The Panther Pit was lit up Saturday night, but instead of the young bucks of Franklin High School lining up, veteran players covered the field for the first ever alumni football game against Smoky Mountain High School.

Organized and promoted by Alumni Football USA, the rivalry match included players ranging from 1983 high school graduates to those who graduated just last June. The Battle of Cowee Mountain continued as Franklin High School defeated Smoky Mountain, 26-0, after four long, grueling 15 minute quarters.

Basketball:

During their conference openers against Brevard, both the mens’ and womens’ varsity basketball teams dominated the Blue Devils on the court.

The varsity girls continued their winning streak out-scoring Brevard with a final score of 77-35.

The varsity boys controlled the board and beat the Blue Devils 62-47.

Jerseys retired in two sports for first time ever

During the basketball home opener in the Panther Den last Wednesday night, the Franklin High School Athletic Department honored FHS graduate Lindsay Simpson for her award-winning contribution to the volleyball and basketball programs during her high school career. To honor Simpson's accomplishments both on and off the court, the Athletic Department retired Simpson's number 15 jersey in both basketball and volleyball. Wednesday night marked the first time in FHS history that a student has jerseys retired in two sports.

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In the Franklin home opener against T.C. Roberson last Wednesday, the Lady Panthers rose victorious over the Rams 50-44. Despite some foul trouble near the end of the game, a considerably young women's varsity basketball team rallied together for the win. The girls beat West-Oak on 11/30, 62-44.

Building on the momentum started by the women's team, Franklin's men’s varsity basketball team took to the court in the Panther Den to beat the Rams 48-34. At half-time, the Panthers trailed the Rams, but in the fourth quarter Franklin's defense held T.C. Roberson and outscored Roberson for the win in the final stretch of the game. The boys continued their winning streak against West-Oak on 11/30, winning 56-45.