FB: 5A #17 Columbus North ruins Homecoming for Franklin Central, 27-20

By Jeff Hodge
Contributing Writer

INDIANAPOLIS – It was Homecoming at the Sept. 11 Conference Indiana clash between host Franklin Central and Class 5A No. 17 Columbus North, and members from the Class of 1959 were pleased to see the Flashes take an early 7-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown by junior running back C.J. Williams.

Despite Williams’ huge night (46 carries for 219 yards and three TDs), however, it was the Bull Dogs who took advantage of several big plays en route to a 27-20 win. Columbus North (3-1, 2-0) took control of the game in the second quarter with three touchdowns, then held on as the Flashes rallied late to make it a one-possession game.

Nick Kruse started the scoring for the Bull Dogs on a trick-play, 59-yard pass from 5’7” junior RB Kobi Cook. Next came Kruse’s 40-yard interception return from his defensive back position, then it was Cook (13 rushes, 127 yards) again, this time on a five-yard shovel pass from senior quarterback Jarrett Brownfield after Cook’s 75-yard run stunned the home crowd.

In the second half, Franklin Central continued to scrap to keep the game close. The Flashes went 64 yards in 16 plays on their first possession, largely on the back of Williams, who scored his second TD of the game to cut the deficit to 20-13.

With that sustained drive, it looked like the Flashes’ weary defense might have gotten a needed rest to keep the Bull Dogs out of the end zone. Nope.

The FC defense looked good for three plays, but on the next one Brownfield found Kruse (five receptions, 129 yards) on a 45-yard TD pass to make it 27-13.

The Flashes cut the score to 27-20 on Williams’ third touchdown of the game from a yard out with 5:44 left to play, and FC stopped Columbus North on its next possession to take over at their own 33 with 3:11 remaining. The Flashes had a good drive going until a holding call put them back to their own 20, however, and Columbus North ended the threat by sacking QB Brett Massengale on 4th and 20.

It was a tough Homecoming loss for the Flashes, but coach Michael Karpinski was pleased with his team’s effort.

"We played hard tonight and gave ourselves a chance to win, not shooting ourselves in the foot like we had done in prior games,” said the first-year coach.

Next up for Columbus North is a Sept. 18 home game against Lawrence Central (), a 35-32 Week 4 loser to 5A No. 13 Pike. Franklin Central (1-3, 0-2) will hit the road next Friday for a league game at Perry Meridian (0-4, 0-2), a 23-10 Week 4 loser at rival Southport.

Columbus North    0    20    7    0    –    27
Franklin Central        7    0    6    7    –    20

FC – C. J. Williams 10 run (Phillip Reynolds kick)

CN – Nick Kruse 59 pass from Kobi Cook (Kollin Carman kick)
CN – Kruse 40 interception return (kick failed)
CN – Cook 5 pass from Jarrett Brownfield (Carman kick)

FC – Williams 1 run (kick failed)
CN – Kruse 45 pass from Brownfield (Carman kick)

FC – Williams 1 run (Reynolds kick)

                            CN    FC
First Downs       10    18
Rushes-Yards    23-141    52-214
Passing Yards    156    53
Comp-Att-Int    9-18-0    8-13-1
Fumbles-Lost    0-0    1-0
Penalties-Yards    3-30    2-25
Punts-Avg    4-41.5    3-32.0

Rushing
Columbus North: Cook 13-127, Brownfield 9-14, Keenan Noel 1-0
Franklin Central: Williams 46-219, Mark Schroeder 1-2, Brett Massengale 5-(-7)

Passing
Columbus North: Brownfield 8-17-0 97, Cook 1-1-0 59
Franklin Central: Massengale 8-12-1 53, Team 0-1-0 0

Receiving
Columbus North: Kruse 5-129, Nash Johnson 1-9, Mitch McIntyre 2-8, Cook 1-5
Franklin Central: Damon 3-41, Nate Odle 3-16, Williams 2-(-4)