EVERMAN -- After a tough season opening loss to Highland Park on Saturday, the Everman Buldogs (1-1) bounced back on Friday night with an easy 56-21 homecoming win over the Fort Worth Southwest Raiders (0-1).
Senior running back Cory Franklin ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns all in the first half to steal the show and help Everman race out to a 42-6 halftime lead. In his first varsity start junior QB Devynn Birdow was 4/4 passing along with three touchdowns. James Bailey also had a big night with two touchdown catches and a 62 yard kickoff return and he also took the homecoming king crown at halftime.
Sophomore QB Wesley Harris was a bright spot for the Raiders throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for 100 yards.
Everman wasted Franklin scored on the third play from scrimmage on a 45-yard run where he went around right end and ran over a safety before bursting down the sideline for the score and a 7-0 Everman lead. Southwest would turn the ball over quickly as pressure from Lincoln Richard forced Harris to fumble and junior DL Jacob Kennedy would scoop up the loose ball and return it to the SHS 14. One play later Bailey got his first touchdown on a 14 yard toss from Birdow and Everman led 13-0.
Later in the quarter junior Horace Richardson scored his first varsity touchdown catching a 31 yard toss from Birdow for a 19-0 EHS lead. Richardson also played well on defense notching a pair of interceptions. After recovering another Southwest fumble later in the quarter, Bailey would get his second touchdown of the night running a perfect wheel route to reel in a 52 yard catch and run for a 26-0 Everman advantage.
Southwest would finally show some offensive life with five minutes left in the half as Willie Robinson, Jr. got behind the Everman secondary to catch a 41 yard touchdown pass from Harris making the margin 26-6. Southwest's defense was fired up and it showed as they appeared to be ready to force an Everman punt, but Franklin would take the direct snap on the fake punt and sprint 52 yards for the score to put the Bulldogs up 33-6.
After blocking a punt for a safety, Bailey would get into the act one more time returning the ensuing free kick 63 yards down the Everman sideline for a touchdown and a big 42-6 halftime edge.
The second half consisted of a running clock and several teams using younger players. Talented Southwest WR Robbie Rhodes caught a 17 yard touchdown pass from Harris in the second half, while Everman freshman sensation Terrance Cook scored his first varsity touchdown in the second half and finished with 70 yards on 12 carries.
Everman will have a bye next week and will travel to Waco in two weeks to take on Midway in their final non-district game before starting District 7-4A play. Southwest will open District 6-4A play next week against Fort Worth Wyatt.