NORTH ADAMS – The Franklin Tech football team sensed blood in the water.
The Eagles, trailing for almost the entire game, found themselves with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter against McCann Tech on Saturday afternoon.
Quarterback Gabriel Tomasi plunged into the end zone from the one-yard line, completing a 22-14 season-opening comeback win over the Hornets in an independent contest.
Tomasi sensed a weakening Hornets’ defense on the final drive.
“We picked up the pace,” Tomasi said. “They were getting tired. We saw it like blood in the water and took advantage of it.”
The score came with 1 minute, 40 seconds left in the game. Tomasi also had another short rushing touchdown in the third quarter to cut into McCann Tech’s lead.
“It’s more of a team thing,” Tomasi said. “But I am extremely excited.”
Ryan Demers saved his best rushing attack for the final drive, carrying three straight times down to the McCann Tech 1-yard line.
McCann Tech, which jumped out to a 14-0 lead, had not played football since 2019.
“It’s a credit to the kids,” Franklin Tech coach Joe Gamache said. “They just didn’t quit. I think we were able to wear McCann down late in the first half. We kind of just outlasted them today. We could have packed our bags when we were down 14-0.”
After a slow start, Franklin Tech got a spark from scatback Josiah Little.
“I have to shout out my linemen for blocking for me,” Little said. “When we were down we started to hype back up. The energy was awesome.”
The final drive started at McCann Tech’s 25-yard line after Logan Call partially blocked a punt. Even with the late touchdown, McCann Tech still had possession with plenty of time left on the clock. The defense had to make a play for the Eagles to close out the game.
Call and Charlie Boyden’s shared sack of McCann Tech quarterback Seth Farnsworth resulted in a safety for the Eagles to make it 22-14.
“We’ve been in this position before, being down.” Call said. “Something kicked in and we started to get hyped and make plays. We just kept the momentum going through halftime.”
After the safety, the Eagles were able to run out the clock.
Tomasi carried seven times for 29 yards. After a shaky start through the air, he settled in to complete 5-for-11 passes for 52 yards with an interception.
“He made a lot of really good decisions,” Gamache said of Tomasi. “He made some mistakes but overall he did everything we asked. We ask him to be an athlete and create some things and be smart with the football.”
Little had 13 carries for 65 yards with a 13-yard touchdown. Franklin Tech got the offense going in the second quarter with a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive capped by Little’s touchdown.
During the drive Tomasi escaped the clutches of the McCann defense to complete an 11-yard pass to Nathaniel Fuess.
The Eagles used a jet-sweep to Max Bastarache on a third down play to keep the drive going.
Call recovered a McCann Tech fumble just before halftime. The Eagles went into halftime trailing 14-6. The momentum carried into the second half for Franklin Tech.
The Eagles crept closer after a seven-play, 56-yard scoring drive to open the second half. A big completion to Fuess got the Eagles down close to the goal line before Tomasi’s keeper for a touchdown.
Before the game-winning drive, the Eagles marched down to McCann Tech’s 6-yard line but were stopped on a fourth down play.
The defense then made a stop to force a punt from McCann Tech deep in its own territory.
Seneca Bolte rumbled 30-yards for a touchdown on McCann Tech’s first drive of the game. Troy Wnuk added a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the Hornets.
Bolte carried 10 times for 49 yards.
Franklin Tech and McCann Tech were once rivals in the Tri-County League before realignment changed the landscape of the high school football scene in recent years.
Franklin Tech 0 6 6 10—22
McCann Tech 6 6 0 0—14
Scoring summary
First quarter
MT Seneca Bolte 30 rush (run failed)
Second quarter
MT Troy Wnuk 3 rush (Jason Knapp from Seth Farnsworth)
FT – Josiah Little 13 rush (run failed)
Third quarter
FT Gabriel Tomasi 1 rush (run failed)
Fourth quarter
FT Tomasi 1 rush (Little rush)
FT — Safety
Rushing – (FT) Tomasi 7-29-2; Max Bastarache 2-31; Chad Adams 5-16; Little 13-65-1; Ryan Demers 14-35; (MT) Bolte 10-49-1; Wnuk 5-20-1; Aiden Mcpherson 9-43; Parker Hart 4-38.
Receiving – (FT) Bastarache 1-15; William Ainsworth 2-10; Nathaniel 2-27; (MT) N/A.
Passing – (FT) Tomasi 5-11-52-1; (MT) Seth Farnsworth 0-2-0.
