In the 26th edition this century of Williamson County's oldest high school football rivalry with a spot in the Class 6A state semifinals on the line, no one should have expected anything less than Brentwood's 55-34 win over Franklin.

One hundred and twenty-two snaps; 11 touchdowns; 994 yards of total offense – 696 of that in the air and just seven total penalties. It was also a game of tremendous individual performances.

Brentwood's Cade Granzow, who inked a national letter of intent to play baseball at Auburn earlier this week, threw for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns and ran 12 times for 93 yards and five touchdowns. His seventh and last of the game, a 31-yard bullet to Aaron Walton with 5:48 to play was the 100th of his career.

The senior signal caller tossed an uncharacteristic interception on the Bruins' (10-3) opening drive, and another later in the game, but the rare miscues did not bother his head coach, Ron Crawford.

"That guy scored his 100th touchdown tonight and that was interception four and five on the year," he said. "The only thing on my mind on that first one was, 'He'll fix it. He'll come back and compete like crazy.' It happens."

Granzow proved his coach right in the strongest terms, his seven-touchdown game came just two weeks after leaving the opening round contest against Cane Ridge early with a knee injury.

"I got injured and it's either can roll over and wait or you can get back here and start grinding," he said. "So, I worked my butt off to get back because I wanted to be back for these guys. The guys on this team are my brothers.

"We just kept trusting God and our game plan to get the job done."

Walker Merrill overcame a aggravated hamstring injury suffered last week to snag 10 passes – a couple in spectacular style – for 102 yards. Walton secured six catches for 106 yards. 

The two teams battled to a 24-17 Brentwood advantage at the half Friday, swapping scores like a pair of world class heavyweight pugilists, before the Bruins were able to land more punches in the second half.

"We thought in the second half our execution was really good; first half I didn't think so. But give those kids at Franklin credit, they really made a great run," said Crawford. "I'm really happy for those guys that they are able to go next week and get another week to get better."

Franklin (7-6) fought to the end with quarterback Connor Beavon continuing his assault on the Admirals' record book.

Beavon, who had thrown for over 300 yards in each of his last three games, completed 29-of-47 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair of 80-yard bombs to Taylor Spierto. He added 32 yards on 11 carries to lead Franklin's rushing attack.

Beavon, emotional after the loss while talking about his love of his teammates and the sense of family the Admirals created in the extended season, turned philosophical as the two-sport athlete began to look to the future.

"I guess basketball starts tomorrow," he said. 

Spierto was everywhere Friday and closed with an incredible 246 yards receiving on 11 receptions. He added five tackles on defense. The senior lingered with teammates after the game, disappointed but accepting of the outcome.

"This team did more than anybody thought we could," Spierto said. "Every single week we came and we worked and prepared. We know we can play with anybody. We've shown it. We've fought. We know we're a great football team, but it happens. It's football. I love everybody on this team."

The second half began much like the first, with Thomas Day nailing a 39-yard field goal to give the Bruins a 27-17 lead. Franklin kicker AJ Elliot answered four minutes later with a 30-yarder. Three plays later, Granzow plowed over from the one, but the Admirals matched that score on the next play from scrimmage on the second Beavon-to-Spierto 80-yard strike with just under five minutes to play in the third, setting the score at 34-27 Brentwood.

It was the closest the Admirals would get the rest of the night.

Brentwood rolled off three TDs in nine minutes, a pair of 7-yard Granzow runs followed by the touchdown throw to Walton, as the Bruins stretched the lead to 55-27 with just under six minutes to play.

"It's the good thing about the game of football, but it's the bad thing about the game of football," Franklin coach Donnie Webb said after the game. "Sometimes the game of football quits you before you want to quit.

"I am so proud of these seniors. They have battled and we won two big games in the playoffs. Brentwood was just better than we were tonight."

Webb, like Crawford, has been involved with this intense rivalry for most of the past 20 years, an intensity that brings out the best in both schools.

0-percent," he said. "I can eat turkey any day."