Max Banktson chased Zack Fallowfield all the way to the five-yard line before pounding the ball loose with a mighty swing of his fist to preserve a shutout for the Panthers on homecoming night before a large crowd which had gathered to witness the cross-county game against the Benzie Central Huskies. Frankfort won the contest 49-0 to capture the Northwest Conference title outright for the first time since 2004.

With a stingy, attacking defense, featuring two interceptions, and a grind-it-out offense that controlled all but a minute and a half of the fourth quarter, Farankfor scored on its first and second possessions on the way to defeating the Kingsley Stags 20-7and clinching at least a share of the Northwest Conference championship Friday night at Kingsley.

1^st Quarter: 

    9:55      FHS -  Devin Gokey 4 yd run  (kick no good)  6-0

                        3 play drive – 8 yds   Set up by Wade Luxford interception on the second

play of the game and return of40 yds to Kingsley 8.

                        Key blocks on TD run:  Banktson, A. Gokey, D.Soper, and Tondu

    6:04       FHS -  Wade Luxford 14 yd run  (2pt pass Luxford to Kyle Brouillet)  14-0

                        8 plays – 68 yds  -  Drive set up by good defensive stand and short punt

                        Key plays in drive:  Luxford to Banktson for 37 yds on 3 and 4

                        Key on TD:  Luxford option fake left, fake pitch cut up field for TD

                                    Blocks by Banktson, A. Gokey. Andrew Newbold, Nostrandt

2^nd Quarter: 

    6:17       FHS   -  Wade Luxford 26 yd run (kick blocked)  20 – 0

                        3 plays -  39 yds   Drive set up by good punt return Chris Tondu 16 yds

                                    To the Kingsley 39 yd line with highlight film block by Stratton

                        Key plays on Drive:  Great option fake to right to running back fake pitch

                                    Cut back and score untouched.   

                        Key blocks on TD:  Stratton, Tondu, Banktson, Nostrandt, excellent run

    0:31     Kingsley -  Maurice Sims  6 yd TD run  (kick good)

                        15 play drive – 60 yds   Drive after our TD to go 20 – 0

                        Kingsley responded by driving down 60 yds and chewing up clock to take

                        A score just before a half.  They scored on a dive over the left side.

                        No scoring

4^th Quarter:

No scoring

Final Score:  Kingsley 7      FHS 20

                      4-2 (3-1)            5-1  (4-0)

Statistics:

FHS                 Rushing            38 / 186 yds                 Passing   1 / 5        37 yds 1 int

Kingsley          Rushing         44 /   147  yds                  Passing   2 / 6        13 yds 2 int

  Total yards:

            FHS     223

            KHS    160

Rushing:

            Brouillet  13 / 93

            Gokey      8 / 16

            Luxford    14 / 77  2 TD

Passing:               Luxford         1 / 5  37 yds

Receiving:            Banktson    1 – 37 yds

Tackling:

            Banktson          16 tackles  (and three monster hits)

            Brouillet            6

            Tondu             12

            Luxford          4

            Soper               6

            Nugent             6

            Soper, all had sacks

Interceptions:

            Luxford and Brouillet

FHS tackled SB for loss on 13 plays

Penalties:          FHS  8  / 65 yds           Kingsley  2 / 25

Quotes and Keys to the game:

* After two three and outs for our only two possessions of the 3^rd quarter.  We made two big stops when Kingsley was driving.  The second stop on 4^th down was at our own 12 yd line.  We took possession of the ball at 10:26 and after a holding penalty, kept the ball the rest of the game – the entire quarter.  We converted on two 4^th and 1 situations and kept the chains moving and used the clock.  We finished the game with a 15 play 88 yd drive ending the game by taking a knee at the 14 yd.

