Daviess County struggled to get much going on the offensive end, falling 31-13 to Franklin-Simpson in a season-opening game played at Warren East on Friday night.
The Wildcats took advantage of good field possession on the opening drive, as a 71-yeard kick return left them needing to go only 25 yards to reach the endzone. They used six straight rushes to do so, with Layne Alford scoring on a 1-yeard run for a 7-0 lead.
It was tough sledding for the Panther offense for much of the first half as they gained only one first down and four of the first six drives ended with DC losing yardage.
On their second drive, Panther quarterback Garrison Barker was picked off by Jaxon Gass at the DC 20-yard line, but it was returned to the 4. Four plays later, Alford carried it in from 1 yard out again for a 14-0 lead.
Neither team made much progress for the rest of the first half.
The third quarter opened with another DC drive ending in an interception, this time thrown by Remi Davis and picked off by Blake McPherson. The Wildcats continued their aggressive ground attack, using eight straight rushes to reach paydirt. For the third time, Alford carried it in from a yard out for a 21-0 lead.
The Panthers mounted a comeback attempt late, but the Wildcats held them at bay.
Daviess County’s two touchdowns came in remarkably similar fashion. They came on the final play of the third and fourth quarters, and both were touchdown passes from Davis to Jace Hunt. The first was from 18 yards out, and the second was from 13. The extra point attempt following the first score was missed.
Franklin-Simpson added a 34-yard field goal and 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Davis finished 6 of 14 for 85 yards, adding 39 yards on three rushes. Hunt caught three passes for 67 yards and two scores, also adding 36 yards on the ground on two carries. Lincoln Hoffman carried the ball seven times for 33 yards.
Daviess County will now turn attention to Owensboro Catholic for a city-county matchup at Steele Stadium next Friday. The Aces beat Apollo 50-13 in their season opener.
