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Sports

Franklin Shuts Out Roybal for Second Northern League Win

Panthers churn out their second highest offensive output of the season, racking up 307 yards on 35 plays.

There’s no scoreboard on the Roybal High School football field and the portable game clock stopped working at the end of the first quarter.

It may have been for the best that both were out of sight and of mind for Roybal, as spoiled senior night for the Titans, holding them scoreless in a 28-0 Northern League triumph on Friday night.

Despite a lackluster performance, the Panthers were able to still come out on top.

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“A little flat guys, a little flat. We’ve got to play better,” head coach Eric Jaimes told his squad after the game. “But this game is over and you got your biggest game coming up next week against Eagle Rock.”

Franklin (5-3, 2-1 Northern League) put its first points on the board when quarterback John-Anthony Aguilar hit Mathew Rodriguez with a 34-yard strike for a touchdown late in the first, and the team never looked back.

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On their next possession, Aguilar handed the ball to senior running back Anthony Macias, who was off to the races. Macias sprinted 63 yards for a score that would give the Panthers a 14-0 advantage with 10:20 remaining in the second quarter.

Macias accounted for just over half of Franklin’s total offensive output, collecting 155 yards on 11 carries. He also recorded a sack on defense.

“I was born to run no matter who’s in front of me,” Macias said. “I just hit my holes and have learned to keep my eyes up. I just want to thank my line again, because I would never be nothing without my line.”

Roybal (1-6, 0-3) was without starting quarterback Kage Smith and it showed as the Titans struggled offensively. One example is when FHS linebacker Misael Tamayo intercepted a pass intended for Gerald Clayton on Roybal’s opening drive of the second half.

Joshua Taylor capped off a six play, 35-yard drive for the Panthers when he dashed into the end zone from nine yards out, putting Franklin up 21-0. Taylor didn’t play a single down in the first half.

“It felt good to just get in the game and put on for my team. As soon as I got in there I did what I had to do and they opened it up for me. My receiver, Chris Goujon, actually made a key block,” Taylor said.

The Panthers scored their final TD of the game when Steven Herrera barreled into the end zone from the 1 yard line, putting Franklin up 28-0.

FHS was just a few yards away from adding more points to their tally with less than a minute left to play, but Jaimes opted to take a knee and run out the rest of the game clock.

Jaimes said, “I’m happy almost everybody got in and it helped us that the quarterback wasn’t in because he’s a real good, elusive player.”

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