09/27/2026
FEAR THE SWARM: Academy Football Battles Franklin Across All Levels
Middle school Bumblebees win three of four, JV battles to the finish and varsity continues fighting in 42-28 loss to Franklin
Academy Football went head-to-head with Franklin across multiple levels this week, and from the youngest Bumblebees to the varsity, one thing remained consistent — the Swarm competed.
Academy Middle School put together an outstanding showing, winning three of four games against the Lions. The 7B Bumblebees earned a 28-0 shutout, 7A delivered a dominant 48-0 victory and 8A came away with a 39-20 win. The 8B group, despite having only 16 players suited up, continued to battle in a 29-12 loss.
The JV Bumblebees found themselves in a defensive battle Thursday, coming up just short, 15-8.
On Friday night, varsity faced a talented Franklin team and continued fighting until the end before falling 42-28.
The results weren't perfect, but throughout the week Academy players gave the program plenty to build on.
7B Shuts Out Franklin, 28-0
Academy's 7B Bumblebees turned in a complete performance in a 28-0 victory, getting production on both sides of the football while keeping Franklin off the scoreboard.
Beau Pugh led the offensive attack with three touchdowns and four extra points, including an explosive 56-yard touchdown run.
Ty Andrews helped direct the offense, completing several passes, throwing a touchdown and adding another score on the ground.
The Bumblebees received contributions from several other players in the passing and running games.
Ethan Repa broke loose for a 50-yard run, Wesley Thorp hauled in a 25-yard reception and Jaxton Hanke added another nice catch.
Defensively, Academy consistently found its way into the Franklin backfield.
Archer Duke recorded several tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.
Ryland Gauwain had a disruptive performance with three tackles for loss and a sack, while Trevor Hood added another sack.
Michael Castaneda and Maddox Bechter each recorded tackles for loss as the Bumblebee defense completed the shutout.
The combination of explosive offense and disruptive defense gave Academy a convincing 28-0 victory.
7A Dominates From Start to Finish, 48-0
Academy's 7A group turned in one of its most complete performances of the season, scoring on every offensive possession while shutting Franklin out in a 48-0 victory.
The performance started up front.
Layton Krumnow, Levi Hubbard, Jaxon Pruett, Josiah Jenkins, Ian Meyer and Bryson Marek controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game, creating opportunities for an Academy offense that Franklin was unable to slow down.
Kannon Adcock was outstanding through the air, throwing four touchdown passes while averaging 23 yards per completion with a long completion of 46 yards.
Hayden Goolsby caught four passes and scored twice, while Mason McKillop finished with six receptions and two touchdowns.
Jayce Gloria added two touchdowns on the ground along with several one-point conversions.
Ayden Ward also found the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown run.
As impressive as Academy was offensively, the defense was equally dominant.
The same group controlling the line of scrimmage offensively turned around and helped lead a defensive front that consistently swarmed the football.
Jaxon Pruett recorded multiple tackles for loss.
Levi Kelemen and Drew Arnold consistently set the edge, forcing the football back inside while each recording a tackle for loss.
Isaac Villanueva delivered a six-yard tackle for loss, Ayden Ward turned in a solid game at linebacker and Jayce Souter recovered a fumble.
It was exactly what Academy wants defensively — a swarm of Bumblebees around the football.
Special teams also provided a milestone.
Villanueva converted Academy's first successful kicked extra point of the season, worth two points at the middle-school level. His kickoffs were consistently deep and gave the Bumblebees another advantage in field position.
Academy also successfully recovered two onside kicks, with Drew Arnold and Marcos Gonzalez each securing one.
Offense, defense and special teams all contributed as Academy rolled to the 48-0 victory.
Short-Handed 8B Continues to Battle
The final score didn't go Academy's way in the 8B game, as Franklin came away with a 29-12 victory, but the scoreboard doesn't tell the entire story.
Only 16 Bumblebees suited up for the game, and those 16 continued competing.
Rooster Mauldin completed several passes, including a long of 35 yards, and scored on a 15-yard touchdown run.
Lennox Mendoza provided strong blocking and also added a touchdown run.
Barrett Lanham contributed two nice receptions, while David Lyons helped provide a spark for the offensive line and running game.
Samson Urban made an impact in multiple phases. He delivered two long kickoff returns, including one for 35 yards, and added a couple of big hits defensively.
Christian Hanson also delivered a big defensive hit.
The Bumblebees may have been short on numbers, but they weren't short on fight.
The final score wasn't what they wanted, but the effort from a group with only 16 available players provided plenty to build on.
8A Uses Explosive Plays to Win 39-20
Academy's 8A Bumblebees produced big plays throughout the night in a 39-20 victory over Franklin.
The offense generated five explosive plays of 30 yards or more, aided by an offensive line that continued to show significant improvement.
James Mireles, London Cain, Ethan Conine, Omar Ramirez and Jakob York helped create the opportunities up front.
Jayelan Vaughn had a huge night, scoring three rushing touchdowns, including a 63-yard run, and adding a 42-yard touchdown reception.
Quarterback Caleb Marshall threw three touchdown passes, with a long of 60 yards.
Donovan Stance caught two passes and turned both into touchdowns, scoring from 60 and 43 yards. He also delivered several big blocks on the edge.
Defensively, Academy needed its share of big plays as well.
