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Franklin Road holds on to beat Donelson Christian




Donelson Christian captains get ready to take the field for the opening coin toss in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian captains get ready to take the field for the opening coin toss in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

DONELSON—Donelson Christian couldn’t quite keep up with Franklin Road Academy on Friday night as the Wildcats fell 42-32.

The Franklin Road (4-1) offense moved with ease all game, scoring a touchdown on the first three possessions of the first half. The balanced attack methodically moved down the field on drives of seven, 10 and seven plays, respectively.

In the first half alone, senior quarterback Sean Casey spread the wealth and hit five different receivers for more than 100 yards.

But the second half was all about sophomore running back Jeffery Vercher and the ground game.

Vercher ran for 111 yards in the second half, including a 55-yard scamper to the end zone. He finished the game with 169 yards on 24 carries with five rushing touchdowns.

Franklin Road coach Bill Whittemore was not surprised at all with his performance.

“It’s what I expect,” Whittemore said. “He comes to work every single day. He loves this game. He loves his teammates. I trust him with anything.

Franklin Road Academy captains get ready to take the field for the opening coin toss in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy captains get ready to take the field for the opening coin toss in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

“The five-touchdown piece is a credit to a lot more people than him. He would tell you that, too.”

Heading into the back half of the schedule, Whittemore thinks there’s still room to improve, and it starts with practice.

“We gotta keep getting better,” Whittemore said. “We’re making a lot of mental mistakes. We’ve just got to continue to figure out how to create that environment in practice. With a team our size, it’s hard to create a physical practice.

“We’ve just got to keep fighting, keep learning. The best thing for us is getting these games under our belts.”

In last year’s meeting between the two schools, Franklin Road blanked Donelson Christian 40-0. This season’s matchup was much different.

The Wildcats stood toe-to-toe with the Panthers throughout the game but just could not seem to get over the hump after Donelson behind early in the second quarter.

Donelson Christian (3-2) coach Paul Wade could see the difference against a good Franklin Road team.

Franklin Road Academy captains take the field for the opening coin toss in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy captains take the field for the opening coin toss in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

“We’ve come a long way,” Wade said. “I don’t want to compare it to last year, but these kids have gotten a whole lot better. We knew they’d be a good club.”

The Wildcats moved the ball pretty well on the ground and through the air but had three untimely interceptions, two in the fourth quarter.

“We tell the team every week, ‘The team that makes the fewest mistakes is going to win the game,’” Wade said. “And that’s obviously what happened tonight.

“We talk all week about preparing for the next team, but then we tell the kids on Friday, ‘This isn’t about the other team. This is about us. It depends on how we play, depends on how we execute and what we do.’ Generally, that’s what it is. The miscues are our fault.”

Donelson Christian will face district opponent Grace Baptist Academy (2-3) on Friday. Franklin Road is scheduled to face RePublic (0-5) next, who forfeited its game against Pearl-Cohn last Friday.

Donelson Christian captains take the field for the opening coin toss in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian captains take the field for the opening coin toss in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy takes the field in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy takes the field in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley takes a snap in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley takes a snap in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks for some running room in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks for some running room in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields a ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields a ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian kicker Braden Ducharme boots a kickoff as Tillman Payne (3) and Dayton Sneed (19) look to make a tackle in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian kicker Braden Ducharme boots a kickoff as Tillman Payne (3) and Dayton Sneed (19) look to make a tackle in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks to follow the block of tackle Kevin Donnell in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks to follow the block of tackle Kevin Donnell in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks to follow the block of tackle Kevin Donnell in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jeffery Vercher looks to follow the block of tackle Kevin Donnell in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Taylor Williams is wrapped up by two Donelson Christian defenders in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Taylor Williams is wrapped up by two Donelson Christian defenders in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Taylor Williams is wrapped up by two Donelson Christian defenders in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Taylor Williams is wrapped up by two Donelson Christian defenders in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders Jon Lewis (13) and L.J. Tolbert (35) converge on Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to the Panthers on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders Jon Lewis (13) and L.J. Tolbert (35) converge on Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to the Panthers on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey hands off to Jeffery Vercher in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey hands off to Jeffery Vercher in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher breaks a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher breaks a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) and Noah Collier (62) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to escape a tackle from Donelson Christian’s Chase Carnahan (11) and Noah Collier (62) in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher gives the ball back to a referee following a touchdown in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy rusher Jeffery Vercher gives the ball back to a referee following a touchdown in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis looks for some running room in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis looks for some running room in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

A Donelson Christian rusher looks for some running room in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

A Donelson Christian rusher looks for some running room in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley drops back to pass as David Lyles (64) and Cameron Fisher (61) apply a double-team block on Franklin Road defender Kevin Donnell in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to the Panthers on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley drops back to pass as David Lyles (64) and Cameron Fisher (61) apply a double-team block on Franklin Road defender Kevin Donnell in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to the Panthers on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Sean Casey applies the hold on a point-after try in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Sean Casey applies the hold on a point-after try in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Norris boots a kickoff in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis fields the ball in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis returns a kickoff in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jon Lewis returns a kickoff in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley drops back to pass in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley drops back to pass in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley sets up to throw in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home.BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley sets up to throw in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home.BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley sets up to throw in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian quarterback Parker Kelley sets up to throw in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson runs the ball in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson runs the ball in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson finds the end zone in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson finds the end zone in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson (8) celebrates with Sam Taylor (18) after a touchdown in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy’s Will Johnson (8) celebrates with Sam Taylor (18) after a touchdown in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey sets up to throw in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey sets up to throw in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey throws a pass in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy quarterback Sean Casey throws a pass in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy defender Will Johnson upends Donelson Christian rusher Chase Carnahan in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road Academy defender Will Johnson upends Donelson Christian rusher Chase Carnahan in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian’s Jacob Cook (9) celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

The Donelson Christian student section celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

The Donelson Christian student section celebrates after a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

The Donelson Christian cheerleaders hype the crowd in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

The Donelson Christian cheerleaders hype the crowd in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defender Baker Elkins (40) closes in on Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defender Baker Elkins (40) closes in on Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders Julian Cabezas (71) and Gunner Schierling (55) close in on Franklin Road rusher Jackson Cummiskey in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders Julian Cabezas (71) and Gunner Schierling (55) close in on Franklin Road rusher Jackson Cummiskey in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night at home. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jackson Cummiskey tries to apply a stiff arm to Donelson Christian defender Jon Lewis in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jackson Cummiskey tries to apply a stiff arm to Donelson Christian defender Jon Lewis in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to avoid Donelson Christian defender Nathan Tripp in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to avoid Donelson Christian defender Nathan Tripp in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to avoid Donelson Christian defenders Nathan Tripp (32) and Jon Lewis (13) in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher tries to avoid Donelson Christian defenders Nathan Tripp (32) and Jon Lewis (13) in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian head coach Paul Wade shouts instructions to his team in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian head coach Paul Wade shouts instructions to his team in the Wildcats’ 42-32 loss to Franklin Road Academy on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher takes a toss in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher takes a toss in the in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over Donelson Christian on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders bring down Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

Donelson Christian defenders bring down Franklin Road rusher Jeffery Vercher in the Panthers’ 42-32 win over the Wildcats on Friday night in Donelson. BRAD JONES

 

 

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