In a heart-stopping first-round battle of the Class 3A playoffs, Hancock County’s season came to a close with a 37-36 loss to Franklin-Simpson that came down to plenty of fireworks from both sides in the final minutes on Friday night.
The Hornets, who finished the year 8-3, appeared poised for victory after dominating the first half.
Hancock jumped out to a 28-7 lead by halftime, driven by standout plays from senior quarterback Dylan Morris, who connected with senior receiver Jaxson Morris for an early touchdown pass. Senior running back Brady Eubanks and senior Wyatt Emmick added rushing touchdowns, while freshman kicker Uziel Munguia nailed each extra point, helping the Hornets establish a commanding lead.
Hancock’s defense also made its mark in the first half, with junior Cooper Jones snagging an interception late in the second quarter. The Hornets continued their scoring onslaught when Morris found sophomore Kyle Anderson in the end zone with just 12 seconds remaining in the first half, giving Hancock a comfortable 28-7 lead.
But the Wildcats came roaring back in the second half, with their momentum shift punctuated by a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a pair of scores that closed the gap to 28-21 by the end of the third quarter.
Franklin-Simpson’s dramatic comeback culminated in the final moments of the fourth quarter. With 1:39 left, they opted for a gutsy two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown, putting them up 29-28. However, Hancock County wasn’t finished. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Jones hauled in a screen pass and took it 65 yards to the house. Eubanks then converted a two-point play, and the Hornets reclaimed the lead at 36-29 with just over a minute remaining.
The Wildcats responded once again, finding the end zone with 12 seconds left to trail by a single point, 36-35. Franklin-Simpson went for it all on another two-point conversion, successfully running it up the middle to take a 37-36 lead. An interception by Franklin-Simpson in the closing seconds sealed Hancock’s fate and capped a remarkable comeback for the Wildcats.
Jones delivered a standout performance for the Hornets, finishing with 201 receiving yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Hancock’s offense outgained Franklin-Simpson by 74 total yards, but the Wildcats’ resilient second-half surge was too much to overcome.
Hancock County’s season ends with a strong 8-3 record, marking just the ninth time in the program’s more than 50-year history that a team has surpassed eight wins.
