Franklin finished off what it couldn't quite do in 2020. The Lions didn't even need to complete a pass while rushing for a Texas 3A title game record 523 yards in a 49-35 3A Division 2 win Thursday over
Gunter before 11,700 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Malcom Murphy led the charge with 287 yards rushing and four touchdowns as Franklin won its first state title, turning around a 35-34 loss to Canadian in last year's final. Murphy's total was also an individual 3A title-game record.
Bryson Washington added 171 yards rushing and three touchdowns while his brother
Bobby Washington contributed 102 to help break the record of 514 set in 2012 by East Bernard.
Franklin senior Malcom Murphy rushed for a 3A Texas state title game record with 287 rushing yards in a 49-35 win over Gunter.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Murphy, who also had two interceptions, finished off the scoring for Franklin with an 86-yard touchdown with 9:35 left. Franklin finished 16-0, while Gunter, after its third title since 2016, ended 15-1.
Murphy also started the scoring with a 59-yard TD jaunt.
"I was feeling pretty tired at the end, but I knew I had to get up and make the play," Murphy told the
Dallas Morning News after. "I wasn't worried about the record. I was worried about winning."
Franklin-Gunter is one of
12 University Interscholastic League Texas state title games this week at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Friday and Saturday feature 4A, 5A and 6A title games.
Bryson Washington, Franklin
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Bobby Washington, Franklin
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
