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Plainfield coach Brian Woodard
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By Jeff Hodge
Contributing Writer

PLAINFIELD – Class 4A No. 12 Plainfield played host to Mid-State Conference rival Franklin in front of a raucous Homecoming crowd Oct. 2, but then joyful crowds do tend to break out when the home team outrushes the opponent 318-1.

Behind three short touchdown runs from senior running back Elliott Hughes and 90-plus rushing efforts from both Jordan Nieto and Eli Wheeler, the Quakers (5-2 overall, 3-1 in league play) simply overpowered an overmatched bunch of young Grizzly Cubs, 42-6. 

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Plainfield played extremely well in every phase of the game. The Quakers’ defense limited Franklin (1-6, 0-4) to only one scoring opportunity and got interceptions from senior Griffin Wheeler and sophomore Garret Goodbar, while the offense scored on its first four possessions to establish dominance.

Three of those Quaker TDs came in the first half, when Hughes tallied from five and four yards out in the first quarter before Wheeler got in from a yard out for a 21-0 halftime lead.

Franklin finally got something going to start the second half, taking the opening possession 78 yards in five plays – the big play coming on first down when quarterback Jake Hemrick hit Hunter Dougherty streaking down the sideline for a 71-yard reception – and scoring on an incredibly gutty play by Hemrick (17 of 29 for 224 yards). 

The sophomore was forced out of the pocket by Plainfield senior James Hurst on 4th and goal from the 6, and it looked like Hemrick was going to tuck the ball and try to scramble through the Quakers’ swarming defense. But Hemrick suddenly started back-pedaling and chucked up an ill-advised pass toward the end zone. 

The ball looked to be falling harmlessly to the turf, but out of nowhere sophomore Hunter Dougherty appeared with an incredible grab and the Grizzly Cubs’ only score of the night. 

The blowout enabled Plainfield coach Brian Woodard to give Nieto (15 carries, 97 yards) an expanded opportunity late in the contest to get some quality playing time. The sophomore took advantage by scoring on a six-yard run, and Nieto may have scored a second time had he not fumbled near the Franklin 10. 

Next up for Plainfield is the Quakers’ annual grudge match with arch-rival Mooresville (5-2, 4-1), to be played on the road Oct. 9. Both teams have lost league games to Martinsville.

Franklin will host Mid-State country rival Greenwood (1-6, 0-4), a 35-21 Week 7 loser to Decatur Central, next Friday.

Franklin 0 0 6 0 -- 6
Plainfield 14 7 14 7 -- 42

P – Elliott Hughes 5 run (Andrew Verhonik kick)
P – Hughes 4 run (Verhonik kick)

P – Eli Wheeler 1 run (Verhonik kick)

F – Junior Ortega 5 pass from Jake Hemrick (kick failed)
P – Hughes 14 run (Verhonik kick)
P – Cody Elliott 24 pass from Johnny Jay (Verhonik kick)

P – Jordan Nieto 6 run (Verhonik kick)

F P
First Downs 13 29
Rushes-Yards 18-1 56-318
Passing Yards 224 124
Comp-Att-Int 17-29-2 8-10-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 6-45 6-42.5

Rushing
Franklin: Ortega 14-18, Hemrick 4-[-17]
Plainfield: Nieto 15-97, Wheeler 18-94, Hughes 9-66, Jay 3-25, Chandler James 3-16, Griffin Wheeler 2-5, Eric Drake 2-2

Passing
Franklin: Hemrick 17-29-2 224
Plainfield: Jay 8-10-0 124

Receiving
Franklin: Hunter Dougherty 5-126, Patrick Kennedy 8-72, Ortega 3-21, Austin Clark 1-5
Plainfield: Jordan Massey 3-58, Elliott 2-32, Tyler Schulze 1-13, Chad Middleton 1-12, Nick McClain 1-9