The Franklin County Rebels hosted the Coffee County Red Raiders in high school football on Friday night to kick off the season for both teams.
Almost midway through the first quarter, the Rebels were attempting to punt, and the snap went over the punter Louis Arellano’s head, and the Raiders took over possession. On 4th down, Coffee County’s Manny Gonzales booted a 25-yard field goal with 7:27 to go in the first. Both teams struggled to get their offense going the rest of the half, and the score remained 3-0 at the halftime break.
In the third quarter, the Raiders got a great punt return from Caiden Warren to give his team the ball inside the 20 and a great chance to score. With 4:01 remaining, Coffee County scored their first touchdown of the season as Jayden Carter bulled his way into the end zone from 3 yards away. After Gonzales added the extra point, the Raiders extended their lead to 10-0.
Both defenses swapped blows until 5:25 to play in the game when Franklin County quarterback CJ Seals hit Eric Jones with a 4-yard touchdown pass.
Coming off a Jaiden Foster 62-yard kickoff return, the Raiders offense stalled, and Franklin County would get the ball back with less than 3 minutes to go at its own 2-yard line.
The Rebels would push the ball to near mid-field, and the Seals’ pass was deflected and intercepted by Austin Green. Coffee County took a knee, and the hard-fought 10-7 win.
Offensively the Raiders struggled with only 66 yards on the night to Franklin County’s 190, but they also had 55 yards in penalties.
Coffee County’s Blayne Myers played an outstanding game on defense and was named Giles Dunn Diamond Company Player of the Game.
Friday night at Carden-Jarrell Field, the Red Raiders (1-0) will host Tullahoma (0-1) in the 98th Coffee Pot game. You can hear the action on The Rooster 101.5, rooster1015.com, or on the Rooster 101.5 app.
