Franklin-Simpson’s Saul Brady looks to dodge Greenwood’s Xezayier Snorton (right) on Sept. 8 during the Wildcats’ 63-6 win at Franklin-Simpson High School.

FRANKLIN – It doesn’t get much more balanced than Franklin-Simpson’s run game.

The Wildcats are in the Region 1 final of the Class 4A playoffs again this year thanks to a three-headed monster in the backfield and an offensive line that has paved the way for more than 4,000 rushing yards.

If trends continue when Franklin-Simpson hosts Hopkinsville at 7 p.m. Friday at James Mathews “Shadetree” Stadium, the Wildcats could very well end the night with three running backs reaching 1,000 rushing yards this season.

“I don’t think we’ve had three at 1,000,” FSHS coach Doug Preston said. “Lot of times there’s been a couple of them right there.”

Between senior Saul Brady and juniors Tre Bass and Carlos McKinney, the trio has 32 rushing touchdowns on 2,965 yards. The Wildcats already have more than 4,000 yards on the ground this season for the first time in Preston’s tenure.

Bass is the front-runner of that group with 1,094 yards and 10 scores. Saul Brady needs another big game Friday to follow up his eight carries for 120 yards and two scores last week against Madisonville-North Hopkins. Should Brady eclipse that 1,000-yard mark – he’s currently at 888 yards – it’ll be his third straight 1,000-yard season.

Carlos McKinney is at 983 rushing yards and leads the team with 12 touchdowns.

“We owe it all to our offensive line,” Brady said. “Ever since the beginning of the season, they took it personally that they want to step up and improve their game.”

Not bad for a group that replaced four out of the five offensive linemen from last year’s state runner-up team. Franklin-Simpson has already surpassed last year’s rushing total (3,985 yards) in three fewer games played. Brady and Josiah Robey led that backfield last year with 1,389 and 1,119 rushing yards, respectively.

“It’s been super,” Preston said. “They’ve really developed and improved. They’re where we thought they could be. We knew they would be good as a unit.”

Franklin-Simpson has been able to pull most of its starting backs out of games early with running clocks in four of the last five games. Since losing to Meade County on Sept. 15 and starting the year 2-3, Franklin-Simpson has rattled off seven straight wins and averaged 45.7 points per game along the way.

The Wildcats haven’t allowed more than one touchdown in five of those seven games. Add in the sour taste of that 48-0 state championship loss to Johnson Central last year and Franklin-Simpson is still hungry as ever for redemption.

“It hasn’t left our minds,” Brady said. “We want to get back and get redemption and show everyone we’re capable of winning a state championship. In every practice and every game, we always have that thought of 48-0. It’s never left our minds.”

To do that, they’ll have to beat a Hopkinsville team with a hot hand.

The Tigers have won five straight and dominated previously undefeated Logan County last week 43-8. Since their last loss Oct. 5, the Tigers have given up just 21 points with an offense averaging 39.6 points per game.

Quarterback Javier Bland has 1,931 passing yards for 20 touchdowns. Mitchell Degenhardt and Gavin Marschand have combined for 14 of those touchdown receptions for 1,384 yards.

“They are one heck of a team,” Brady said. “They’ve gotten better with every single game they’ve played. I respect that. I can feel they have more energy in each game. It’s dangerous and we’ve got to stay focused and be able to play them. … You can tell since they got beat (by Logan County) and came back and drilled them. They’re coming alive when they need and definitely not a team to sleep on.”