Our defense provided excellent field position early in the game and we took advantage of those opportunities.  We were able to hold them to one first down in the first quarter and had a big interception on the second play of the game.  Kingsley has a very explosive team (avg. 35 pts/gm) and we were able to contain their speed and not allow any big plays.  The interception on the second play of the game really set the tone.  We scored three plays later and really played with a lot of confidence for the rest of the game.

We had a number of players come up with big plays on defense.  This has been the story of our season.  Our defense line and linebackers played strong at the line of scrimmage and our secondary contained the big play and came up to support the run.

I am extremely excited that these young men have earned the opportunity to play for an outright conference championship this week.  Tonight they played turnover free football and executed on both offense and defense.  Kingsley has a good football team.  Our kids played with great heart and intensity and we hit all night long.  Our punt team executed well and pinned them deep inside the ten yard line on two different occasions.

We still have plenty of mistakes to improve upon, but I am really proud of how this group is playing as a team.  They are willing to do the little things. They are willing to be selfless and not worry about stats or highlights.  They just worry about TEAM.

On defense, Max Banktson and Chris Tondu were everywhere, making 16 and 12 tackles respectively.  Dave Soper also had a number of key tackles, including a big sack on 3^rd down deep in Stag territory.  We had a couple of big hits on defense and on special teams that had a huge impact on the game.

Kyle Brouillet had his best game of the year.  He made a number of good cuts and also broke several tackles, especially on our last drive.  Tyler Stratton also had a good game at offensive tackle and had a several big hits during the night.

Benzie:

We will be focused and expect Benzie to give us a great game.  You can throw out the records when these two teams play.  We have only earned a share of the conference championship.  Our goal is to win it outright.  This Friday night, at our homecoming, we will play for a conference championship.  Benzie is a team that has been getting better every week and they have nothing to lose.  We will not take them lightly. 

Though it was a warm mid-seventies, muggy night by the bay, Frankfort's defense froze the Norse offense on their own field on Homecoming night and stifled three Suttons Bay drives deep in Panther territory, with two defiant goal line stands to lead the Panthers to a 14-0 shutout Friday night. The Norse offense could muster a total of only 94 yards for the game against the determined Panther squad. 

1^st Quarter:     No Scoring

2^nd Quarter: 

    11:15   FHS – Kyle Brouillet 6yd run  (Alex Gokey kick)  7 – 0

                 1 play drive – after Tyler Stratton recovered a fumble at the SB 6 yd line

                 FHS had thrown an interception at the 7 yd line and SB fumbled on 3^rd down

                Key blocks on TD – It was a trap to the right – Blocks by trapper David Soper,

Nostrandt, Tondu and Stratton 

                        No scoring

4^th Quarter:

   10:02                FHS  -  Wade Luxford 1 yd run  (Alex Gokey kick)  14 - 0

                                    Drive:  6 play  32 yds

                                    Key plays:  Banktson 28 yd catch to the 2 yd line on 4^th down

                                    Key blocks on TD – Nostrandt, Soper, and Tondu.

Final Score:  SB 0      FHS 15

                  3-2 (1-2)    4-1  (3-0)

Statistics:

            FHS      Rushing           39 / 122 yds                 Passing   4 / 8        34 yds 1 int

            SB        Rushing         35 /   66  yds                  Passing   4 / 9        29 yds 2 int

  Total yards:

            FHS     156

            SB       95

Rushing:

            Brouillet  14 / 62  1 TD

            Gokey      14 / 48 

            Luxford    8 / 22   1 TD

            Banktson  1 / 2

            Hang        1 / 0

Passing:               Luxford         4 / 7  34 yds

                           Banktson      0 / 1 

Receiving:            Banktson    2 – 29 yds

                           Stieve         2 – 5  yds

Tackling:

            Banktson          9 tackles

            Brouillet            8

            Tondu             7

            Luxford          4

            Soper, Gokey, Stratton, Luxford all had sacks

            Stratton had a fumble recovery

Interceptions:

            Luxford and Banktson 

FHS tackled SB for loss on 13 plays

Penalties:          FHS  8  / 70 yds           SB  9 / 65

Quotes and Keys to the game:

We are excited to be 3-0 in the conference as we head up to Kingsley to play for at least a share of the conference title.

