Eagles Return to Hock vs. Franklin

The Sharon High football team resumes play within the Hockomock League when they visit Franklin on Friday night.

“It will be very fast-paced,” said Head Coach Dave Morse. “Lots of good players on both sides of the ball. They’re a good Hockomock team. It should be a good game.”

The Eagles are coming off of a convincing 27-8 conquest over non-league opponent Randolph, and will look for their third consecutive victory and an 8-1 record against the Panthers.

Sharon junior linebacker London Chandler says that a win over 6-2 Franklin will be no easy task. “It’s two good teams, and I think it’s going to be a battle.”

Friday’s result is inconsequential to the Eagles in their playoff run, since Franklin is in the Kelly-Rex division, but senior captain Adam Banks says that Sharon must look to improve itself.

“Learn, fix mistakes this game, get in a better rhythm, and continue moving forward. I expect to come out hard, play our game, and don’t stop until the game is over,” said Banks.

The tight end/linebacker says that the Eagles must commit fewer penalties at the snap of the ball this week, after several flags were thrown on Sharon on Oct. 26.

“Offsides – can’t false start, jump offsides, both sides of the ball. [The team has worked on] switching the snap count, just keep practicing, and hopefully it gets perfect.”

Morse said, “We’ve just tried to increase the intensity of practice a little bit for guys to make fewer mistakes in the game.”

Chandler says that the Eagles can improve their run pursuit. “Last week was a good week, but we can always improve on something - faster on the ball on defense, gang-tackling.”

Morse says that the players have done well to concentrate fully on facing Franklin, despite the following week’s Davenport game vs. Foxboro looming large.

“The team knows that Franklin is a really good team and we have a lot to prove. You sign up to play as many games as possible, and this is one of them, so the guys have done a good job of staying focused,” Morse said.

“It’s not really important [in the standings],” Chandler said, “but because you want to win every game in the season, it’s pretty important to me.”

Banks says that the Eagles must not be overconfident after their lopsided win last week. “Never go in cocky, or else you get hit before you hit them, and that’s never good. So come out, play strong, and do our jobs.”

Morse says that the Panthers are a strong squad. “Franklin has a very good quarterback; very technically sound offensive and defensive lines. Their team speed on defense is one of the best I’ve seen. A lot of good players, good coaches. They’re good.

“We’ve just got to play fundamentally sound, doing our jobs offensively and defensively, moving the ball, no penalties, and limit the turnovers, the best we can,” Morse added.

Hurricane Sandy forced the cancellation of Sharon’s Monday practice, but the coach says that it was not a significant impediment to the game-week routine.

“It was not much of a disruption. Our guys have handled it well,” said Morse. “We still got everything we needed to get in on Tuesday, so we’re all set.”

Morse expects a strong football atmosphere at Franklin’s turf Pisini Field. “It will be a great time. They have a great field. It’s a good town. It’s Friday night in November – it will be everything it’s billed to be.”

Banks said, “I expect it to be loud. I expect us to come out fast, play our game, and hopefully come out with a win.”