The frankston citizen archives

Frankston Indians

Bi-District Champs

2022

Indians 47, Wolfe City 34 • Thursday, Nov. 10 

CLASS 2A-1 AREA PLAYOFF FINALIST

Indians win 2A-1 bi-district

title over Wolfe City 47-34

The Frankston Indians are Class 2A-1 Bi-District football champions after winning over the Wolf City Wolves 47-34 at Rains Wildcat Stadium in Emory Thursday night, Nov.10, according to a report from Coach Paul Gould and staff.

Their first bi-district win since 2010, the one Thursday advances the Indians to the Area round of the playoffs against No. 1 ranked Timpson, a perennial challenge.

The Indians jumped out to a commanding 33-0 first half lead and added 14 more points in the third quarter to amass their winning 47 points. However Wolf City came roaring back with 20 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the fourth to outscore the Indians in that second half.

In the second half, Wolfe City’s offense came to life and scored a touchdown to erase the zero from the scoreboard and make it 33-6, but the Indians came right back to make it 40-6.

Wolfe City continued to move the football and scored, adding a two-point conversion to make it 40-14. Again the Indians answered, scoring and booting the PAT to make it 47-14.

From then on Wolfe City’s offense scored 20 unanswered points, six more in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth, a touchdown pass after a fumble recovery and rushing score in the waning minutes

The Indians had the ball in the final penalty-filled seconds with the final score 47-34.

In that Indians first half shutout, the Tribe got on the board after the two teams went four and out, but the next time Frankston got the football, Tyler Rogers scored from the 1 and Coleman Merritt booted the PAT to make it 7-0,

On the next Wolfe City possession, senior lineman Jared Cook forced a fumble and freshman linebacker Davis Holladay scooped it up and scored. The PAT kick was partially blocked and no good. The Indians went into the second quarter with a 13-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, sophomore quarterback Reese Hicks broke free on an 84-yard run but the PAT kick was no good and the Indians led 19-0.

(At Left) A. J. SNAGS CATCH — Freshman wide receiver A. J. Donnell reaches down to pull in a key catch against the Wolfe City Wolves Thursday, Nov. 10 in the Indians 47-34 Bi-District victory. — Laurie Gould Photo

On the next Wolfe City possession, they turned the ball over on downs and the Indians took advantage of their possession with a 33-yard TD run by senior wide receiver Benton Allen. Merritt’s PAT kick was good and the Indians increased their lead to 26-0.

When the Wolves got the ball again, the Indians’ Holladay forced a bad throw by the Wolfe City quarterback and senior linebacker Jeremiah Mitchell intercepted the pass and raced 83-yards for a “Pick 6” and Merritt kicked true to make the halftime score 33-0.

As the second half began, Wolfe City got their first score but their PAT kick was blocked and it was 33-6, Indians.

(Defense action in pictures HERE ) 

When the Indians got the ball, quarterback Hicks answered with a 60-yard TD run and Merritt booted the PAT to make it 40-6 with 9:40 left in the third quarter.

Wolfe City answered on their next possession with a 4-yard TD run and converted for two points to make it 40-14 with 7:18 to go in the third quarter.

On the following Indians possession, senior wide receiver Allen weaved his way through Wolves defenders about 40 yards for a score. Merritt kicked the extra point and the Indians scored what was to be their winning points 47-14 with 4:39 left in the quarter.

The resilient Wolves came back with only 19 seconds left in the quarter. Their two-point conversion try failed but the score was narrowed to 47-20.

As the seconds ticked off in the third quarter, a fumble by the Indians as the quarter ended gave the ball to the Wolves at the Indians 33.

Shortly after the fourth quarter began, Wolfe City moved the ball to the Indians 21. Then on fourth down, they completed a 10-yard pass for another touchdown with 9:02 left in the game and added a two-point conversion to make the score 47-28.

With slightly more than a minute to go, the Wolves scored again, this time on a one-yard run. The try for two points failed, and the score was 47-34.

The Indians took the ensuing kick and, in a penalty-ridden finish, the clock ran down to give the Indians their Class 2A Bi-district victory 47-34.

(See Frankston-Wolfe City, Game, Season Statistics HERE )

Score by Quarters:

Wolfe City   0      0    20    14 — 34

Indians      13    20    14      0 — 47

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Coach Gould was happy with the bi-district win, the first for an Indians team since 2010. He said he was glad to see the Indians come out and go ahead early in the game and then play enough good defense to hold down the Wolfe City running game in the latter part of the contest.

The Indians coach had words of praise for the offensive performance of sophomore quarterback Reese Hicks and senior wide receiver Benton Allen. Hicks had 192 yards in 11 carries and scored two touchdowns and Allen had 90 yards in four carries and two touchdowns, according to the statistics. Kody Loebig caught a pass for 44 yards. A.J. Donnell had four catches for 41 yards and Benton Allen caught two for 34 yards. The team had a total of 346 yards rushing and 119 yards in pass receiving. 

