This story was updated 9/12/2020
To say it was surreal might be an understatement.
At the beginning of Friday night's Route 8 rivalry game between the Franklin Knights and the Oil City Oilers it almost seemed like they didn't quite know how to start.
Announcer Brian Spaid got on the loud speaker and said he thought they were live streaming and tried to get the ball rolling. Then a bit of silence seemed awkward until the band kicked into gear and took the field. For a brief few moments as the drums beat loud and the trumpets dominated the air it sounded like the beginning of a typical Friday night football game.
But the stands were empty and the crowd noise non-existent.
At the beginning of Friday night's Route 8 rivalry game between the Franklin Knights and the Oil City Oilers it almost seemed like they didn't quite know how to start.
Announcer Brian Spaid got on the loud speaker and said he thought they were live streaming and tried to get the ball rolling. Then a bit of silence seemed awkward until the band kicked into gear and took the field. For a brief few moments as the drums beat loud and the trumpets dominated the air it sounded like the beginning of a typical Friday night football game.
But the stands were empty and the crowd noise non-existent.
There were no cheers when the visiting Oilers came on to the field and made their way to the sidelines. No screaming super fans with body paint awaited them from the empty stands. There was no band playing them on or cheerleaders forming a runway for them to go through. They took to the empty sidelines and awaited the Knights.
The home team had a very similar experience. No crowd rahs and only the band played them onto the field through the traditional breaking of the banner the cheerleaders made and held for them. The only home field advantage they would have was their fellow students in the band and cheer corps.
There was no meeting at the 50 yard line of the team captains for a coin toss. That was handled before hand with social distancing rules in place.
It was weird.
The home team had a very similar experience. No crowd rahs and only the band played them onto the field through the traditional breaking of the banner the cheerleaders made and held for them. The only home field advantage they would have was their fellow students in the band and cheer corps.
There was no meeting at the 50 yard line of the team captains for a coin toss. That was handled before hand with social distancing rules in place.
It was weird.
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When the kickoff was sent into the air you could hear the crickets in the nearby woods. This wasn't your typical start to the high school football season.
But they played.
But they played.
It was evident early on that the Oilers were looking exactly like the back-to-back District 10 champions they are and Franklin, who lost the all-time leading passer to graduation and has a new coach with a new program were... well looking like they lost their star passer and the new coach hasn't had enough time with the small squad to have them quite ready for this level of play.
Franklin has 31 players, which is half the number of the Oilers' squad.
Franklin has 31 players, which is half the number of the Oilers' squad.
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It didn't take long for the game to be decided. Franklin went three and out. A bad punt put the Oilers in striking distance, which happened immediately. In fact less than four minutes into the game, a bad punt, a fumble deep in their own territory and an interception returned for a touchdown left the Knights down 24-0. And it just got uglier from there.
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This isn't to say anything bad about the Knights' effort. They never quit. They are just working in a new system and happened to draw their first game against a very tough and an established system, a very established system, a proven, established system.
When coach Dan York came into Oil City his first year was rough as well. It takes a little time to get a plan in place and a team that trusts the plan. Since then the team improved each year to to point not too many teams, certainly not ones around here, can beat them. Some of the Oilers have had three years learning the system. The Knights have had only a couple weeks really.
This was a tough game out of the blocks for the young Knights' program.
When coach Dan York came into Oil City his first year was rough as well. It takes a little time to get a plan in place and a team that trusts the plan. Since then the team improved each year to to point not too many teams, certainly not ones around here, can beat them. Some of the Oilers have had three years learning the system. The Knights have had only a couple weeks really.
This was a tough game out of the blocks for the young Knights' program.
It took Franklin nearly nine minutes to get its first first down. They had a decent run to end the quarter but failed to convert a fourth and short to start the second quarter. It was evident that it wasn't Franklin's night when even broken plays netted plus yardage for the Oilers.
Then the long plays for touchdowns became routine. Cam Russell had a couple, so did Zac Kiefer and Sean Stack. Even the onside kicks were working for the Oilers. By halftime the Oilers eclipsed the half century mark and the game was all but over.
Then the long plays for touchdowns became routine. Cam Russell had a couple, so did Zac Kiefer and Sean Stack. Even the onside kicks were working for the Oilers. By halftime the Oilers eclipsed the half century mark and the game was all but over.
The second half started out with more of the same as Oil City put up another couple of scores before sending in the reserve players and the mercy rule took affect allowing the clock to run continuously. Franklin, who in the last few seasons were known to air it out with plenty of completions didn't complete a pass against the tough Oiler defense until the fourth quarter. Then with about three minutes left Franklin finally scored a touchdown.... well almost. There was some yellow laundry on the field as the player crossed the goal line.
A holding call brought it back.
But the Knights didn't give up and a few plays later, including another completed pass, quarterback Aaron Burkhardt crossed the goal line erasing that goose egg from the scoreboard with 40 seconds left.
A holding call brought it back.
But the Knights didn't give up and a few plays later, including another completed pass, quarterback Aaron Burkhardt crossed the goal line erasing that goose egg from the scoreboard with 40 seconds left.
Coach Matt Turk was happy his team didn't quit playing, found a way to sustain a fourth quarter drive and persevered through penalty set backs to come out of the game with something to build on next week.
Next week the Knights travel to Titusville who suffered a similar opening round fate finding the end zone only once while losing to Meadville 45-6. That game will be Saturday night at Carter Field in Titusville.
Oil City will host Meadville next Friday. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.
Oil City will host Meadville next Friday. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.
At the end of the 68-6 game there was a moment each team gathered near the center of the field to face each other. They applauded each other and the fact they were able to play the game at all. This was in place of the traditional handshake at the end of the game in order to keep social distance. A few players broke ranks to shake hands or fist bump showing their opponents respect.
Despite the one-sided competition each team showed the other the respect that youth sports teaches.
It was a beautiful end to the evening.
Despite the one-sided competition each team showed the other the respect that youth sports teaches.
It was a beautiful end to the evening.
To view more photos from tonights game visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p150570641
To read more about the game, our good friend Ed Brannon was there and will have a story in tomorrow's Derrick and News-Herald with photographs by our other good friend Eric Elliott photography.
Due to difficulties with the Wi-Fi the live streaming didn't work well. It appears the game was taped and the Franklin School District hopes to be able to post it for people to see. During these tough times and new frontiers the district asks for patience and understanding as they work out the bugs.
To read more about the game, our good friend Ed Brannon was there and will have a story in tomorrow's Derrick and News-Herald with photographs by our other good friend Eric Elliott photography.
Due to difficulties with the Wi-Fi the live streaming didn't work well. It appears the game was taped and the Franklin School District hopes to be able to post it for people to see. During these tough times and new frontiers the district asks for patience and understanding as they work out the bugs.
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