playoff berth is the first for Franklin since 2016, when it fell to Whitehaven in the quarterfinals. The Rebels missed last year's postseason after a three-win campaign.

Source:  Williamson Herald