FRANKLIN — Fred Cranford has spent the past several seasons watching his Fenwick High School football players grow up through adversity.
They were young, inexperienced and often overmatched.
Now, those same players are seniors, and the lessons learned along the way are beginning to pay off.
Fenwick delivered one of its most significant victories in recent program history Friday night, defeating Greeneview 34-7 in a Division V playoff opener at Yeager Field.
The victory marked the Falcons’ first postseason win since 2018 and advanced sixth-seeded Fenwick (6-5) to a regional quarterfinal at third-seeded Miami East on Friday, Nov. 6.
“You’re talking about guys that have been three-year starters because they were baptized under fire,” Cranford said. “We didn’t have the numbers, and we had to play young kids that were talented then, but yet you don’t win with 16-year-olds, right?
“Now all of a sudden, two years later, everything’s coming to fruition because of the leadership and the Friday night experience.”
That experience has been tested throughout an emotional 10-week span.
Fenwick knocked off rival Badin 40-27 on Oct. 2 before suffering consecutive losses to Chaminade Julienne and McNicholas. The Falcons responded with a 53-12 victory over Carroll to close the regular season.
“It was an emotional season for us — in a really great way,” Cranford said. “Let’s go back and look at Badin, CJ, McNicholas. Man, that three-week roller coaster was life. Emotional high, unexpected kick in the gut, and then a good whooping. That was life.
“To be able to keep and maintain focus and keep your poise and to continue to come out and practice hard because they knew something was at stake in there. It could have been that extension to play for something bigger.”
Defense, preparation fuel playoff victory
Fenwick entered the postseason with a renewed emphasis on defense and approaching every game as a fresh opportunity.
Discipline was thrown into the mix as well.
Cranford said last Wednesday’s practice was among the Falcons’ best of the season — a reflection of the leadership established by his veteran players.
“We’re 0-0, and everyone’s good,” Cranford said. “So don’t take anything for granted. If you lose, we’re going home. And buckle up defense because it can win us a championship.”
The Falcons carried that mindset into Friday’s contest, building a 21-0 halftime advantage while controlling the game on both sides of the ball.
Cranford said Fenwick could have extended its lead before halftime, but a fumble and a mismanaged possession inside the red zone prevented another score.
“We were having a lot of success on offense,” Cranford said. “We stalled out one possession on a fumble, and then we just ran out of time. We mismanaged the clock there at the end of the half.”
Greeneview responded with a lengthy touchdown drive to open the second half, cutting the deficit to 21-7 while consuming much of the third quarter.
Fenwick answered with a touchdown of its own before adding another score to secure the victory.
“Credit to them. It was all credit to them,” Cranford said. “They sustained a really long drive, and they were able to punch it in for a score. But that also chewed up a lot of the third quarter, which I’m OK with because then we got the ball back and we were able to score and answer.
“They’ve won a lot of football, man, and those kids played hard,” Cranford added of Greeneview. “That’s just credit to their coaches.”
Falcons embracing opportunity ahead
Fenwick now turns its attention to Miami East with a group of seniors determined to extend their high school careers.
Cranford said the Falcons’ challenging regular-season schedule — which included several opponents from larger divisions with larger rosters — has prepared them for the demands of postseason football.
“We’ve been the tiniest school on our schedule, and now we’re playing a level playing field,” Cranford said.
But the coach also understands the importance of learning from previous setbacks.
“CJ was a game that we expected to win. We didn’t play to win,” Cranford said. “It’s a learning lesson.”
Cranford said the Falcons have emphasized aggression, passion and emotional excitement throughout the season — placing responsibility on the players to bring those qualities every Friday night.
“You let us take care of scheme and prep,” Cranford said. “You guys bring me aggression, passion and emotional excitement, good things will happen.”
Now, with the stakes increasing, Cranford wants his players to appreciate the opportunity they have earned.
“Put your girlfriends on pause,” Cranford said. “This should be the most important thing in your life right now as a young man in high school. What other responsibilities do you have? Win on Friday.”
Friday’s victory gave Fenwick an opportunity to celebrate a postseason win at home.
But the celebration didn’t last long.
“That was super exciting and all,” Cranford said. “Wanted to do it at home, a big win, with our family behind us.
“And then just honestly to wake up, regroup. We talked about last night, but then we just simply moved on. We’re 0-0 again
“One Friday at a time.”
