Franklin High School Preview for boys soccer and football

Hockomock Sports has the preview for Franklin in Boys Soccer and Football

Franklin
2013 Record: 13-2-5 (11-0-5)
2013 Finish: Lost in MIAA D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Fran Bositis

Last fall, the Panthers were a minute from upsetting one of the top teams in the state, before Klisman Sousa scored an equalizer for New Bedford, which went on to win on penalties. Franklin returns 14 players from that squad, including 13 seniors who will be looking to make it a perfect four for four in league titles over their careers. As coach Fran Bositis explained, “There are no real flashy players, but they all fit well as a team.” 

The Panthers will be without the box-to-box talent of midfielder Joe Kalil this season, but Bositis believes that he has a ready-made replacement in senior Tim Larowe, who played mostly at defensive mid last year. Bositis believes that Larowe, a two-year captain, has the capability of adding more attacking to his game. Offensively, Franklin will look to junior forward Austin Kent to provide the goals, but this will be a team based as always on energy, defense, and speed. 

Bositis also highlighted his other captains Cal Harmon and Ben Labelle and said that a player to keep an eye on this season will be sophomore midfielder Hatim Brahimi, who can add some creativity in the center of the pitch as he gets accustomed to the league’s physicality. 

With scrimmages against perennial powers such as Medway, Ludlow, and Algonquin, Bositis believes that his team will be ready to try and challenge Attleboro and KP for the title.

You can read the complete boys soccer Kelly-Rex Division preview here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-boys-soccer-kelley-rex-division-preview

new FHS Panthers logo

Franklin
2013 Record: 5-6 (1-4)
2013 Finish: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Brad Sidwell (21st Year, 118-88-3)
Key Players: Colton Cardinal, Sr. TE/LB, 6-4, 235 lbs.; Andrew Parent, Sr. WR/CB, 5-9, 165 lbs.; Daevon Weathers, Sr. RB, 5-6, 170 lbs.; Luke Gordon, Jr. WR/S, 6-1, 175 lbs.; Sam Harrell, Jr. WR, 5-11, 180 lbs.; Kyle Skidmore, Sr. QB/DB, 6-3, 200 lbs.; Nick Yelle, Jr. WR/DB, 5-9, 175 lbs.; Jake Garrity, Sr. WR/DB, 5-8, 165 lbs.; Brian Sugrue, Sr. OL/DL, 6-2, 255 lbs.; Joey Giacalone, Jr. OL/DL, 6-1, 260 lbs.; Ben Riggs, Jr. OL/DL, 6-2, 285 lbs.; Brian Casali, Sr. LB, 5-9, 185 lbs.

Offense: Kyle Skidmore will take over the reins at quarterback this fall and the lefty will have to try and build an offense that features a number of new faces in the skill positions. Daevon Weathers will be the primary back with Sam Harrell, Luke Gordon, Jake Garrity, and senior captain Andrew Parent among the players that will be counted on to make plays at receiver. 

Franklin has plenty of size up front with Brian Sugrue, Joey Giacalone, and Ben Riggs all at least 6-1. The line will need to protect the passer against its speedier Kelley-Rex rivals. Weathers is a smaller back but likes to go downhill and attack the hole quickly, which will again make interior line play a crucial component to the offense’s success. 

Defense: Parent will be one of the key players in the Panthers’ inexperienced secondary. Many of the receivers will also be playing on the other side of the ball. Like Parent, senior linebacker Colton Cardinal, who has DI interest and was named one of HockomockSports.com Defensive Players to Watch, was missing during parts of preseason and will be a pivotal player for Franklin. Cardinal will be a key weapon in the pass rush and with his ability to recognize and call out screens or to judge the zone read, which is a component of many Hockomock offenses. 

The size that is a strength of the offense is also a factor on defense. Franklin is a team that can bunch the middle and will be tough to run against inside the tackles. Cardinal will get some help in the linebacking corps from senior Brian Casali. 

Outlook: Franklin struggled offensively against the top teams in the division last season and that could be an issue again as it searches for the right combination of playmakers and Skidmore becomes comfortable with the system. The Panthers do bring three of their rivals to Pisini Field, but reaching the playoffs could be a tough task this season.

You can read the full Kelly-Rex Division preview here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-football-kelley-rex-division-preview