BOOTED AT HOME: Franklin County blocks two extra points to defeat GW

Despite trailing George Washington 13-0 in the first quarter, Franklin County rode a gutsy performance from running back Justin Seay to make a comeback and ultimately defeat GW 28-26 Friday night in Danville.

Seay carried the ball 36 times for 181 yards against GW (2-3), and Franklin County (2-3) blocked two GW extra point attempts in the contest.

“He ran hard and stuck it in there,” Franklin County coach Ben Boyd said. “Our offensive line played really well, and he just squared his shoulders and got in there.”

GW took the opening possession 84 yards in 11 plays, with the drive culminating in a 4-yard touchdown run by David Wilson to take a 7-0 lead with less than six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

GW inherited a short field as the result of a Franklin County fumble at their own 23, and it only took Tahron Goods two plays to punch it in from the 19-yard line and put the Eagles up 13-0. Franklin County blocked the extra point.

Franklin County was rejuvenated by an electrifying 58-yard punt return by Tae Gilbert and ultimately got on the board with 7:26 remaining in second quarter on a 1-yard run by Aaron Corn to bring the score to 13-7. 

Franklin County took the lead just moments before the end of the first half on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Corn to Thad Basham, putting Franklin County on top 14-13 at the halfway mark.

GW pulled within two in the third quarter when David Wilson scored from 6 yards out to make the score 21-19. Franklin County blocked a second extra point, which maintained a two-point advantage.

GW mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, rallying after falling behind by nine, and cut the Franklin County lead back to two after a 68-yard touchdown run by Wilson made it 28-26 with 5:55 left to play.

GW got the ball only once more in the game, after recovering a Franklin County fumble on the GW 5-yard line with 43 seconds left to play.

On the last play of the game, GW’s Tim Moore found Wilson for a 14-yard completion, but the Franklin defense was able to wrap him up.

Boyd was pleased with his team’s comeback win.

“We didn’t fold,” Boyd said. “We could tell we could run the ball on these guys, we just needed something good to happen. I’m really proud of this team. We worked on blocking kicks this week and it paid off.”

Seay had no problem shouldering the workload for his team.

“We started to play 100 percent and guys were flying around at 100 miles an hour,” Seay said. “We were just tired of losing three straight. I just couldn’t do it without the front line. They are my railroad tracks.

“Basically, nobody doubted us,” Seay said. “We kept going. We ain’t gonna stop. We just kept pushing every down. Without this line I’m nothing.”

GW coach Dan Newell was disappointed with his team’s performance.

“This is a disappointing, bitter loss,” Newell said. “We made mistakes and didn’t play well. Even so, we had a two-point game going into the fourth. We just made a lot of costly mistakes and drive-killing penalties. They knew to keep our offense off the field, and just did a marvelous job controlling the football.”