Our defense played inspired football.  We had given up 35 and 33 points to Suttons Bay the last two years.  We made a couple of big stands and kept them off the scoreboard.  Our kids have taken a great deal of pride in our defense.  They finished with less than 100 yards of total offense and only rushed for 66 yards (1.8 yds a carry).  We had several tackles for losses and made big plays when we needed them. SB had a first and goal from the 8 yd line late in the 2^nd quarter, but the Panthers held on four plays.  I would like to give credit to Coach Mallory and Coach Pratley for preparing a great gameplan on defense.

We took advantage of great field position and a couple of Suttons Bay turnovers.

We were patient and conservative on offense.  We executed our gameplan and kept the clock moving. 

Our special teams did an excellent job with protection, kicking and coverage.

Alex Stieve did a good job longsnapping and Kyle Brouillet and Alex Gokey shared the kicking duties.

Our offense struggled to get first downs against a stingy SB defense.  We still had too many penalties and turnovers (3).  Our second TD was set up by a fourteen (14) yard punt return from Chris Tondu.  We were facing 4^th and 11 from the SB 30 yard line when Luxford lofted a pass toward Max Banktson, who was double covered at the time.  Banktson jumped and made an incredible catch to keep the drive alive down to the SB 2 yard line.  Luxford then punched it in two plays later.

Our front seven on defense played extremely well.  Stratton, Soper, Ben Williams, Nostrandt and Devin Gokey really put the pressure on the SB offense.  Our LB’s (Tondu, Brouillet, and Banktson) played down hill and had numerous big hits.

Kingsley:

Has a really good team.  They have shut out their last two opponents and they have a couple of dangerous players who have good speed.  They are playing extremely well right now.  It should be a very competitive ballgame for a share of the conference.

We must shut down their run game if we want to compete.  Our kids are looking forward to playing in this game.

Frankfort's defense finally got the shutout it has been working for, and the offense played nearly flawlessly Friday night at Lockhart Field, as the Panthers rolled over the visiting Lakers from Glen Lake 35-0. In fact that was the score at halftime and Frankfort called off the dogs and put in the subs to start the second half.

    0:09      FHS  - Max Banktson 20 yd pass from Wade Luxford (Alex Gokey kick)  7-0

                        10 plays – 63 yds

                        Key plays – 7 yd pass to Banktson and 7 yd run by Brouillet

                        Key Blocks on TD – Chris Tondu, Tyler Stratton, David Soper

                        Nice touch pass from Luxford

2^nd Quarter:   

 9:00        FHS -   Wade Luxford 55 yd run  (Alex Gokey kick)  14- 0

                        2 plays – 63  yds

                        Key plays:  8 yd run by Gokey and then TD run (same play / just keep QB

                        Key on TD:  Good run fake to Gokey and Luxford ran around right end

                                                Picked up good blocks from Stratton, Tondu and Banktson

6:00        FHS – Kyle Brouillet 30 yd TD run (Alex Gokey kick)  21-0

                        1 play – 30 yds

                        Key plays:  18 yd punt return by Tondu (plus a 15 yd late hit on GL)

                        Key blocks:  Good blocks on right side by Stratton, Banktson and a lead

on the corner by D. Gokey.  Alex Gokey with a good downfield block.

2:15        FHS – Andrew Newbold 19 yd TD from Luxford (Alex Gokey kick)  28-0

                        4 plays – 33 yds

                        Key plays:  14 yd punt return by Tondu, 9 yd pass to Stieve from Luxford

                        Perfect ball and great catch by Newbold at the goal line of the right pylon. 

                        He made the catch and extended into the endzone.

0:10        FHS – Banktson 47 yd pass from Luxford  (Alex Gokey kick)  35-0

                        2 plays – 47 yds

                        Key play:  good fake then QB boot by Luxford and block by Tondu. 

