Robinson Keeping Franklin in Running

The style is somewhat unfamiliar for those who have watched Franklin High dominate the Northern League for the last six years.

Franklin’s noted passing game is still in evidence, but junior running back Stanley Robinson is supplying the Panthers with an added twist.

Robinson rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns Friday in Franklin’s 42-33 Northern League victory over Eagle Rock before a near-capacity crowd at Eagle Rock.

“I had big gaps to run through,” said Robinson, who carried 28 times. “My offensive line did it for me.”

Franklin has been playing well since overcoming a 20-point halftime deficit to defeat Sun Valley Poly on Oct. 6. The victory over Eagle Rock improved the Panthers’ record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Northern League.

Eagle Rock is 4-3 and 1-1.

“We’re beginning to believe in ourselves,” said Franklin Coach Armando Gonzalez, who is 15-0 against Eagle Rock in three stints with the Panthers.

Franklin scored on its first six possessions. The Panthers led, 21-0, less than a minute into the second quarter on a 27-yard touchdown run by Robinson, a one-yard sneak by quarterback Danny Gonzalez and a two-yard run by Robinson.

Franklin was ahead, 42-14, before quarterback Torwin Session led a spirited Eagle Rock comeback with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Session connected on scoring plays of 35 yards to Andrew Butler, 85 yards to Jimmie Blunt and 40 yards to Butler, to bring the Eagles to within, 42-33, with 13 seconds left.

Franklin recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock, ending Eagle Rock’s hopes for its first victory over Franklin since 1990.

“We just got down too far in the first half,” said Session, who completed 19 of 39 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns. “The offense just couldn’t get it going in the first half.”

Franklin’s Danny Gonzalez, a three-year starter who is the coach’s son, turned in his usual efficient performance, completing seven of 11 passes for 100 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Miguel Urbina that gave Franklin a 28-7 lead with 2:53 left in the first half. Gonzalez also rushed for 33 yards.

Urbina had five receptions for 88 yards.

Blunt finished with five receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and Butler had four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.