When Lake Dallas QB James Franklin stepped on the turf at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex in Denton on Thursday, he was square in the middle of a high-profile matchup with Denton Ryan QB Scotty Young, a Texas Tech commit.
Franklin, who's committed to Missouri, won not only the individual battle, but the team one as well as he went for 580 total yards (319 passing, 261 rushing) and five touchdowns in the Falcons' 35-31 win over Ryan in a mild upset, launching the Falcons into the state's AP top 10 for the first time ever. It also knocked Ryan from the poll, where it was No. 6.
For his performance, Franklin was named the Southwest Region Player of the Week by ESPN. Just to put Franklin's performance into perspective, there are five players in the COUNTRY who are given these awards on a weekly basis -- one in each of the five regions.
And the fun doesn't stop for Franklin when it comes to big games, as Lake Dallas has the gauntlet. The Falcons come off their showdown with then-No. 6 Ryan and have to turn around and get ready for No. 2 Denton Guyer on Friday night at Falcon Field, where Lake Dallas rarely loses.
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. Note: If you're planning on going to see a concert at JerryWorld, save your money.
