ROMNEY, W.Va. — Games are won and lost in the trenches, and the Falcons’ line bulldozed them to a rout of Hampshire on Friday.
The muscle of Caden Whitacre, Brayden Shipway, Bryer Michaels, Daniel Marley, Carson Feaster and Jett McCullough up front paved the way for 418 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns.
Carder Shanholtz and Julian Pattison both went over 100 yards, Shanholtz found the end zone three times and the Falcons rolled to a 56-21 romp of Hampshire on Friday night at Rannels Field.
“Our line did a great job,” Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “We have a senior dominated line, and most of them have been starters since they were sophomores. When you have that with the combination of good running backs, good things are going to happen.
“We have a lot of work to do. We have a long road ahead of us.”
Frankfort improved to 2-0 with the victory and upped its winning streak over Hampshire (1-1) to eight games. The Falcons have won 17 of 18 in the series and lead the all-time head-to-head 37-12.
Hampshire came into the game with renewed optimism after a thrilling 41-34 double-overtime win over Preston in Week 1, and it was reflected by a nice crowd on hand for the Trojans’ home opener.
The Falcons took the crowd out of it quickly leading 15-0 after the first quarter and 36-7 at the half. Frankfort out-gained Hampshire, 546-335, and played the second with subs on both sides of the ball.
“We start off very sluggish, and one thing you can’t do against a Frankfort football team is start off sluggish and allow them to get that momentum,” Hampshire head coach Donny Evans said.
“We have to do a better job on that as seniors to come out more focused.”
Shanholtz finished with 117 yards and three touchdowns on six carries, Pattison gained 127 yards and added a touchdown on 10 gives, and quarterback Uriah Cutter completed 7 of 10 passes for 128 yards — all in the first half.
Frankfort turned to several reserve backs in the second half, and the unit hardly missed a beat. Backup quarterback Gunnar Bradshaw rushed for two scores and 43 yards and Braydn Tyler had a 42-yard touchdown run.
“I love that everyone got to play,” Whiteman said. “Those guys come out and work hard just like the starters do. They work hard on the scout team, trying to prepare the starters for the game coming up.”
Hampshire junior quarterback Landon Eversole completed 17 of 27 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions.
The Trojans also ran a trick play on a punt, which resulted in a pick.
Frankfort had a fifth senior lineman working back into the mix Friday in Lane Lease, who is recovering from injury.
The Falcons scored efficiently and forced Hampshire off the field quickly to lead the Trojans, 36-7, at the half.
Frankfort scored on touchdown drives of 84, 73, 64, 60 and 58 on a combined 22 plays, and three of them ended in the hands of Shanholtz.
Shanholtz and Pattison were both up over 100 yards in the first half. Shanholtz scored on runs of 52, five and one yards, Pattison notched the Falcons’ first touchdown on a 25-yard run and Blake Jacobs crossed the goal line on an eight-yard carry.
Frankfort forced Hampshire off the field with three punts and two interceptions by Keiton Nester and Jacobs.
Hampshire scored its lone touchdown before the break via a 44-yard pitch and catch by Greear from Eversole to trim its deficit to 22-7. The Falcons responded with 14 unanswered points to race into halftime with a four-touchdown lead.
The Trojans were able to move the ball through the air, but they struggled to run against Frankfort’s stout defensive line gaining just three yards on 15 carries before halftime.
“We did some things on offense, we moved the ball, but we missed several passes,” Evans said. “We weren’t very sharp on some routes and that put us behind the sticks.”
Frankfort fumbled once in the first half, recovered by Carlos Chavez-Trejo, but it scored on four of its final five drives.
Rhett Sensabaugh made all five extra points, Jacobs ran in a two-point conversion and Jesus Perdew drilled two PATs.
Hampshire kicker Bryson Richardson was 3 for 3 on extra points.
Bradshaw came out under center to start the second half and orchestrated a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive capped by a two-yard QB keeper.
It was a high-scoring third quarter, as Hampshire back Sean King answered Frankfort’s score with a one-yard TD run. Tyler followed with a 42-yard touchdown, and Eversole then completed a 35-yard pitch and catch to Greear for a touchdown.
Greear was electric for Hampshire, making six grabs for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Loy caught two passes for 43 yards.
Shanholtz was Cutter’s top target, catching two passes for 50 yards. Jacobs also had a 44-yard reception.
Leading 49-21 after three periods, Frankfort kicked off the running clock with 7:49 to play following a four-yard Bradshaw run.
Frankfort’s Kaiden McKenzie recorded the Falcons’ third interception late in the fourth quarter.
Sparks flew late in the contest when Hampshire’s Chrystian Helmick was ejected for body-slamming a Frankfort player. Tyler came off the Falcons’ sideline and was also ejected.
Both will be suspended in their teams’ next contest.
“One of their players slammed one of ours, and one of our boys came to our players defense,” Whiteman said. “That happens. He got ejected. Luckily it didn’t get ugly. … Definitely a teachable moment. There’s no room in sports, at any level, for that type of behavior.”
Frankfort has a bye week next week, while Hampshire will look to bounce back at home against Moorefield.