Stowe and Collins link up for four TDs in region win over rivals Franklin [VIDEO]

CARNESVILLE, Ga. — Branson Stowe threw for six touchdown passes, four of which went to Duke Collins in a 42-14 region win for Stephens County at Franklin County. Stowe passed for an Indians record with 387 yards on the evening.

The Indians (3-2) secured a third straight win while handing their longtime rivals Franklin County (3-2) a second straight defeat.

Stephens took about four minutes off the clock on the game’s opening drive, and Stowe connected long distance with Collins for a 50-yd TD and the quick 7-0 lead.

Franklin County had its own lengthy drive and scored in a similar fashion when Knox Whitworth took a shot at the end zone from 35 yards out. Jett Whitworth made a sensational diving catch for the score, knotting the game at seven apiece.

Before the quarter ended, Stowe checked down on a pass to Jasiah Wiley, who then took it 50 yards for a 14-7 lead for the Indians.

The Indians put the pedal down, scoring on a 4th & 17 from the 20 on a pass from Stowe to Collins. Josiah Worsley had a pooch kick that was recovered by Stephens, and Stowe went right back to Collins on a 9-yd score for a 28-7 lead. The Indians scored twice in just 30 seconds.

Collins added an interception before the half to halt a Lions’ drive. But on the very next play, Stowe was picked off by Jett Whitworth, but it remained 28-7 at the break despite the Lions going for it from the five on fourth down.

Franklin had a good drive going to open the third, but a fumble was recovered by Peyton Feaster. The Indians turned it into points when Stowe found Collins yet again for a TD pass from nine yards out, making it 35-7.

Franklin County desperately needed something, and Knox Whitworth delivered with an 11-yd TD pass to a wide-open Myles Kelley on the first play of the fourth.

Hope lived on a few more minutes until Stowe threw his sixth TD of the night, hitting Kaiden Harbin on a quick out. He did the rest, going 45 yards to the house for a 42-14 lead with 7:36 to go.

That was the final, as the Indians rolled to their third straight victory while Franklin dropped its second in a row.

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