Defensively, he thought senior linebacker Jared Cook and sophomore linebacker Tyler Rogers led a defense which made some big plays at the right time. The senior linebacker Cook had 25 tackles, had five tackles for losses, two sacks and forced a fumble. Sophomore linebacker Rogers had 18 tackles and a tackle for a loss. Freshman Davis Holladay had a fumble recovery and a touchdown and senior Jeremiah Mitchell had an interception for a touchdown. The team allowed Wolfe City 304 yards rushing and only 49 passing.

Coach Gould said the Indians were able to force some key turnovers and avoid Wolfe City big plays, all the while allowing time to run off the clock.

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INDIANS AREA FINALISTS — The Class 2A-1 Bi-District Champion Frankston Indians finished their 2022 football season as Area Finalists, giving the Timpson Bears, 2A-1 No. 1 team, a competitive battle before falling in the Area playoff on Friday, Nov. 18 at Rusk. The Indians finished with a successful 9-3 season and hopes for the future. — Laurie Gould Photo

No. 1 Timpson’s big plays down Indians’

effort 49-7 in Class 2A-1 Area on Nov. 18

The Frankston Indians were victimized by the running of Quarterback Terry Bussey and a couple of forced fumbles to fall to the No. 1 ranked Timpson Bears 49-7 Friday night, Nov. 18 in the Class 2A-1 Area playoff round at the Rusk Eagles Stadium, according to reports by Tribe Coach Paul Gould and staff.

The relentless and promising Indians ended their successful season at 9-3, finishing as Bi-District Champions and Area Finalists and taking second place in District 10-2A-1 with an 5-1 record, losing only to district champion, Beckville.

Playing in their final football game for the Indians were seniors Jared Cook, Benton Allen, Kody Loebig, Jeremiah Mitchell, Christian Hernandez, Logan Taylor, Matt Fridinger and Ke’Aundre Barnes.

The Indians played the formidable Timpson team tough to the very end but could not stop the running of talented junior quarterback Terry Bussey, who had dealt the Indians misery for three seasons, starting with a couple of season opening wins in 2020 and 2021 and in bi-district at the end of those seasons.

This time, the Indians looked like they might start off the game with a score, despite the fact that they had started after the opening kickoff at their own 1 yard line.

They drove all the way to the Bears 12-yard line before they were forced to try a field goal from 32 yards out and the kick was no good.

(At Right) REESE RAMBLES — Indians Sophomore Quarterback Reese Hicks (4) breaks loose for a big gainer behind a block by sophomore Brayden Dotson (78) in the  Area playoff against Timpson on Friday, Nov. 18.  — Laurie Gould Photo 

The Indians may have missed a scoring opportunity but they ate up a lot of the first quarter clock. There was only 3:16 left in the quarter when Timpson took over at their own 15-yard line.

The Indians appeared to have received a break when, after the Bears got two first downs, a holding call nullified a big pass play, but the Bears recouped and junior Vosky Howard broke loose on a 34-yard run with only 22 seconds left in the quarter. The PAT boot was good and Timpson led 7-0.

The Indians came right back, starting a drive from their own 35-yard line, and put together three first downs to get to the Bears 25. It appeared that they had another first down, but a penalty set them back. A third down and long pass play fell incomplete and after a fourth down try, the Bears took over at their own 31.

With 6:45 left in the half, Timpson mounted a drive starting with a pass play which moved them to midfield. A big running play put them on the Indians’ 10 and quarterback Bussey ran in for the score with 5:42 left in the half. The PAT kick was good and it was 14-0, Timpson.

With 3:46 left, the Indians had to punt and the Bears took over at their own 45. Timpson moved for a first down at the Indians’ 10 and shortly after getting a first and goal, Bussey ran in for a TD. The PAT kick was good and the Bears led 21-0.

The Indians mounted another drive with sophomore back Tyler Rogers moving the football with a big run and quarterback Reese Hicks keeping for a first down. With only 15 seconds left in the half, another field goal try went awry and the half ended with Timpson ahead 21-0.

After taking the second half kickoff and starting at their own 49, Timpson’s talented quarterback Bussey took off on a 30-yard jaunt for a score with 8:25 left in the third quarter. The PAT kick was good and the Bears padded their lead to 28-0.

(At left) BIG TACKLE — Indians junior defensive back Devin Allen (8) puts a big stop on Timpson junior Vosky Howard (6) in the 2A-1 Area playoff game Friday, Nov. 18 at Rusk. — Laurie Gould Photo

The Indians took the ensuing kickoff and started from their own 42. After three tries, they were forced to punt to the Bears who took over at their own 43.

