Franklin Regional notebook: Panthers keep finding ways to rally

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Call the 2024 Franklin Regional football team ‘The Comeback Kids” the way they played in games this season.

The Panthers (7-3) qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the third consecutive season and 19 of the past 20 seasons by rallying to defeat Armstrong, 29-26, in the regular-season finale. The only year the Panthers did not qualify was the 2020 season when the WPIAL decreased the number of teams in the playoffs because of covid-19.

Franklin Regional’s record in the WPIAL playoffs is 20-22.

The last time Franklin Regional won a playoff game was in 2018 when it defeated Bethel Park, 56-28.

The Panthers trailed by two touchdowns with three minutes left and pulled out the win against Armstrong. It was the third time this season that the Panthers fell behind early and needed to rally. They also rallied to defeat Kiski Area and Fox Chapel.

“We sure make things interesting,” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said. “A lot of our games were close in the Class 5A Big East Conference.”

The Panthers finished third in the conference and faced North Hills in the opening round of the playoffs.

Running back Kyle Dupill continued to pile up the yards against Armstrong. He has recorded 10 games of more than 100yards and rushed for 1,773 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He caught 12 passes for 132 yards. He had 187 yards and scored on a 29-yard run in the season finale.

Quarterback Chase Lemke rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Bennett against Armstrong.

Lemke has completed 73 of 165 passes for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns.

Jackson advances to Second Stage

Palmer Jackson is amid a busy fall schedule, one he hopes propels his future.

The Murrysville native and 2019 Franklin Regional graduate recently advanced to the Korn Ferry Tour Second Stage with an 11^th-place finish at Henryville, Ind., and was competing in the second stage of the DP World Tour (European Tour) at Desert Springs Resort in Almeia, Spain.

He shot a 4-under par 68 during the first round on Oct. 31 and was in 16^th place. He needs to finish in the top 22 to advance to the finals Nov. 8.

Jackson made it through the First Stage of qualifying at Arlandastad Golf in Sweden. He shot a 2-under par for four rounds and tied for 13^th.

The PIAA 2018 champion finished 13-under par 275. He shot a 68, 70, 66 and 71.

Greensburg’s Mark Goetz and Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Meyers just missed advancing to the final stage. They were competing in Semmes, Ala.

The Korn Ferry Tour Second Stage is Dec. 3-6. The final stage is Dec. 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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