Two dominant backs in Alex Leugers and Luke Starnes are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs will look to defend their home field on Friday against the Plainfield Quakers at 7:00 p.m. Franklin Community is coming into the match on a four-game losing streak.
Last Saturday, Franklin Community was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 26-21 to Mooresville.
Despite the defeat, Franklin Community got top-tier performance from Leugers, who rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown while picking up 7.0 yards per carry, and also picked up 80 receiving yards and a touchdown. Leugers' longest reception was for an incredible 75 yards. Isaiah Stultz was in the mix as well, providing Franklin Community with a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Plainfield has relied on a stalwart defense averaging 15 points allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Saturday. They came up short against Decatur Central, falling 42-21. The Quakers' loss signaled the end of their five-game winning streak.
Plainfield might have lost, but man, Starnes was a machine: he rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Starnes' rushing production has been exceptional recently as that marked his sixth straight game with at least 113 rushing yards dating back to last season. The team also got some help courtesy of Westyn Weyrich, who rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown.
He was just one part of a punishing run game: Plainfield was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 242 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 204 rushing yards in six consecutive games.
Franklin Community's defeat dropped their record down to 2-4. As for Plainfield, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 5-1.
Friday's contest might be decided in the on the ground. Franklin Community has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 194.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Plainfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging 272. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Franklin Community took a serious blow against Plainfield in their previous meeting back in September of 2023, falling 38-3. That match was all but decided by halftime, at which point Franklin Community was down 30-3.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
