The Franklin fall sports season has been a blast for both viewers and players. With the season coming to a close, there have been many exciting matches against fellow PIL schools and the greater Portland area.
Football: The homecoming game has traditionally been the highlight of the football season. Everyone is always excited to cheer on their team and attend the dance after the game. This year, Franklin did not disappoint. On a clear fall night the Quaker men dominated Roosevelt, winning 31-0. “We stuck together as a team and played pretty well,” stated quarterback Clifford Carlson (12). Although Franklin lost some key players from last year, they continue to play strong.
Women’s Soccer: With the poor air quality earlier this fall, many sports games in Oregon had to be rescheduled or even cancelled for health reasons. Franklin women’s soccer had to reschedule one of their preseason games against Hood River Valley to a Saturday evening later into the season. This meant that they would have to play a total of three games in one
week. Despite this, the women showed their resilience and battled in cold, rainy conditions. Hood River led 1-0 against the Quakers until late in the second half, when Zoe Zelinsky (9) equalized with a goal. The game ended in a 1-1 tie that helped the Franklin women clinch a play-in spot at the state championships.Unfortunately, the girls lost the game 5-0, but captain Julia Povich (12) kept it positive. “I was very proud of how our team [had] performed these last couple weeks.”
Cross Country: The team raced at a unique meet this season. They traveled on a rainy Saturday to Heiser Farms, located in Dayton, Oregon, where fall festivities were in full swing. Right off the bus, runners were greeted with a barn of farm animals. “It was something I had never seen at a meet before,” said Delaney Griffin (11). “It made my day.” The farm also had a corn maze, hay ride, and a pumpkin patch available. The team enjoyed the fun, but immediately became serious once the meet began. The course was a long, flat loop around the farm and into the surrounding woods. The varsity girls raced first and placed sixth overall with 164 points. The junior varsity girls also placed first with 44 points. The varsity boys placed first overall with 48 points. The junior varsity boys placed second with 108 points. Overall, it was a great showing from the Quaker runners.
Men’s Soccer: The clash between Franklin and Cleveland men’s soccer, better known as the “Southeast Cup,” has been a rivalry game for many years. “It’s a big deal,” said Henry Myers (12). The senior boys even continued the recently created tradition of bleaching their hair for the game. Going into the game, both teams were amped. A packed stadium helped cheer on the game, with food trucks provided for hungry viewers. The game began with an early surge from Cleveland, resulting in a goal not even five minutes in, but the Quaker boys battled it out to keep the Warriors’ lead slim. Late in the game, Franklin came back with a much-needed equalizer from Myers. The game ended in a tie (1-1), but Myers believes Franklin should’ve claimed the win. “I think we outplayed them. We had more opportunities.” Their success was rewarded as they earned spot in the state playoffs.
