Murphy Bulldogs Will Face the Franklin Panthers to Begin 2025 Football Season

Murphy Looks Strong for the 2025 Season              

 

By Brandon Stephens

 

(Cullowhee) – – The 2025 high school football season is here.  The Murphy Bulldogs will begin the 2025 football season with the traditional game against the Franklin Panthers, who finished the 2024 season 6-and-4 and 3-and-3 in the Mountain 7 Conference.  Friday night will be the 73^rd meeting between Murphy and Franklin dating back to 1960.  Murphy leads the series 38-to-34.  Last season the Bulldogs lost to Franklin 33-to-13 to begin the season before going on a 12-game winning streak.

Franklin is expected to be tough like last season.  Franklin lost eight starting Seniors from its projected 2024 starting roster.  The Panthers are reloading and ready to meet their 2025 opponents with some seasoned veteran players.  The more significant loss is Senior running back Braydon Hervey and several heavy hitters on the front lines.  Hervey ran for more than 800 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.  Franklin went on a six-game winning streak before losing its last four games to finish the season.

The Franklin Panther should be led by Junior quarterback Anderson Terrell who completed almost 60 percent of his passes for 1156 yards, and 10 touchdown passes.  Senior running back Addix Sutton will be a power runner to watch.  Sutton finished the season with 66 carries for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns, just behind Hervey’s season performance.  Sophomore running back Garrett Young will complete the backfield.  Terrell can make dangerous passes against opponents.  A favored target this season may be Junior wide receiver Lance Parker, who finished last season with 17 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown.  Senior Brock Bradley appears to be moved from the back field to tight end.

The Franklin defense will be lined with big weigh Juniors and a secondary that will be quick as “cats.”  The defense will have a shade 50 look with linebackers Addix Sutton and Garrett Young shooting the gaps.  Lance Parker, Senior Payton King, and Sophomore Gabe Harrison will watch the edges from corner back and free safety positions.  The Franklin defense allowed an average of 17 points per game last season.  Many of the starting positions on defense are now covered by new Junior players.

 

How About Murphy

 

Murphy is reloading from the loss of 10 contributing Senior players.  The Bulldogs will continue to build strength behind Senior quarterback Brady Grant and Junior running back Cameron Clem, who could be ready to set some school and conference records for rushing and touchdowns.  Murphy finished the 2024 season 12-and-2 and 5-and-0 as Smoky Mountain Conference Champions (First time since 2018).  Grant completed 51 percent of his passes for 1229 yards, and 11 touchdown passes.  Clem ran the ball 221 times for 1747 yards (8 yards per carry) and 26 touchdowns.  Sophomores Blake Davis and Anthony Catuto should round out the back field for the Bulldogs.

What makes Murphy a solid offensive team and what is expected out of Franklin?  We asked quarterback Brady Grant.

 

 

The Bulldogs will be heavy hitters in the trenches.  Veteran players like Seniors Brody Orton, Janthony Gooden, Landen Lape, Angelo Palombo, and Camden Breazeale should present big challenges for Murphy’s opponents on offense or defense.  Juniors Jude Pinkerton and Braden Gaither will help round out the Murphy line of defense. Senior leader Brody Orton says the Murphy Bulldogs have worked diligently to tighten up their ability to protect on offense and stop the opposition.

 

 

The outlook for the season seems promising to Murphy.  The Bulldogs will have some tough opponents in their non-conference schedule including a trip to Heard County (GA), AC Reynolds, and East Surry before opening the conference season at Cherokee.  Murphy Head Coach (and the 2024 Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year) Joseph Watson talks about the preparation the Bulldogs have made over the summer through its scrimmages.

 

 

The Franklin Panthers are the host team for Friday night’s game against the Murphy Bulldogs.  Franklin is constructing a new school and stadium this year.  Construction has pushed the Panthers to hold their home games at Western Carolina University’s E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field in Cullowhee.  Kick off is set for 7:30 PM.  Stay connected to Team FYN Sports for updates and a game summary of the battle between Murphy and Franklin.