Franklin is 0-3 against Axtell since October of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Flyers will host the Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. Franklin will be strutting in after a victory while Axtell will be coming in after a loss.
On Friday, Franklin got the win against Blue Hill by a conclusive 34-12. Considering the Flyers have won three matchups by more than 19 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Calvin Carraher
| 08/29/25 @ Southern Valley | 252 |
| 10/10/25 vs Blue Hill | 200 |
| 10/03/25 @ Wilcox-Hildreth | 159 |
| 09/04/25 vs Cambridge | 99 |
| 09/19/25 @ Kenesaw | 91 |
| + 2 more games |
Calvin Carraher continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 200 yards and one touchdown while picking up 8.3 yards per carry, and also picking up 36 receiving yards and one score. He has become a key player for Franklin: the team is undefeated when he posts at least 100 rushing yards, but 0-4 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Aragorn Green, who picked up 36 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Franklin was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 255 rushing yards. They are a perfect 3-0 when they've run for more than 200 yards.
Another reason for the win was Franklin's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Jacob Jackson, Isaac Haack, and Eldon Haack, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Axtell fell victim to Elm Creek and their airtight defense on Friday. They were dealt a 57-0 defeat at the hands of the Buffaloes.
Axtell's loss dropped their record down to 0-7. As for Franklin, their win ended a five-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 3-4.
Thursday's game might be decided in the trenches. Franklin has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 169.7 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Axtell, though, as they've been averaging only 89 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Franklin was taken down by Axtell 60-28 in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Flyers were down 52-20.
