Franklin Regional hasn't had much luck against Penn-Trafford recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Panthers will host the Warriors at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Franklin Regional took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They came out on top against Fox Chapel by a score of 21-10.
The critical scores for Franklin Regional came from Jaymeir Austin, Jet Taylor, and Tommy Verruggio.
Franklin Regional didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Fox Chapel to a completion percentage of just 36%. The team can thank Austin for the heroic effort on defense: he. Franklin Regional wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 52.6%.
Franklin Regional didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Tyrone Leonard and Taylor.
Meanwhile, Penn-Trafford won against Plum last Friday with 33 points and they decided to stick to that point total again on Friday. The Warriors walked away with a 33-23 win over Gateway. The victory almost wasn't to be: the Warriors were down 23-7 in the second quarter.
Franklin Regional better keep an eye on Ben Grabowski. He was instrumental in Penn-Trafford's win, rushing for 147 yards and a pair of TDs while picking up 8.6 yards per carry. Grabowski didn't just play on offense: he also picked up a sack and made eight total tackles.
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Penn-Trafford's defense and their three sacks. Aiden Corbett was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two himself. Penn-Trafford received some extra help from Travis Moorhead, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for Penn-Trafford, racking up 11 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Nico Casciato, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Penn-Trafford's win was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 36.3 points over those games. As for Franklin Regional, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-6.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Franklin Regional has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 149.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Penn-Trafford struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 185.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Franklin Regional ended up a good deal behind Penn-Trafford when the teams last played back in October of 2024, losing 26-10. Thankfully for the Panthers, Tasso Whipple (who rushed for 90 yards and two scores) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
