Franklin-Simpson’s Carlos McKinney scores a touchdown against Greenwood on Sept. 8 during the Wildcats’ 63-6 win at Franklin-Simpson High School.

FRANKLIN – The Franklin-Simpson football team goes from the hunter to the hunted this season after winning the Class 4A state title against Johnson Central last December.

It was the first state title in 37 years and allowed the Wildcats to avenge a loss to Johnson Central in the 2016 4A title game.

Franklin-Simpson may have finally reached the mountaintop again last year, but that doesn’t mean the Wildcats are ready to step aside this year. With a lot of pieces that played a role in last year’s title run back, the Wildcats are hopeful for another deep run in 2018.

“It definitely fires us up, how much fun we had (in Lexington), how much fun we had beating up on Johnson Central and getting some revenge,” senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jack Randolph said. “We definitely want to prove ourselves again this year. We want to prove that we are the best in the class. Everybody is really fired up to get better, trying hard, and everybody’s a little motivated.”

Franklin-Simpson coach Doug Preston said his team is motivated, but it can’t think about November football just yet.

“We are just trying to get ready for the first game,” Preston said. “Really this time of year I try to take it one day at a time, not even one game. We are trying to improve each day as we go out. If things go well, we improve each day and stay healthy, who knows? Maybe we can make another run in the playoffs.”

Offensively Randolph, a University of Louisville commit, is part of a line that returns mostly intact with plenty of experience in the skill positions.

Seniors Carlos McKinney and Tre Bass both ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, while senior wideout Jevon Covington had nine TD receptions.

“We have a good relationship between the backs and the linemen,” Randolph said. “Returning four of the starting five linemen back and we have some competition and depth for the open spot. We also have some good depth in the backfield, I think more than we have had in the past. Bringing back two 1,000-yard rushers, lots of experience, it will be really fun to watch.”

The biggest question will be at quarterback, where a pair of underclassmen – sophomore Gavin Finch and freshman Luke Richardson – look to replace Rylan Thomas.

“Gavin is a winner,” Preston said. “I’ve been watching him since youth football. He is not afraid to get in there and get the tough yards if he has to carry the ball. He brings a lot of intangibles that maybe you don’t see in statistics.

“And then Luke is the prototype high school quarterback. He’s a freshman, but he is 6-1, 186 pounds. He throws the ball well, has a very level head. He reminds me a lot of Jackson Caudill, probably a little more polished than Jackson was as a freshman.”

On defense, the Wildcats return Bass, Trevon Goodnight, Terry Scarborough, Collin Preston, Tedric Partinger and Leandre Stutzman, but will have to find some players to fill the void at linebacker. Connor Rogers, a big factor in the state semifinals and finals after missing most of year with an injury, could be the one asked to lead the way in the linebacking corps.

Franklin-Simpson will be tested early, with a non-district schedule that includes Elizabethtown, South Warren, Monroe County and Glasgow – all teams that made it to at least the third round of the postseason last year with Elizabethtown, South Warren and Glasgow all making it to the state semifinals in their respective classes.

Franklin started 2-3 against a similar schedule last year, but won its final 10 games.

“It’s a tough, tough pre-district schedule and I knew it last year,” Preston said. “We will probably have just as tough of a time (this year). It showed us a lot of weaknesses and things we have to get focused on getting better at. It’s a balancing act. You can get into that kind of a schedule and it destroys your season. Fortunately, we had enough at that time to survive it, get through it and have enough confidence to get rolling.”

And if the confidence is rolling by the time the district schedule comes around, Preston is hopeful it will lead to success – which could lead to another deep postseason run.

“History says that,” Preston said. “Three years in a row our district has been in the state championship. We sure would like to be the team to make it a fourth, but there are other good teams in our district that will have something to say about that. It’s a quality district, a tough region. You go back over eight or nine years, there is a whole lot of representation into the final four. It’s a really tough district, but history says if you can get through it and do well then you have a chance.”

2018 FRANKLIN-SIMPSON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 17 – at Elizabethtown

Aug. 24 – at Monroe County

Aug. 31 – South Warren

Sept. 7 – at Greenwood

Sept. 14 – at Meade County

Sept. 21 – Glasgow

Sept. 28 – Allen County-Scottsville

Oct. 5 – OPEN

Oct. 12 – at Warren Central

Oct. 19 – at Warren East

Oct. 26 – Russellville{&end}