2 weeks Ago By By DOUG PETTEY/For The Lufkin Daily News
TOMBALL — The Diboll Lumberjacks stood strong against the No. 7 Franklin for a full 48 minutes, but a defensive and special teams touchdown were too much to overcome as the Lions took a 31-14 win in area playoff action here Thursday night. Diboll’s defense held a Franklin team that made it to the state championship game a season ago to just two touchdowns and a field goal.
That wasn’t quite enough as the ’Jacks saw their season come to an end in the second round. The ’Jacks showed in the opening minutes that they were going to put up a fight as they forced a turnover on downs on the opening drive of the night. But after a three and out, Franklin got going with A.
J. Phillips hauling in a 55-yard touchdown that put the Lions on top 7-0. After driving inside the 10-yard line, Diboll lined up for a field goal to cut into the lead.
However, Franklin came up with the block and Jayden Jackson eventually returned it for a touchdown that made it 14-0. The game stayed with that score until halftime. Diboll cut that lead in half on its first offensive play of the second half when Jaydan Miller took a pass from Brayden Wilson and scored on an 80-yard strike that made it 14-7.
The Lions had the answer with Jackson finding the end zone again, this time on a 21-yard touchdown run that made it 21-7. Franklin grew that lead to 21 with a defensive touchdown as Wade Stallones stepped in front of a pass and returned an interception 60 yards for a score that made it 28-7 with 8:16 left in the third. Diboll kept fighting on the following possession as Wilson connected with Miller on another touchdown, this one from 24 yards, that made it 28-14 with 5:28 left in the third.
The ’Jacks’ defense came up with another big play to stay in it with Michael Mosley recovering a fumble deep in its own territory. However, the ’Jacks eventually turned the ball over on downs, and Franklin put the game away with a 26-yard field goal in the last minute to secure the 17-point win. Franklin (9-2) advances to take on the Hitchcock/Teague winner in the next round of the playoffs.
Diboll finishes with a 5-7 record..
