Franklin Central made Decatur Central work for everything Friday night. The Flashes controlled the ground game, found explosive plays through the air and kept pressure on quarterback Ezekiel Hester, making it difficult for the Hawks to establish any consistent rhythm.
That combination carried Franklin Central to a 41-23 victory and a spot in the Sectional 7 championship against Warren Central.
The Flashes established their presence early. Jayce Brewer opened the scoring with a touchdown run, giving Franklin Central a 7-0 lead. The connection between Brewer and quarterback Caiden Marsden became a problem for Decatur Central as the game progressed. With 9:40 remaining in the first half, Marsden found Brewer for a 15-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0.
Decatur Central found an answer through Hunter Harvey, who worked his way into the end zone to cut the deficit to 14-7. But Franklin Central didn’t let the momentum carry into halftime. Rian Frazier Jr. broke through for an eight-yard touchdown run with 1:49 remaining, sending the Flashes into the break up 21-7.
Frazier was a steady part of the offense throughout the night. He finished with 106 yards on 19 carries and added 46 receiving yards, giving Franklin Central another way to move the chains when the passing game wasn’t the first option.
Defensively, the Flashes were just as active. Franklin Central pursued the football across the field and consistently brought pressure against Hester. The Hawks had trouble keeping the pocket clean, and several passing opportunities went unfinished. At times, Decatur Central appeared to look toward the perimeter to stretch the defense and create room outside. Franklin Central’s pursuit made that difficult to sustain.
The third quarter gave the Flashes another opportunity to show their range offensively. Marsden connected with Zac Lutz for a 13-yard touchdown with 9:31 remaining, pushing the lead to 28-7. Marsden was efficient throughout the night, completing 13 of 19 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns.
Jonathan Rollings Jr. answered for the Hawks with a rushing touchdown at the 5:45 mark, cutting the deficit to 28-14. But Franklin Central had another response. Marsden found Brewer on a short pass, and Brewer turned it into a long touchdown, extending the advantage to 35-14 with 3:54 remaining in the third.
Brewer’s impact went beyond the receiving numbers. He finished with five catches for 131 yards and two receiving touchdowns, while also contributing on the defensive side. His pressure helped disrupt Hester’s attempts to extend plays, and Franklin Central continued to make the pocket uncomfortable.
Harvey found the end zone for the second time with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, bringing Decatur Central within 35-21. Franklin Central leaned back into its ground game, with Frazier adding his second rushing touchdown of the night to make it 41-21. Jordyn Shanks blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt.
The Hawks later added a safety, accounting for the final 41-23 margin. Jordan Brooks also came away with an interception, adding another key defensive play for the Flashes.
Franklin Central finished with 354 yards of offense, including 121 rushing yards and 233 through the air. The production was spread across the offense, but the formula was clear: Frazier gave the Flashes a dependable presence on the ground, Marsden took advantage of opportunities downfield, and Brewer turned those opportunities into game-changing plays.
The Flashes didn’t need one player to carry the night. They had enough answers on offense and enough pressure on defense to keep Decatur Central from finding its footing.
Now Franklin Central turns its attention to Warren Central, with a Sectional Championship on the line.
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