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Franklin Edges Union City, 39-33, for Coach Ion’s First Victory

 
Tagged under: District 10, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 17, 2026

Union City – It’s been a long time coming.

After seven frustrating weeks and a couple of close calls, Austin Ion and the Franklin Knights are 2026 winners, defeating Union City 39-33 in a hard-fought game.

They say the first is the hardest, and Union City proved it again Saturday afternoon at Bears Stadium, giving the Knights their best effort in what became one of District 10’s best football games of the year.

In a game with 72 combined points, 763 offensive yards, and five lead changes, the Knights held on in the closing seconds to score their first win of the season.

“Winning by 40 is fun, but this is way more fun,” said Franklin head coach Austin Ion. “If you’re going to spend your Saturday afternoon here, you might as well make it close and exciting. I’m super proud of these guys. They fought hard all afternoon; it was a game of momentum. Both teams took swings and shots, but we countered, and that’s what we’ve struggled with this year: putting four quarters together.”

Franklin rallied from a 25-24 fourth-quarter deficit to win, scoring two consecutive touchdowns in the final 12 minutes.

The Bears had taken a 25-24 lead early in the final frame when Danny Smith scored his second touchdown of the night on a 19-yard run, capping a 5-play, 92-yard drive. Quarterback Jayden Betcher gained 44 yards.

After a missed special teams return, the Knights started the ensuing drive at their 5-yard line. They dug themselves out of that hole and took the lead when signal caller Harrison Doty connected with Korbyn Sires on a 71-yard touchdown pass, then tossed the 2-point conversion to Damian Cassano, putting the Knights ahead 32-25.

Looking to respond, Betcher made a gaffe: a backward pass was ruled a fumble, and Caden Mincer scooped it up and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown with 4:31 to play, putting Franklin up by two scores.

“Playing four quarters of hard football, it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Mincer. “Our line, our backs did their jobs. It was a long, hard football game, but we knew we had to keep pushing through in the fourth quarter. Our prior mistakes didn’t matter. Next play, forget what happened and move on. On that fumble, I was thinking Get down on the ball, but for a split second I saw there was green grass, and I said on I’m going to get this one.”

But what looked like the end was far from it. Union City fought back and cut the lead to six points when Betcher scored on a 38-yard run after a 4-play, 57-yard drive.

On the ensuing onside kick, the Bears got a chance, but the Knights got the ball back with 3:12 to play.

After two first-down runs from Mincer, the Knights looked to be on their way to victory, but Mincer couldn’t secure the pitch, and the Bears recovered the fumble at their 23-yard line with 1:27 to play.

“Oh, absolutely, I take full responsibility for that fumble; I have to hold the ball tighter,” Mincer said. ” But it’s great that as a defense we didn’t let that get in our head and came out and stopped them for the win.”

However, the miracle was short-lived, as Jacob Fleming knocked down Betcher’s 4th-down pass in the closing seconds, finally securing the win for Franklin.

Trailing 19-18 at halftime, Mincer rushed for a team-high 91 yards on 22 carries and scored on a 2-yard run, giving the Knights their first second-half lead, 24-19, at the 4:30 mark of the third quarter. Franklin converted three 4th downs on the drive.

“The first drive out of halftime determines the game; my message was simple,” Ion said. “If we get a stop, we’re in control; we’re going to go down and score and be in control. If we give up a touchdown, we’re going to have to fight.”

Union City rallied late in the first half on a long kickoff return from Kane Gregor to the Knights’ 35-yard line with under a minute to play. With six seconds left, he caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Betcher, giving the Bears a 19-18 halftime lead.

The Knights took the second-quarter lead on two touchdown passes from Harrison Doty: 40 yards to Fleming and 8 yards to Sires, following 75 and 32 yards.

The sophomore field general completed 15 of 29 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, overcoming a pair of first-half interceptions and going 2-for-2 on 4th downs that led to second-half scores.

“Harrison has been playing really well since the Iroquois game,” said Ion. “I challenged him, and he’s responded really well, and in the three games since then, he’s been outstanding.”

Freshman wide receivers Jacob Fleming and Korbyn Sires bolstered the receiving corps, with Sires leading with five receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, Fleming catching four for 66 yards, and Damian Cassano adding four for 77 yards.

“For most of our games this year we’ve been able to move the football,” Ion said. “Our problem has been inside the 30 and the red zone. This week we’ve spent a lot of time in that short zone and being comfortable there, and I think it paid off today. I love my outside receivers; they’re tough kids, and they’re on their way to being studs. ”

Union City opened the scoring late in the first quarter when Danny Smith ran for a 4-yard touchdown after Gregor intercepted a pass at the Knights’ 37-yard line.

After a strip-sack and recovery, Franklin pulled to within 7-6 when Luke Marsteller scored on a 1-yard line.

Near the half’s midpoint, Betcher scored on a 62-yard touchdown run, giving the Bears a 13-6 lead.

Jayden Betcher and Danny Smith both crossed the century mark, with Betcher rushing for a game-high 211 yards on 20 carries and Smith gaining 101 on 19 totes.

Both Union City and Cochranton will look for their first wins next week when the Cardinals travel to Bears Stadium.

For Franklin, it was an afternoon that will last a lifetime; the Knights are back in action next Friday night against unbeaten General McLane.

Game Highlights

Franklin 39, Union City 33

Score by Quarters

Franklin – 0 18 6 15 – 39

Union City – 7 12 0 14 – 33

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

UC – Danny Smith 4 yd run, (Chase Whitmeyer pat), 1:19 – 6-37

Second Quarter

F – Luke Marsteller 1 yd run, (pass failed), 10:27 – 3-8

UC – Jayden Betcher 62 yd run, (kick failed), 5:46 – 2-74

F – Jacob Fleming 40 yd pass from Harrison Doty, (kick failed), 2-75

F – Korbyn Sires 8 yd pass from Doty, (kick blocked), 0:55 – 7-32

UC – Kane Gregor 7 yd pass from Betcher, (rush failed), 0:06 – 7-35

Third Quarter

F – Caden Mincer 2 yd run, (pass failed), 4:30 – 13-40

Fourth Quarter

UC – Smith 19 yd run, (pass failed), 10:36 – 5-92

F – Sires 71 yd pass from Doty, (Damian Cassano from Doty), 7:51 7-95

F – Mincer 45 yd fumble return, (Fleming pat), 4:31

UC – Betcher 38 yd run, (Smith rush), 3:14 – 4-57

Individual Stats

Rushing: F – Mincer 22-91, Doty 7-(-2), Marsteller 2-1, Austin Brown 2-(-1), Team 1-0. Totals: 34-89. UC – Smith 19-101, Betcher 20-211, Garrett Miller 3-8, Joe Green 2-6, Hunter Michael 0-2, Team 2-(-16). Totals: 46-312.

Receiving: F – Damian Cassano 4-77, Sires 5-125, Fleming 4-66, Ryder Stevens 1-16, Mincer 2-27. UC – Smith 1-16, Green 1-14, Gregor 1-7, Hunter Price 2-8.

Passing: F – Doty 15-for-29, 290 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT; Brown 1-for-1, 27 yards. UC – Betcher 5-for-9, 45 yards, 1 TD; team 0-for-1.

Interceptions: UC – Gregor, Michael.

 
 
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