Timpson started off with a big play but on fourth down at the Indians 12, the Tribe defense held and took over on downs.

Indian sophomore quarterback Hicks answered with a 60-yard run but at the end he was hit hard and the ball was loose. The Bears recovered and on the next play, junior Vosky Howard broke loose on a 70-yard run for a score to boost the Timpson lead to 34-0 with 4:16 left in the quarter. The extra point was good so when the Indians got the ball back at their own 18, the quarter ended with the score Timpson 35, Indians 0.

The Indians had not given up yet. At the start of the fourth quarter, quarterback Hicks completed a key pass to freshman wide receiver A.J. Donnell for more than 30 yards and the Indians drove to the Bears 8 where sophomore back Rogers went in for what was to be the only Indians score with 11:18 left in the game. The Coleman Merritt PAT kick was good and it was Timpson 35, Indians 7.

Timpson took over after the ensuing kickoff on the Frankston 48 and with 8:06 left in the game, the Timpson quarterback Bussey went into the end zone from the 1. The PAT kick was good and the Bears had a 42-7 lead.

The Indians got the following kickoff at their own 26 and misfortune struck as Indians quarterback Hicks was sacked and the loose ball was picked up by a Bears defender who recovered it for a score only seconds after the previous Timpson TD. The extra point try was good and the Bears boosted their lead to 49-7.

After the kickoff, the Indians had the ball at their own 25-yard line but turned the ball over on downs at the 31. Fortunately for the Indians, junior defensive back Devin Allen picked off a Timpson pass with just under two minutes to go in the game and the Tribe took over at their own 36-yard line.

When the game clock ticked down to zero, the Indians had possession to end the game.

( See Frankston-Timpson Game, Team Season Statistics HERE ) 

Score by Quarters:

Indians       0      0      0      7 —   7

Timpson    7    14    14    14 — 49

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Indians Coach Paul Gould had some comments about the 2022 season:

“I’m proud of all of our kids! They had a great year,” he said.  “Our seniors did a great job leading us and I’m excited for what the future holds for these young men. I believe they are going to make Frankston proud.” 

According to the statistics, the Indians had 285 yards rushing and 126 passing while Timpson had 158 yards rushing and 243 passing. In addition to his running plays, Bears Quarterback Terry Bussey completed 9 of 16 passes in various drives.

Indians Quarterback Reese Hicks led Tribe rushers with 156 yards in 15 trips. Sophomore back Tyler Rogers had 56 yards in 13 carries and a touchdown. Junior back Kaymon Davis had 55 yards in 10 carries. Leading receiver was freshman wide reeeiver A.J. Donnell with three catches for 62 yards. Senior receiver Benton Allen caught three for 45 yards. Hicks completed 7 of 15 passes for 91 yards. Senior Kody Loebig completed 1 of 2 for 20 yards and freshman A.J. Donnell was 1 for 1 for 15 yards. 

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Second seeded Indians prepare for Wolfe City

in 2A-1 Bi-district contest Nov. 10 at Rains site

The Frankston Indians will take on the Wolfe City Wolves in a Class 2A Bi-district football game Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Rains Wildcat Stadium in Emory seeking to advance in playoff competition.

Frankston has been designated as the home team for the neutral site contest, according to Indians Head Coach Paul Gould.

The Indians go into the playoffs as the second seed in District 10-2A-1 and the Wolves are the third seed in District 9-2A-1. 

The Indians ended the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and were 5-1 in district competition, losing only to Beckville, the district champion. The only other loss was to Winona in a non-district game.

Wolfe City had a 5-5 season record and were 4-2 in district play. In the district, their only losses were to district champion Cooper 49-6 and the second place team Honey Grove 34-6. They defeated Alba-Golden 24-14, Como-Pickton 28-6, Quinlan Boles 34-18 and Bogata Rivercrest 32-20. In non-district, they won over Leonard 37-28 in the season opener and then fell to Paris Chisum 34-28, Celeste 38-24 and Blue Ridge 49-0.

Coach Gould said the well-coached Wolves team is not quite as big as Ore City but they are quick. He said their offense runs more than passes out of the spread formation and their defense uses a split defense to stop their opponents and reads their keys well. The Tribe coach said the Wolves are better than their season record indicates because they had to adjust to an early key injury.

The Tribe coaches are hoping the Indians can continue the momentum from the regular season and come away with a first round win in the playoffs. The relatively young Indians team has capitalized on a strong defense and some timely offensive performances by talented runners and wide receivers behind an improving offensive line, it was noted.

(See Indians on District 10-2A All-District List HERE )

See Articles on Regular Season Games HERE 

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