Franklin Regional shows grit, staves off furious Norwin rally

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, October 6, 2023 | 11:19 PM

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Franklin Regional remained in the Big East playoff hunt.

Norwin still is looking to start as well as it finishes.

Ayden Hudock and Chase Lemke made the offense go, and the Panthers held off a furious second-half rally by Norwin for a 37-29 victory Friday night at Panther Stadium.

Hudock and Lemke had career games.

Hudock scored four touchdowns, and Lemke threw for 247 yards and rushed for 90 as the Panthers (5-2, 2-1) won their third in a row.

Norwin (2-5, 1-2) cut a 22-point deficit to eight late in the fourth as its passing game came alive but couldn’t finish the rally.

“We showed we can come out and fight with anyone,” said Hudock, who had three scoring receptions and a kickoff return TD.

This was a conference game that went from a potential shootout to a potential blowout to a final score that would baffle anyone who left at halftime.

The teams are no longer tied for third place.

“Norwin is relentless, and they have some great receivers,” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said. “We couldn’t worry about them. We had to focus on ourselves and do our job.”

The first two touchdowns came in the opening 30 seconds.

Hudock returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, but Norwin responded instantly as Tristyn Tavares threw an 80-yard score to Luke Denny.

The extra point hit the upright and missed.

Less than two minutes later, the Panthers went ahead on a 6-yard pass from Lemke to Hudock.

The first quarter caught its breath with a few punts before the Panthers defense began to show its teeth.

“Our defense played great,” Getsy said. “And Lemke played one of his best games. They loaded the box, and he made some great reads.”

Troy Slezak, Austin Kerns and Juliano Marion had drive-altering sacks in the first half for the Panthers.

Marion finished with three sacks and a safety. Kerns also caught a touchdown pass.

Despite giving up a fumble — forced by Antonio Rothrauff — the Panthers kept Norwin out of the end zone the rest of the half.

The Panthers pinned the Knights on a punt, but Norwin could not get a first down.

After a long scoring play was called back, Lemke found Hudock again for a 56-yard touchdown to make it 21-6.

“We have to start games faster,” Brown said. “This is happening every week.”

Hudock was in single coverage with Jackson Pons on his second score.

“If they had me one-on-one, we were going to take a chance,” said Hudock, who caught five for 168 yards. “Chase got the ball to me. This win really gives us confidence.”

Lemke found Hudock again over the top late in the half for a 58-yard score and a 28-6 lead.

“If he is one-on-one, I just have to put it up and Ayden is going to make the plays,” said Lemke, who was 8 of 19 and also rushed for 90 yards.

Franklin Regional’s first miscue let Norwin back in the game. Jake Page had an interception for Norwin late in the third quarter.

The Knights converted the turnover into points as Tavares scored on a 15-yard keeper. Michael Crnkovic’s 2-point grab cut it to 28-14 with 1:25 left in the third.

Tavares was 10 of 33 for 292 yards — 174 in the second half — and two touchdowns. He also ran for two scores.

Norwin coach Mike Brown is tired of hearing about his squad being a second-half team.

“We can’t keep putting ourselves in that position,” Brown said. “You can’t be down 22 at halftime and put that pressure on yourself to come back. Close is not acceptable.

“They beat us up front and had a hell of a game plan.”

Lemke tossed a 45-yard strike to Kerns, but Norwin answered as Tavares hit Pons in stride for a 79-yard score to make it 35-21 early in the fourth.

After a booming punt by Joey Bayne, Marion swarmed Tavares for a safety for a 37-21 lead with 7:53 to go.

Norwin kept coming. Tavares scored on a short run and completed the 2-point pass to Denny to make it 37-29 with 2:36 left.

Kyle Dupill picked up a key first down with 2:17 left for the Panthers to get the clock moving.

Marion sacked Tavares with 20 seconds left.

Dupill ran for 92 yards on 21 carries.

Denny had four catches for 102 yards, and Pons caught three for 149.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Norwin