Holland Razorbacks come back after early Franklin lead

FRANKLIN — The Holland Razorbacks made it back-to-back league championships and two straight undefeated football campaigns with a dramatic rally, then holding on down to the final snap, for a 19-13 win over the Franklin Mustangs in the Franklin Little League Football championship game Wednesday night at Armory Field.

The Razorbacks rolled through the regular season, including a win over the Mustangs. As the defending champs and top team again through this season, the Razorbacks were the favorites, yet the first few minutes of Wednesday’s game were all Franklin.

Franklin took the lead a few snaps after recovering a Razorback fumble on the first Holland play of the game.

The Mustangs made it 13-0, just over five minutes into the game, just after getting an interception to end Holland’s second time with the ball.

“The guys were a little down. We (the coaches) had to get in there and do the coach thing. We had to raise our voices some and give them a pep talk,” said Holland head coach David Bryant.

The Razorback comeback started immediately. Terrick Philpot’s 13-yard run was the first Razorback first down of the night.

Tailback QuaDavis Boyd followed with an incredible 38-yard touchdown run. Boyd could’ve been tackled for a loss before finding a hole, making a spin move about 15 yards downfield, then breaking multiple tackles to go all the way. The Razorback score made it 13-6 Franklin on the last play of the opening period.

“He’s an awesome football player,” Bryant said about Boyd. “He’s got great talent and he can really do things with the football.”

Holland’s defense turned the tables in the turnover battle and blanked the Mustangs for the last three quarters.

Justin Holloway’s fumble recovery set up the Razorbacks on the Franklin 18 — on the league’s 80-yard field — and the Razorback running game made quick work of the good field position. Quarterback Andrew Riddick ran a sweep in for a 2-yard touchdown, bringing Holland within a 13-12 score.

Philpot intercepted a long Mustang pass, stopping Franklin’s last possession of the first half.

The hosts thought they had a huge play, a kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half, but a flag on the Mustangs erased the touchdown.

Holland got its first possession of the second half 61 yards from its end zone. Facing 4th-and-10 just on the Franklin side of midfield, Riddick pitched to Boyd, who raced 12 yards down the left sideline.

Three tough running plays later, Philpot went through the middle for a 3-yard touchdown run. Boyd ran in the 1-point play and the Razorbacks led 19-13 with 6:19 left in the game.

Holland got the ball back and was driving into Franklin territory as the clock ticked away until a fumble gave Franklin the ball with 2:15 remaining.

The Mustangs picked up a 4th-and-10 with 0:46 left, moving across midfield.

Holland thought it had stopped the final play of the game, but a flag on the Razorbacks gave Franklin one more snap from the Razorback 15.

The Razorback defense swarmed a Mustang pitch play in the backfield, and there were no flags this time.

“I told the guys before the game, Franklin was going to come out and play a good game. Franklin always has a good football team,” Bryant said.

The Holland Razorback cheerleaders were loud and energetic on the sideline Wednesday night. Their real season finale was competing in the Franklin Little League Cheerleading Exhibition last week.

The Razorbacks, ages 6-14, have been practicing since July. Pamela Fay is the cheer team’s director. Lakeland students Chelsea Fay and Tori McClurg and Southampton student Kayla Carson are volunteer assistant coaches.

“We came together. A lot of these guys hadn’t played football before this season,” Bryant said.

“If you come together and play as a team, that’s all it takes in football. I tell the guys, we need to have a little talent and a whole bunch of team,” he said.

2011 Holland Razorback football team

Austin Tomlin

Ke’Shawn Ricks

Shelton Cross

Devin Skinner

DeAndre Faulk

Ricky Baker

Chase Lewis

Gabe Bradshaw

Austin Fay

Michael Bryant

Justin Holloway

Dedrick Boone

Andrew Riddick

Keyeon Boylan

Jamie Wilkinson

Charles Reamon

Travis Copeland

Brian Elsesser

Wes Cutchin

Tyler Strobel

QuaDavis Boyd

Terrick Philpot

Harrison Ehrenzeller

Tony Majette

J.T. Wilman

R.J. Funai

Quintral Beamon

Trey Keyes

Ethan Brisson

2011 Holland Razorback cheerleading team

Abigail Bradshaw

Morgan Creasy

Mia Carson

Meredith Edwards

Kimberly Elsesser

Jordan Fox

CeCe Gibson

Cheyenne Gray

Ashton Headrick

Yasmin Knight

Brianna Lewis

Kendal Lewis

Khloe Lewis

Brooke Mills

Alayshia Myrick

Mariah Pope

Carley Rideout

Sarah Smith

Savannah Stevenson

Brooke Tomlin

Tori Tomlin

Alexia Warren

Madison Weaver

Jessica Wilkins