The playoffs are in full force in the Hoosier state and the Blitz 5 Game of the Week features two of Indiana’s hottest teams. Lawrenceburg, winners of eight in a row, travels to Franklin County who has won five straight to do battle in a Class 3A, Sectional 30 semifinal showdown. The home team Wildcats are out to avenge a 40-6 regular season loss to the Tigers.
LAWRENCEBURG TIGERS (8-1) at FRANKLIN COUNTY WILDCATS (8-2)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., October 31st
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Isaiah Williams has been running downhill for Lawrenceburg with 469 yards and six touchdowns rushing over the last two games. Tigers junior Crue Gilmour has thrown for 1,623 yards with 22 touchdown tosses and only two interceptions. He has also ran for 527 yards and six scores. Gilmour’s top target is Keaten McGrath. The senior has caught 43 balls for 797 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has at least one touchdown catch in every game.
Wyatt Bowling is a dual threat for Franklin County. The senior has thrown for 1,112 yards, ran for 1,149 yards and accounted for 29 touchdowns (16 rush, 13 pass). Classmates Mason Wewe and Carter Dozier are also thorns in the sides of opponents. Wewe has 1,190 all-purpose yards (713 rush, 364 rec) with 11 trips to the end zone (eight rush, three rec). Dozier has 39 receptions for 505 yards and seven touchdowns.
TEAM TRENDS: Lawrenceburg has won nine straight in this series. The last time Franklin County beat the Tigers was 2016. Six times in the last seven years after losing the opener to East Central, Lawrenceburg has won at least eight games in a row. Since that Week 1 defeat the Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 39.0 points per game. They are allowing just 8.25 points per contest in that span.
The eight wins by Franklin County are the most by the program since they finished 9-3 in 2011. A victory would give the Wildcats their longest winning streak (six games) since they won seven in a row in 1999.
HEAD COACHES:
Lawrenceburg: Ryan Knigga (138-43 at Lakota West, 14th year; 138-43 overall)
Franklin County: Wes Gillman (41-40 at Franklin County, eighth year; 55-63 overall, 12th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Lawrenceburg (87-45)
Sectional Champion (21) – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2012, 2005, 1999, 1998, 1992, 1991, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1976 & 1975.
Regional Champion (six) – 2022, 2016, 1985, 1984, 1978 & 1975.
Semi-State Champion (three) – 2022, 2016 & 1985.
State Champion (two) – 1978 & 1975.
Franklin County (47-36)
Sectional Champion (five) – 1998, 1997, 1995, 1991 & 1990.
Regional Champion (three) – 1998, 1997, & 1995.
Semi-State Champion (one) – 1995.
LAWRENCEBURG’S KEYS TO VICTORY: A balance attack paced the Tigers in their Week 5 win over the Wildcats. Look for Lawrenceburg to spread the wealth again on offense. They will want to keep the pressure coming in droves, on both sides of the ball. The defense was very disruptive in the first matchup with nine tackles for losses, expect more of the same in this affair.
FRANKLIN COUNTY’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Wildcats can’t afford to give up deflating big plays. In the first matchup this season Lawrenceburg had four plays of 37 yards or longer. The offensive line has to keep the Tigers out of the backfield. Franklin County will need their seniors to step up, Bowling and Dozier were non-factors in the regular season meeting.
Prediction: Lawrenceburg 35, Franklin County 14
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