FC soccer seniors honored at weekend festivities

Despite a torrential game-time deluge, nine Franklin County High School soccer standouts were recognized on Saturday, Jan. 15 during “Senior Day” festivities held at the Dawg House.

The original “Senior Night” event had been slated for Friday, Jan. 14 during games against Magee, but the visiting team cancelled due to coronavirus issues.

FC was able to schedule a last-minute pair of games against Enterprise High School of Clarke County on Saturday.

FC Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said a great deal of effort was expended to move forward with the games and senior recognition service.

“We wanted to make certain we not only honored our seniors, but also their families for what they have meant to our program this season and in years past,” Long said.

“The weather we played in was pretty tough in the early going, but we were glad to come away with the wins.”

The FC Soccer Boosters provided gifts to each of the seniors in the line-up with Barry Tyson handing out the presents during the ceremonies held between the two games.

Among those recognized and some of their notable awards while playing for the Soccer Dawgs were:

• Nathan Griffin, the son of Alisha Griffin, was selected as a top team player and all-district selection in both 2020 and 2021.

• Kennon Johnson, the son of Wayne Johnson and Aimee Smith, was a three-time all-district selection and was named FC’s Christ-like Award winner for 2020.

• Parker Marcengill, the son of Adam Marcengill and Jessica Freeman, was most improved player during 2020 and a three-time all-district choice along with winning the 2021 Sportsmanship Award.

• Ethan Touchstone, the son of Wade and Joyce Touchstone, was recognized as most-improved during 2021.

• Colton “Boots” Shaw, the son of Tabitha Jackson, was honored as one of 2020’s most improved and all-district players. He also won the 100-percent Award along with being chosen all-district in 2021.

• Kayleigh Bolt, the daughter of Trey and Laurie Bolt, has been rookie of the year, an all-district MVP forward, the team’s top midfielder along with being selected as a 2020 top team player and claiming the Clutch and Striker awards for 2021.

• Ali Bolt, the daughter of Trey and Laurie Bolt, has also been a rookie of the year, two-time all-district choice, 2020 MVP and district MVP defender and winner of the 2021 Defender Award.

• Morgan Laird, the daughter of Nathan and Kristie Laird, has been recognized with Sportsmanship, Most Improved and All-District awards during her tenure.

She was also honored with the 2021 FC Christ-like Award.

• Ashlynn O’Quinn, the daughter of Brian and Denise Roberts, was an all-district selection and won the program’s Sportsmanship Award during 2021.

• • •

BOYS RESULTS

FC 7, ENTERPRISE 0

Franklin County scored three goals in the first half and four more after intermission to upend the visiting Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Jamari Tolliver and Parker Marcengill scored two goals apiece for FC while Colton Shaw, Mason Emfinger and Tim Hutto each found the net once in the win.

Franklin had 27 offensive shots in the outing with 14 shots on goal.

Ethan Touchstone, Kennon Johnson, Landon Furlow, Nathan Griffin and Zachary Kent each had assists for the home team.

Defensively, Franklin County had 58 stops against Enterprise in the soggy field conditions.

Kent led the way with six take-aways while Shaw, Emfinger and Terrence Fields added five each.

Johnson wound up with four stops as Chris Carraway, Drew Mullins, Touchstone, Tolliver, Keyundre Felton, Furlow, Marcengill and Xavien Felton recorded three each.

Furlow went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury during the contest. The extent of his injury had not been made public by the team at press time.

Dakota Chisholm and Keyunde Felton split time as goalkeeper for FC in the Enterprise game with the former collecting four saves and the win while the latter had three saves to his credit.

FC 3, BOGUE CHITTO 0

Franklin County’s varsity boys claimed a 3-0 forfeit win over Bogue Chitto on Tuesday, Jan. 11 after FC’s opponent could not play due to issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

FC BOYS 2, LOYD STAR 1

Franklin County’s Griffin scored a goal in the first half with Loyd Star coming back to knot the game at 1-all after intermission on Monday, Jan. 10.

The game was ultimately decided on penalty kicks with Griffin and Furlow finding the net to end the game in favor of the Soccer Dawgs.

Furlow was also credited with an assist in helping Griffin score in the first half of the contest against the Hornets.

Franklin County had 17 shots against Loyd Star and seven shots on goal.

Defensively, the Soccer Dawgs had 61 stops with Kent and Shaw pacing the team with nine take-aways each.

Johnson had eight defensive stops while Touchstone added seven and Fields tacked on six.

Furlow finished with five take-aways, and Griffin and Marcengill recorded four each.

Chisholm went the distance as keeper and had five saves in helping preserve Franklin County’s win.

Additionally, he surrendered a goal and a penalty kick to Loyd Star during 100 minutes in front of the net.

The Soccer Dawgs presently hold a 12-3-3 season record for the 2021-2022 campaign and are 8-0 in district play.

• • •

GIRLS RESULTS

FC GIRLS 3, ENTERPRISE 1

The Lady Soccer Dawgs pounded out three first-half goals while surrendering one in the second half to cruise to a 3-1 win over Enterprise on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Ashlynn O’Quinn, Kayleigh Bolt and Morgan Laird all scored for FC while Ali Bolt, O’Quinn and Laird each had assists in the weekend victory.

Offensively, Franklin County had 25 shots in the outing with 12 shots on goal.

On defense, the Lady Soccer Dawgs collected a total of 51 stops with Karlee Wallace leading the way with six take-aways.

Brooklyn Cupit and Lilly Hutto ended the contest with five stops each while Addison Cooper, Ali Bolt, O’Quinn, Braxton Martin and Kayleigh Foy collected four stops each.

Kayleigh Bolt had three defensive take-aways to her credit.

Katherine Romero and Amberly Wallace split time in front of the net with Romero getting the start as keeper, four saves and the win while Wallace had three saves and surrendered a goal to Enterprise.

FC 3, BOGUE CHITTO 0

Franklin County’s varsity girls claimed a 3-0 forfeit win over Bogue Chitto on Tuesday, Jan. 11 after FC’s opponent could not play due to issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

LOYD STAR 2, FC GIRLS 1

FC and Loyd Star battled to a 1-all first-half tie on Monday, Jan. 10 before the Lady Hornets found the net in the second half to claim a 2-1 win over the visiting Lady Soccer Dawgs.

Foy scored Franklin County’s lone goal in the game with Cupit collecting an assist.

FC had only four shots — by Cupit, Foy, Kayleigh Bolt and Laird — and three shots on goal — by Cupit, Foy and Kayleigh Bolt — against Loyd Star.

Despite its anemic offense, the Lady Soccer Dawgs ended up with 73 key defensive stops with a trio of players finishing with double-digit take-aways.

Hutto paced FC with 13 stops while Ali Bolt added 12 and Karlee Wallace finished with 11.

Amberly Wallace and O’Quinn had seven stops apiece while Kaitlyn Fussell collected six and Cupit and Kayleigh Bolt recorded five each.

The Lady Soccer Dawgs boast a season mark of 12-7 overall and are presently 6-2 in regional competition.

• • •

UPCOMING GAMES

Barring any last-minute cancellations caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the regular season will draw to a close as FC travels to Hazlehurst on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

The Soccer Dawgs will head to West Lincoln on Thursday, Jan. 20.

The first round of the soccer playoffs are slated to begin Tuesday, Jan. 25.