By the Daily News

Franklin-Simpson roared back from a three-touchdown deficit to stun host Hancock County 27-26 in a Class 3A football state playoff first-round game on Friday night.

Down 28-7 at halftime, Franklin-Simpson (6-5) got touchdown runs from Layne Alford and Ayden Jones to pull closer, then Jones’ 1-yard touchdown run plus an Alford two-point conversion run gave the Wildcats at 29-28 lead with just 1:39 to play.

Hancock County answered on its ensuing drive when Dylan Morris completed a screen pass to Cooper Jones, who broke free for a 65-yard touchdown reception. The Hornets got the two-point conversion to reclaim the lead at 36-29 with just 1:26 to go.

Franklin came right back, with Brady Delk finding Cason Groves in the back corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass with just 12.8 seconds showing on the clock. The Wildcats opted to again go for two and Alford blasted into the end zone for a successful conversion run to put his team back out front for the last time.

Hancock’s final drive ended when Franklin’s Colin Anderson came up with an interception.

Alford finished with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus had a 68-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to account for the Wildcats’ first score and added a pair of two-point conversion runs. Ayden Jones had two rushing TDs, and Delk passed for 94 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Alford had a team-high 13 tackles, Jaxson Gass added 11 tackles and Jones had 10 stops.

Franklin-Simpson visits Hart County in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs this coming Friday.

ACS 56, Nelson County 34

Allen County-Scottsville returned three punts for touchdowns in Friday’s 56-34 win against Nelson County in a Class 4A state playoff first-round game.

De’Ante Grainger had two punt returns for touchdowns and Chase Ross added another for the Patriots.

ACS quarterback Braylon Adam tallied three rushing touchdowns in the win. Ross ran for 122 yards and a touchdown for the Patriots, and De’Ante Grainger added carries for 56 yards and a score.

Jackson Morris led the Patriots with 14 tackles, including a pair of sacks. Eli McCoy added 12 tackles, Mason Hester had 10 tackles, Ace Moore and Chris Dugger tallied two sacks each and Adams had a 73-yard interception return.

ACS (9-2) visits Bardstown in a Class 4A second-round playoff game this coming Friday.

Barren County 21, Henderson County 14

Daylan Thomas ran for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns to boost visiting Barren County to a 21-14 win against Henderson County in a Class 6A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Trojans quarterback Tate Spillman added a rushing touchdown and passed for 152 yards in the win. Brey Bewley had three catches for 51 yards and Jaxson Byrd aded three receptions for 50 yards.

Bewley added two interceptions and tied for a team-high 11 tackles. Waylon Clemmons also had 11 tackles and Dakodah Wade had an interception.

Barren County (9-2) visits North Hardin in a Class 6A second-round playoff game this coming Friday.

Bardstown 28, Logan County 20

Visiting Logan County dropped a 28-20 decision to Bardstown in a Class 4A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Caiden Kirby hit a pair of field goals and added two extra-point kicks to account for eight points to lead the Cougars in the loss.

TySean Thomeczek tallied seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown, with Logan quarterback Ridge Holman completing 15 of 30 passes for 168 yards and a score. Christian Helle led the Cougars with 58 rushing yards.

Elijah Sells added a 30-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, and Derek White led Logan with 11 tackles.

John Hardin 48, Warren East 42

Warren East quarterback Dane Parsley accounted for six touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough in a 48-42 loss to host John Hardin in a Class 4A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Parsley was 15 of 32 passing for 365 yards and three touchdowns, plus led the Raiders with 129 rushing yards and three TDs. The senior also was a perfect 4-of-4 on point-after attempts to account for 22 points.

Logan Boyer had six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, Brayden Lightfoot tallied three receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Diego Monge added a 55-yard touchdown catch.

Jackson McCool, who rushed for 78 yards, led the Raiders’ defense with 14 tackles. Parsley added 13 tackles for Warren East (6-5).

Graves County 21, Greenwood 9

Greenwood fell 21-9 to host Graves County in a Class 6A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Jackson Freeland scored a rushing touchdown and Graham Smothers connected for a field goal to account for the Gators’ scoring.

Quarterback Levi Wyatt tallied 92 passing yards, with Canon Jaggers tallying six catches for 55 yards. Cayden Schwarzkopf led Greenwood (5-6) with 59 rushing yards.

McCracken County 41, Warren Central 12

Warren Central’s season came to a close with a 41-12 loss to McCracken County in a Class 6A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Zarionte Howard connected with a RaMaun North on a 45-yard touchdown pass and the Dragons tallied a pick-six interception for Warren Central (3-8).

Murray 48, Edmonson County 7

Host Murray topped Edmonson County 48-7 in a Class 2A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Carter Swihart tallied a 1-yard touchdown run for Edmonson County (6-5).

Union County 45, Glasgow 16

Homestanding Union County beat Glasgow 45-16 in a Class 3A state playoff first-round game Friday.

Scotties quarterback Hudson Gumm passed for 82 yards and a touchdown, Jerrick Martin had three catches for 30 yards and a score, and Cam Bulle tallied 79 rushing yards.

Kellon Stone had nine tackles to lead Glasgow (5-6).