The Blanchester freshman football team defeated Franklin 62-21 Monday.

After trailing 7-0, Blanchester rallied behind its offensive line of Cody McCollister, Steven Latchford, Chace Sicurella, Matthew Grogg and Austin Walker, according to coach Bryan Howard.

Ramiro Torres scored on a two-yard run and Brent Hopkins took in the two-point conversion to give the Wildcats an 8-7 lead.

Dustin Howard’s interception led to a Hopkins 14-yard TD and two-point conversion as the ’Cats roared to a 16-7 advantage.

After Franklin’s second score, Blanchester went back up by two TDs when Hopkins finished the half with a 45-yard touchdown run.

In the third period, Howard passed 20 yards to Derrick Bowman and that led to a Dale Sturgill 43-yard touchdown run. After the BHS defense held Franklin and forced a punt, Hopkins went 66 yards on the punt return as Blanchester began to pull away.

In the fourth quarter, Howard passed to Hopkins for a 40-yard touchdown. Howard then returned an interception 56 yards for a score and ran in a 33-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

Hopkins finished with 122 yards on 10 carries while Sturgill had 72 yards, Torres 34 yards and Howard 63 yards on the ground. Howard was 2-for-4 passing for 60 yards.

Torres had six tackles to lead the Blanchester defense. Noah Young defended four passes. Howard had two interceptions and Tavor Mowry had one interception.