Case Ward turned in a physical performance up front, consistently taking on offensive linemen while continuing to make tackles.
Vaughn made another major contribution just before halftime, intercepting a pass to stop a potential Franklin scoring drive.
Donovan Stance and Donovan Moore played extremely physical inside and helped keep Franklin's running game in check. Stance also recorded several tackles for loss.
Special teams provided another boost.
Gael Ortiz delivered several excellent open-field tackles and recovered an onside kick.
Donovan Moore also executed several quality onside kicks throughout the game.
The big plays and contributions in all three phases helped Academy secure the 39-20 victory.
JV Goes Down Fighting, 15-8
Academy's JV Bumblebees found themselves in a low-scoring battle with Franklin and remained within striking distance throughout the game before falling 15-8.
The Academy defense produced several important moments.
Laine Richter recovered a fumble to give possession back to the Bumblebees, while Aiden Robinson diagnosed a Franklin reverse and came up with a tackle for loss.
One of the biggest defensive stands came in the third quarter.
With Franklin threatening near the goal line, Academy's defense stood its ground and delivered a huge fourth-down stop, keeping the Lions out of the end zone and giving the offense another opportunity.
Special teams provided a spark when Demarcus Sanders delivered a strong kickoff return to give the Bumblebees valuable field position.
Academy's biggest offensive play came through the air.
Nate Wolfe connected with Brody Stewart for an explosive 85-yard touchdown pass, putting the Bumblebees right back into the game.
Academy went for two following the score, and Wolfe found Braxton White in the flats for the successful conversion.
The Bumblebees continued battling, but Franklin was able to hold on for the 15-8 victory.
Despite the loss, the defensive takeaway, goal-line stand and explosive touchdown provided positives for a JV group that continued to compete until the end.
Varsity Battles Until the End Against Franklin
There is never satisfaction in a loss, and the Academy varsity Bumblebees aren't looking for any.
But there was plenty to respect about the way they competed Friday night.
Academy went on the road against Franklin and battled for four quarters before the Lions came away with a 42-28 victory.
The Bumblebees didn't get the result they wanted, but they continued to fight and gave everything they had throughout the night.
Quarterback Brody Allen completed 11 of 24 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Allen also carried five times for 25 yards and scored another touchdown on the ground.
Emmanuel Martinez led the rushing attack with 15 carries for 50 yards.
Damion “The Freak” Stance caught three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Kamron Barker added three receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Cason Corley caught two passes for 40 yards, while Elijah Kelemen added two receptions for 40 yards.
Academy finished with 180 passing yards and 75 rushing yards.
Defense Continues to Swarm
Franklin presented plenty of challenges offensively, but several Academy defenders put together productive nights.
Kaige Kuhn was all over the field, finishing with a team-high 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Slade Knight added 14 tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Senator Robinson recorded 10 tackles and forced a fumble.
Adrian Flowers finished with nine tackles and three tackles for loss.
Brayden Hoffman also helped create a turnover, forcing a fumble and recovering another.
The Bumblebees were tested throughout the night but continued to battle and create opportunities for the offense.
Special Teams Provides a Spark
Academy's special teams produced one of the biggest plays of the varsity game.
Kamron Barker broke loose for an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown, providing an immediate spark for the Bumblebees.
Kicker Rhylander Eidson was perfect on the night, converting all four of his extra-point attempts.
Academy Players of the Week
Following the Franklin game, Academy recognized the players whose performances and preparation stood out throughout the week.
MVP — Brody Allen
Allen accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 180 yards and two scores while adding a rushing touchdown.
Offensive MVP — Damion Stance
“The Freak” finished with three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, providing the Bumblebees with a big-play threat in the passing game.
Defensive MVPs — Kaige Kuhn & Adrian Flowers
Kuhn led Academy with 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Flowers added nine tackles and three tackles for loss as both players consistently found their way to the football.
Special Teams MVP — Kamron Barker
Barker provided one of the biggest plays of the night with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Lineman of the Week — Deuce Nabours
Nabours earned Lineman of the Week honors after pulling double duty in the trenches, contributing on both the offensive and defensive lines against Franklin. His willingness to battle on both sides of the football was an important part of Academy's effort throughout the night.
Scout Team Player of the Week — Isiah Scott
Scott earned Scout Team Player of the Week for the effort and energy he brought throughout the week, helping give the varsity a quality look in practice and preparing the Bumblebees for Franklin.
One Program, One Standard
Not every scoreboard looked the way Academy wanted when the week was finished.
That's football.
But there was plenty throughout the program worth building on.
The 7B defense pitched a shutout in a 28-0 victory.
The 7A Bumblebees scored on every possession and didn't allow a point in a 48-0 win.
Sixteen 8B players suited up and continued battling despite being short-handed.
The 8A offense produced five plays of more than 30 yards on its way to a 39-20 victory.
JV remained within one score of Franklin and continued fighting until the end.
And varsity went on the road against the Lions, took its shots and kept competing for four quarters.
A loss is never something Academy Football will celebrate. The expectation is to win.
But when the result doesn't go your way, the response matters.
There is nothing for this group to hang its head about. The Bumblebees battled, played for one another and gave everything they had.
Now the job is to learn from it, get back to work and keep moving forward.
One program. One standard. Fear the Swarm.
