Let me call this one right now, five days before they even play the game. Franklin’s football team plays at Springboro Friday night, renewing a long-standing rivalry between two schools that b
order one another, and I can already tell you who will win.
On the visitor’s side, you can expect the Wildcats to have a bit of an attitude. For starters, they’re coming off a last-second loss at Edgewood, and – on top of that – hard-nosed, aggressive play is the Franklin way.
On the home side, you can expect the Panthers to embody the football version of “Stand Your Ground.” They came within a few minutes of beating visiting Centerville Friday night, and the thought of losing two in a row on their home turf is, to put it mildly, unthinkable.
Two great programs will go toe-to-toe.
Two proud communities will show up in full force.
I have a prediction about the winner. But do you think I’m going to disclose it in the sixth paragraph? Keep reading.
On the visitor’s side, you can expect the Wildcats to have a bit of an attitude. For starters, they’re coming off a last-second loss at Edgewood, and – on top of that – hard-nosed, aggressive play is the Franklin way.
On the home side, you can expect the Panthers to embody the football version of “Stand Your Ground.” They came within a few minutes of beating visiting Centerville Friday night, and the thought of losing two in a row on their home turf is, to put it mildly, unthinkable.
Two great programs will go toe-to-toe.
Two proud communities will show up in full force.
I have a prediction about the winner. But do you think I’m going to disclose it in the sixth paragraph? Keep reading.
MY FAMILY HAS two hometowns. We lived in Springboro until I was in eighth grade, but then we moved to Franklin. All of us Kirby kids enjoyed our time in the ‘Boro, but we are also proud of our Wildcat heritage.
In time, Mom and Dad moved back to Springboro. Meanwhile, my sister Jenny Stewart taught in the Franklin School District for 30 years. Her two daughters, Sara (3) and Alison (10) were Wildcats, and her son Kevin (12) was a pitcher and quarterback for them until he graduated in 2012.
Now, my brother Joe has lived in Springboro for 20 years. His son Connor is now a Springboro police officer, and his son Chase was a leader on the Springboro baseball team and The Blew Crew.
My daughter Chloe (4) is like an older sister to Joe’s daughter, Sophie (39). They are Panthers, through and through.
But let me tell you something. When our family gets together, there is no Springboro-Franklin trash talking.
It’s not the same as Obama and Boehner holding hands, but it’s close.
This picture was taken in 2011 just before Kevin quarterbacked Franklin in its playoff game against Wapakoneta. I can’t tell you how many thousands of people were there to see that game, but I can promise you this: some of the Wildcats’ most loyal fans that night were Panthers.
In time, Mom and Dad moved back to Springboro. Meanwhile, my sister Jenny Stewart taught in the Franklin School District for 30 years. Her two daughters, Sara (3) and Alison (10) were Wildcats, and her son Kevin (12) was a pitcher and quarterback for them until he graduated in 2012.
Now, my brother Joe has lived in Springboro for 20 years. His son Connor is now a Springboro police officer, and his son Chase was a leader on the Springboro baseball team and The Blew Crew.
My daughter Chloe (4) is like an older sister to Joe’s daughter, Sophie (39). They are Panthers, through and through.
But let me tell you something. When our family gets together, there is no Springboro-Franklin trash talking.
It’s not the same as Obama and Boehner holding hands, but it’s close.
This picture was taken in 2011 just before Kevin quarterbacked Franklin in its playoff game against Wapakoneta. I can’t tell you how many thousands of people were there to see that game, but I can promise you this: some of the Wildcats’ most loyal fans that night were Panthers.
I GREW UP PLAYING for the Panthers and then the Wildcats. My dream was to be a stud athlete and scholar who would one day be inducted into every Hall of Fame and have my jersey numbers retired.
But that never happened. I can say I played for some legends from both schools, but I was never one of their star players.
If I had been really good, I’d have a really good story to tell. But by becoming an observer and a writer, now I have a million of them. I now think I got the better end of the deal. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
So I will walk the sidelines of both sides of the field Friday night. I will look at the Franklin faithful and see a thousand people I know and admire. And then I will scan the Springboro crowd see an equal number of solid, respectable people.
I am a lucky guy.
So I will tell who the winner Friday night will be.
Me.
But that never happened. I can say I played for some legends from both schools, but I was never one of their star players.
If I had been really good, I’d have a really good story to tell. But by becoming an observer and a writer, now I have a million of them. I now think I got the better end of the deal. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
So I will walk the sidelines of both sides of the field Friday night. I will look at the Franklin faithful and see a thousand people I know and admire. And then I will scan the Springboro crowd see an equal number of solid, respectable people.
I am a lucky guy.
So I will tell who the winner Friday night will be.
Me.