Ben Franklin savors first Public League title since '66

Soon after Ben Franklin had claimed its first Public League football championship since 1966, coach David Carter scoured the crowd looking for former Franklin players.

"This is for you guys," Carter said after the Electrons' 36-24 defeat of Simon Gratz in Saturday's Class AAAA final at Northeast's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

Senior quarterback Kevin Caldwell, who passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns, agreed with Carter.

"That was the biggest thing about this win - having all the alumni come out and seeing the expressions on their faces when we came out on top," Caldwell said. "It's indescribable."

While undersize at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Caldwell has been the catalyst behind Franklin's banner campaign. He has thrown for more than 2,500 yards and 35 TDs in a spread attack.

"It's pretty fun running this offense," Caldwell said. "It's all about taking what the defense gives you. And I have the option to audible at the line of scrimmage at any time."

The 10-0 Electrons earned the right to play St. Joseph's Prep (7-3) for the PIAA District 12 AAAA crown at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Northeast.

Caldwell, a second-year starter who played youth football for the Kingsessing Roadrunners, mostly spreads the ball among receivers Rapheal "Macho" Rodriguez, Javier Buffalo, Michael Kane, and Rasheem James.

"I don't play favorites," Caldwell said with a laugh. "I just try to find the open man and get him the ball."

In the fourth quarter against Gratz, after the Bulldogs (10-2) had closed the gap to 29-24 on a safety with three minutes remaining, Franklin offensive coordinator Terrell Johnson shouted to the Electrons: "You don't love football if you don't like games like this."

Franklin stopped Gratz on lineman Taj Clea's fourth-down sack of QB Musa Al-Sulaimani. Caldwell then fired a clinching, 75-yard TD pass to Rodriguez with 1 minute, 58 seconds to go.

"It was actually a broken play," Caldwell said. "I rolled out, bought some time, and then threw the ball toward Macho's outside shoulder."

For his career, Caldwell, who switched from now-closed Communications Tech to Franklin before the last school year, has passed for more than 4,400 yards and 61 TDs.

Franklin's next challenge comes against No. 1-ranked and defending state champion St. Joseph's Prep. Many consider it a David vs. Goliath matchup.

"I'm not worried about what anyone says," Caldwell said. "I know what me and my teammates are capable of doing when we put our minds to it."

Playoff Schedule

FRIDAY

PIAA District 1 Class AAAA Semifinals

No. 5 seed Downingtown East (9-3) at No. 1 Coatesville (12-0), 7

No. 6 Upper Dublin (11-1) at No. 2 Pennsbury (11-1), 7

PIAA District 1 Class AAA Championship

No. 2 Great Valley (11-1) vs. No. 1 Springfield-Delco (12-0), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7

SATURDAY

PIAA District 12 Class AAAA Championship

Ben Franklin (10-0) vs. St. Joe's Prep (7-3), at Northeast, 11:30

PIAA District 12 Class AAA Championship

Imhotep Charter (10-1) vs. Archbishop Wood (10-1), at Northeast, 3:30

PIAA Class AA First Round

Springfield-Montco (6-6) vs. Neumann-Goretti (8-4), at South Philly Super Site, 1