FRANKLIN CENTRAL (3-8) – Flashes have nowhere to go but up after seven losing seasons … new coach Grant Lewis brings enthusiasm and fresh look to defense and offense … Lewis succeeds Burt Austin (14-28, four seasons) … number of players jumps from around 40 last year to 95 … team spirit is high … FC no longer 1-dimensional; will have multiple looks on offense … Lewis wants stronger defense … offense has one-two punch in senior QB Cody Jacob and explosive halfback Robert Ritter … Jacob can throw to wide receivers Dontez Hines and Wilson Huber, a junior who moves from linebacker … junior Kendal Kendrick (250 pounds) and Justin Borton (285) solidify the O-line … only two defensive starters return, Hines at free safety and Nate Ruley, a corner linebacker … Flashes have lively competition for most starting spots … FC has a proud football history – four state championships … open Friday against Decatur Central at 6 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Lewis’ comments: “The interest level has exploded. There’s a lot of pride in Franklin Central football in the township. The work ethic is great, and the drive within the kids is unbelievable. I expect we will play smart and eliminate the TNTs (things that take no talent): jumping offside, lining up incorrectly, stepping the wrong way on a basic play. I think we will have one of the high-power offenses in Conference Indiana this year. I want to make special teams a very special unit – a third platoon of head hunters … I expect to put a very organized team on the field, one that plays for each other. In the ’80s and ’90s we were quite the team, and that’s the level we want to reach.”