Commerce Hosts Franklin Co. Friday

The win improves Commerce’s record to 1-1, with their first region game still two weeks away.

Up next for the Tigers is a home game against Franklin County, which handed the Tigers a 34-14 loss on the road last year.

Historically, the Tigers hold a commanding edge over Franklin County. Winning 16 of 22 games. In their last meeting in Commerce in 2006, the Tigers won 14-7.

Franklin County comes into Friday night’s game with a 1-1 overall record, having defeated White County on Aug. 29, and losing last week to Gainesville.

Kickoff Friday night is at 8 p.m. Check www.mainstreetnewssports.com for post-game scores and reports on Friday night, and throughout the weekend.

Dog Beating

The night started off on what appeared to be an even keel for both teams. Morgan County drew first blood, scoring a touchdown on an 18-yard run. But nine plays later, Tiger quarterback Phillip Edwards ran in the first Commerce TD of the night to tie the score.

The big play of the night for the Tigers came in the second quarter, when Edwards connected with Javon Womack on an 80-yard pass play for a touchdown.

The play joins four other 80-yard passes in the top ten longest pass plays section of the Commerce football history book.

It also gave Commerce a 13-7 lead after a failed PAT.

The Tigers would add to their lead when Deon Orsborne scored on a 46-yard run, moving Commerce ahead 19-7.

Morgan County hit a field goal to move a little closer, 19-10, before the end of the half.

Commerce got off to a big start in the second half, scoring its fourth touchdown when Edwards scored on a three-yard run. The nail in the Bulldogs coffin came in the fourth quarter, when Womack broke away from Morgan County’s defenders and made a 67-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers ahead 33-10.


But that didn’t mean Commerce could rest. The Bulldogs put on a scrappy show, scoring two more times before the end of the game, to make the final 33-23.

Numbers Game

Womack led the Tigers in rushing, going 73 yards on six attempts, including one touchdown; Jon Cash gained 56 yards on eight attempts; Orsborne had 46 yards on one carry, scoring one touchdown, and Colton Brown gained 19 yards on five snaps.

Edwards threw the ball only once, producing the 80-yard touchdown play to Womack. He rushed for 37 yards on 11 attempts, scoring two touchdowns.

In all, Commerce rushed for 228 yards on 34 attempts, a 6.7 percent average. The Tigers had 308 total offensive yards on 35 plays, an 8.8 percent average. Commerce was penalized five times for 44 yards.

The Tiger defense sacked Morgan County’s quarterback three times. Josh Streetman led the defense with 14 tackles, 10 of which were solo.