Story and Photos By Sean McNamara
SHORT GAP – In a matchup of a pair of 7-1 teams that occupied two of the top six teams in the WVSSAC Class AA playoff rankings, the Frankfort Falcons defeated the North Marion Huskies, 41-20, at home in Short Gap on Senior Night.
The victory gave Frankfort coach Kevin Whiteman his 100th career win and provided valuable bonus points in the playoff race for the Falcons (8-1), who came into the contest No. 6 in the Class AA standings.
“It means a lot to me,” Whiteman said. “I’m very proud to be a Frankfort Falcon. I’ve been around this program, I played for this program, I (respect) the history of it, and it means so much to me. Other than my family, this is like my baby right here.”
In the game, the Falcons ran the ball 49 times for 301 yards, using a slow, methodical pace throughout, many times not snapping the ball until very late in the play clock.
Over the course of the contest Frankfort had only two drives end without points, one of which was a kneel down at the half and the other the kneel down at the end of the game. Every other drive ended with a touchdown as North Marion (7-2) could not get the Falcons off the field.
“We couldn’t get a negative play,” NM coach Daran Hays said. “They do a great job of moving forward and they come off the ball so well. I know they’re young up front, but my goodness they were physical and came in juiced and jacked up.
“They wanted to get their coach’s 100th win. They feel like they were a little bit underestimated and I think they probably were.”
Frankfort came out of the gates physical, moving the ball with efficiency, and scoring on their first three drives of the game.
Luke Robinette started off the scoring with a 1-yard run with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter that capped off a methodical opening drive that put the home team up 7-0 after a Rhett Sensabuagh PAT.
North Marion answered on its ensuing drive as a long drive of its own was finished off with a 7-yard touchdown strike from Casey Minor to Landon Frey, giving North Marion an 8-7 lead after Parker Kincell ran in the two-point conversion.
The Falcons then seized all the momentum going into halftime as Parker VanMeter scored on a 19-yard run that was set up by a 42-yard pass from Robinette to David Holsinger to put FHS up, 13-8.
After the Huskies’ drive stalled, a fumbled punt snap led to a turnover on downs at the NMHS 31, and Frankfort was quick to take advantage a few plays later as VanMeter scored for the second time in the game, this time from 2 yards away to put the Falcons up, 21-8, after Robinette ran in the conversion.
After North Marion turned the ball over on downs and Frankfort took a knee to end the second quarter, the two teams went to halftime with the Falcons holding 21-8 lead on the scoreboard and a 198-128 advantage in total yards.
The Huskies answered the call coming out of the locker room with Minor connecting with Parker Kincell on a 41-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 21-14.
After VanMeter ran for his third touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive to make the score 27-14, the Falcons forced a Husky punt, but muffed the return attempt, which was recovered by Aaron Hoffman.
Minor was briefly chased from the game with an injury, but Isaiah Sigley filled in, scoring on a 3-yard run to pull the game back to a one-score contest at 27-20.
That was the last the Huskies would crack the scoreboard, however, as Frankfort shut the door the rest of the way.
John Anderson III added a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth, which came from 16- and 23-yards out, respectively, to bring the final score to 41-20.
Overall, the Falcons limited the Huskies to 116 rushing yards on 29 carries, not allowing North Marion to get many big runs throughout the game.
“I was pretty confident coming into the game that we would be able to move the ball and score some points,” Whiteman said. “I was worried about stopping them, but I thought we could score some points.”
Helping in that effort was the Frankfort defensive scheme, which featured wide defensive ends that forced plays back up the middle.
“I think they committed a lot to the box, and we had to take the one-on-ones on the outside,” Hays said. “But they did a good job on the outside holding those wide-nines out there and taking all of our read stuff away so you’re forced to take the inside zone.”
Leading the offensive charge for Frankfort was VanMeter, who ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Anderson added 89 yards on the ground and two scores, while Robinette ran for 35 yards and a touchdown to go along with 63 passing yards.
For North Marion, Minor threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 38 rushing yards. Hoffman ran for a team-high 47 yards while Kincell had 56 receiving yards and a score and Frey had four catches for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Next up for the Huskies, who came into the game holding the Class AA No. 4 spot, is a home game to cap the regular season on Friday against Liberty. In that contest, Hays hopes to see his team rebound from Friday’s loss.
“I told them that of all of their goals and aspirations from the beginning of the season, nothing’s out of play,” Hays said. “They are still sitting in a pretty decent spot to host and continue to try and make a run. Today was a minor setback. I thought we bounced back after (the loss) to Fairmont Senior, and I expect the same after this one.”
For Frankfort, the Mineral Bowl against Keyser awaits, and Whiteman and his team hope to keep rolling.
FRANKFORT 41, NORTH MARION 20
Team Statistics
FRA;NM
First Downs; 16;13
Rushing Yards; 301;116
Passing Yards; 63; 138
Total Yards; 364; 254
Passing; 3-5-0; 8-18-1
Fumbles; 2; 1
Fumbles Lost; 1; 0
Penalties; 7-65; 2-15
Individual Stats
Rushing: FRA: Parker VanMeter 14-103 3 TD, John Anderson III 8-89 2 TD, Luke Robinette 12-35 1 TD, Tyrique Powell 5-32, Corbin Stone 4-22, Jason Fontenot 2-27, Alex Smith 1-1, TEAM 3-(-8). Totals 49-301. NM: Aaron Hoffman 5-47, Casey Minor 12-38, Gavan Lemley 7-30, Isaiah Sigley 2-9 1 TD, Parker Kincell 1-3, Landon Frey 1-(-7), TEAM 1-(-4). Totals: 29-116.
Passing: FRA: Luke Robinette 3-5-0 63 yards. NM: Casey Minor 8-18-1 138 yards 2 TD.
Receiving: FRA: David Holsinger 1-42, Cameron Layton 1-11, John Anderson III 1-10. NM: Landon Frey 4-30 1 TD, Parker Kincell 2-56 1 TD, Aaron Hoffman 1-30, Brock Martin 1-13.
Frankfort;;13;8;6;14;;41
North Marion;;8;0;12;0;;02
First Quarter
FRA – Luke Robinette 1-yard run (Rhett Sensabaugh kick)
NM – Landon Frey 7-yard pass from Casey Minor (Parker Kincell run)
FRA – Parker VanMeter 19-yard run (kick failed)
Second Quarter
FRA – VanMeter 2-yard run (Robinette run)
Third Quarter
NM – Parker Kincell 41-yard pass from Minor (run failed)
FRA – VanMeter 2-yard run (kick blocked)
NM – Isaiah Sigley 3-yard run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
FRA – John Anderson III 16-yard run (Sensabaugh kick)
FRA – Anderson III 23-yard run (Sensabaugh kick)
