Franklin, who has played in four consecutive state title games with two state championships, embarks on an absolutely brutal non-district slate that starts with a trip north into the Waco area to take on China Spring.

The Lions and their Slot-T offense will be led by their bruising backfield trio of Jayden Jackson, who has run for over 2,000 yards the past two seasons, Bubba Jackson and R.J. Fulton. While there’s no question Franklin will be able to move the ball at a prolific rate, the Lions do have a lot of questions going into the year on the defensive side of the ball.

Speaking of questions, China Spring has plenty going into 2024 as the Cougars must replace nearly every skill player from a year ago. Versatile ATH Matthew Battles will be relied on heavily as a young team finds their footing. The saving grace for the Cougars is a veteran offensive line that returns four starters and a defense that expects to also be solid. That defense will be put to the test this week against that Franklin ground attack that just grinds on you.

Stepp’s Pick: Franklin by 7