Luxford lofted ball and Banktson went up high to catch it, came

down with it and ran it in.

Final Score:  35 - 0

Running clock 2^nd half

Statistics:

            FHS                 Rushing    29 / 217 yds Passing   6 / 10   114 yds  3 TD

            Glen Lake        Rushing    31 / 61  yds  Passing  5 / 10      73 yds

Rushing:

            Luxford            4 / 71  1 TD

            Brouillet            8 / 82  1 TD

            Gokey              10 / 50

            Lentz                  3 / 6

            Nugent               2 / 4

            Hang                  1 / 1

Passing:               Luxford         6 / 10  114 yds  ( 3 TD)

Receiving:         Banktson    3 / 74 yds  (2 TD)

                        Tousley      1 / 12 yds

                        Newbold    1 / 19 yds  1 TD

                        Stieve          1 / 9 yds

Kickoffs:   Alex Gokey   6 kickoffs for a 30 + average

                                                                                    ** Glen Lake did not have a turnover

Tackling:

            Chris Tondu  8 tackles

            Kyle Brouillet  7 tackles

            Max Banktson 6 tackles (did not play defense in 2^nd half)

            Tyler Stratton 5 tackles  (4 for loss)

            Dave Soper  5 tackles (3 for loss)

            Andrew Smeltzer  5 tackles

Penalties:          FHS  1  / 5 yds Glen Lake   7 / 55 yds

Quotes and Keys to the game:

I really felt like we executed in all three facets of the game, offense, defense, and special teams.  Our offense moved the ball consistently.  We eliminated mistakes, penalties and turnovers and we hit some big plays.  Defensively, we were able to shut down their veer running game and keep them out of the endzone.  We really improved our special teams as Alex Gokey did a tremendous job placekicking and our long snappers, coverage and return teams fared well.

Wade Luxford had a solid game for us.  He threw the ball well and made good decisions running the option.  Banktson gave us a good effort at tight end and both Brouillet and D. Gokey ran the ball tenaciously.  At times, we showed signs of becoming pretty good team.  We have much to improve upon, but feel like we’ve taken a step in the right direction.

Tyler Stratton was a force on both sides of the ball.  He had key blocks from his right tackle position and could not be blocked on defense.  He has gotten better with every game.

Alex Gokey kicked extremely well and really helped us with field position.  Two kickoffs were down to the five with returns to the 18yd line.  He was perfect on his PAT attempts.

Our defense continues to get better.  Our linebackers are flowing well to the ball and our secondary is becoming aggressive.  We would still like to improve each and every week.

Our kids really had fun and enjoyed playing a smart, clean, and disciplined ballgame.  We got off the ball well and hit them on every single play.

Next week:  Suttons Bay (2-2, 1-1)  last year’s league champs and the team that beat FHS  last year.  They are playing extremely well.  They have good size, great speed and are very active on defense.  They will be an extremely tough opponent.

They have an excellent running game with two game-breaking backs.  One has great speed and the other is a really tough to bring down.  We must the contain the run and not allow the big play.

This is a must win if we still want to compete for a Northwest Conference Championship.

We will treat this like it is a conference championship.

After a shaky first quarter, Frankfort went on to defeat the Mesick Bulldogs Friday night September 12, at Mesick. The Panthers had 501 yards of offense and limited Mesick to 37 yards on the ground and 183 in the air. Three Panther rushers went over 100 yards rushing for the game. Quarterback Wade Luxford led the Panther offense with 105 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Devin Gokey rushed for 116 yards and scored once. Kyle Brouillet tallied 108 yards and a two-point conversion. Dan Nugent completed the scoring with a 13-yard run. Alex Gokey added one point-after kick. A Ben Brown-to Cody Simerson pass for nine yards was the only Mesick score. See box scores and Coach Stapleton's comments below: