Franzi, Odom lead Plum to victory over Kiski Area
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Friday, August 25, 2023 | 10:42 PM
Plum’s Nicholas Odom breaks free against Kiski Area on Friday.
Kiski Area quarterback Carson Heinle throws a pass against Plum on Friday.
Plum’s Vinny Febbraro breaks up a pass intended for Kiski Area’s Isaiah Gonzalez on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle runs for a touchdown against Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Aven Shirley tries to tackle Plum’s Nicholas Odom on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Landon Kucic breaks away from Plum defenders to gain yardage Friday.
Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle runs the ball against Plum on Friday.
Plum student section cheers for their team against Kiski Area on Friday at Kiski Area High School.
Plum’s Nicholas Odom takes a knee while playing against Kiski Area on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle tries to break free against Plum on Friday.
Plum defenders Darian Slaughter (14) and Vinny Febbraro (16) tackle Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle on Friday.
Kiski Area players wait to take the field against Plum on Friday.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Cheerleaders perform during Friday’s game between Plum and Kiski Area.
Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle (right) kicks the ball against Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area plays Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area plays Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Brennan Moore (right) plays against Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area fans cheer Friday against Plum.
Kiski Area’s Aven Shirly (center) plays against Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Brenna Moore plays against Plum on Friday.
Kiski Area’s Aven Shirley tries to tackle Plum’s Nicholas Odom on Friday.
Kiski Area fans cheer Friday against Plum.
Kiski Area fans cheer Friday against Plum.
Kiski Area fans cheer Friday against Plum.
For the second straight season, Plum and Kiski locked up in the season opener. Last year at Plum, the score was tied at halftime before the Mustangs pulled away.
This year at Kiski Area, the Mustangs held a one-point halftime lead before scoring on their first two second-half drives on the way to a 28-18 victory.
“We worked hard all offseason, and we pride ourselves on that in the second half,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said. “We responded well, with touchdown drives right off the bat. We were able to get our running back going, and it was good to see our guys respond to some adversity.”
The Mustangs took a 7-0 lead on their first drive of the game when Darian Nelson caught a 6-yard pass from Sean Franzi.
Junior quarterback Carson Heinle got Kiski Area on the board with a 3-yard run on fourth down, but the Cavaliers missed the extra point and that led to the 7-6 halftime score.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, junior running back Nick Odom scored on a 14-yard run to extend Plum’s lead to 14-6.
Odom, who rushed for more than 200-yards and three scores last year against Kiski Area, finished the game with 149 yards on 16 carries, including the touchdown.
“Nicky had a big game last year against Kiski,” Morgan said. “He just needs to trust himself and his guys up front when he’s running. But overall, he had a pretty good second half.”
It was Franzi and Nelson hooking up again on the next drive, this time on a 10-yard shuffle pass and run to make the score 21-6 Mustangs.
“(Franzi) went down early in the first quarter. We all held our breath, but he was fine and came back out and responded,” Morgan said.
He also commended his senior for his efforts as a punter.
“He changed field position for us big time on a couple of his punts, which is huge in a close game.”
It was Heinle again answering for the Cavaliers, scoring on fourth down, this time from 5 yards early in the fourth quarter. But the extra point again was missed, and the score was 21-12.
Nelson added his third touchdown of the game halfway through the final quarter on a 2-yard run to put Plum up 28-12.
Heinle, who completed 11 of 26 passes for 108 yards, threw his first touchdown of the night, a 6-yard pass to Andrew Finney with 25 seconds left for the game’s final score.
Heinle also paced the Cavaliers on the ground, finishing with 22 carries for 120 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Outside of Heinle, Plum was able to hold Kiski Area in check, and Morgan was pleased with his defense, especially the effort of senior linebacker Jack Tongel, who led the Mustangs with 16 tackles.
“Jack has jumped into the Kaden Thomas role,” Morgan said about the graduated linebacker who was first-team All-Big East last season. “And when he bumps out to the outside and we put him there, Jack is a special guy who really makes a lot of plays.”
Tongel also recovered a pair of onside kicks to help Plum grab the victory.
Plum (1-0) heads home next week to face Fox Chapel in a Class 5A nonconference matchup. Kiski Area (0-1) hits the road for a game against another 5A school, defending WPIAL and state champion Pine-Richland.
Tags: Kiski Area, Plum
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