Bloomington South’s defense didn’t just win against Franklin in their Class 5A Sectional 15 playoff opener on Friday, Oct. 30, they absolutely *demolished* them, shutting out the Grizzly Cubs 63-0 at Huff Memorial Field. Franklin barely even sniffed the ball, managing a pathetic single first down all game and punting nine times on their first ten possessions, finishing with a measly 72 total yards.
That Center Grove Loss Left a Mark, and Franklin Paid For It
You could feel the pent-up fury after that Center Grove loss, and Bloomington South’s defense unleashed it big time. Senior safety Rylan Stikeleather said it himself, “We wanted to come out and really attack them.” He was talking about how they felt lackluster in the second half against Center Grove, and boy, did they make a statement this time. Leaving a “0” on the board? That’s not just good, that’s championship-level defense right there, and it’s the sixth time this season an opponent has scored seven points or less. Coach Gabe Johnson loved the physicality, saying, “As long as we can bottle that up and keep going,” the team showed they could bring it. This is exactly how you start your journey toward a sixth straight sectional title, folks.
Cori Tonte Had Nowhere to Go, Nowhere to Hide
Franklin’s star running back Cori Tonte, who rolled into this game with almost 1,700 rushing yards and 200 receiving, got absolutely swallowed up. He couldn’t get more than four yards on *any* of his 12 attempts, finishing with a paltry 16 total yards. The defense, including Aaron Clopton, Brady Adams, and Charlie Morris, were all over him. Stikeleather nailed it, “Really good job of handling him well and keeping him behind the sticks. Giving the ball to our offense and letting them play.” It wasn’t just the D-line either. Special teams MVP Sam Stolberg kept Franklin pinned deep with lofty kickoffs that either sailed into the end zone or landed inside the 5-yard line, giving the Panthers’ speedy gunners time to nail returners inside the 20 every single time. Franklin was starting at their own 16-yard line on average all night! Only 26 of their 31 rushing yards even came against South’s JV defense in the final minutes, which was the only time Franklin even crossed midfield. Coach Johnson emphasized, “The (Tonte) kid’s the leading rusher in their whole area… We just got after them. It’s a strength for us, stopping the run.”
Sacks, Hits, and a Turnover That Sealed the Deal
The defensive pressure on Franklin QB Vaughn Wyatt was relentless. South racked up three sacks, and Wyatt only managed to complete five of his ten passes. Stikeleather pointed out, “Getting after the quarterback and not giving him time to throw the ball was big.” He even had a huge hit on a receiver that caused the game’s only turnover. This defense is playing its best ball right now, and it’s clear they’re locked in for a deep run.
Next up, it’s about continuing this absolute dominance as Bloomington South chases that sixth straight sectional title. If they keep playing like this, nobody’s stopping them. This team is *on fire*.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply