Ben Franklin looks for improvement in 2023

The school has an academic reputation which precedes it in excellent fashion.

Ben Franklin is also very competitive in soccer, volleyball, track and field, tennis, swimming, girls basketball and baseball, among other sports.

Football has been a tough nut to crack. Terry Wilson is working on doing just that.

A former head coach at O. Perry Walker where he worked with his nephew, LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson, Terry Wilson also served as an assistant at McDonogh 35, Wilson served as the girls head basketball coach at St. Katharine Drexel, where he was also athletic director as well.

In 2021, Wilson applied for and accepted the call to take over the football program at Ben Franklin.

Wilson, who also serves as the head basketball coach, has accepted the challenge and is growing the numbers in the football program slowly but surely.

“We are close to 45 and it could be around 50,” Wilson said. “I am encouraged. It’s more than what we have had and it keeps going up annually.”

Ben Franklin went just 1-6 a year ago following an 0-4 campaign in 2021.

Junior Finn Noah Tierney returns to lead the offense.

“Our quarterback has been with us three years and he has gotten good reps,” Wilson said. “He’s a smart quarterback and a very good student. We are steadily developing his mechanics and he has come a long way. We put him in positions to use what he is best at doing.”

Sophomore Shawn Warren (5-8, 160) returns at running back.

“Shawn is a good one who is going to get better,” Wilson said. “He has worked really hard and we are expecting big things from him. He will be a Cinderella story for many to watch in the area.”

The wide receiver position features senior Thomas Gross III (5-8, 146). Gross will also line up at quarterback as well. Senior Aarion Owens (6-2, 170) is very good as well.

“Gross is a go-to guy,” Wilson said. “Owens has great size, looked very good in our scrimmage and will be a huge asset. Ryan Williams will also play on both sides of the ball and is a good athlete.”

Senior Scott Gottsche (6-2, 250) anchors the offensive line as a third-year player at center. Sophomore Jalen Bailey (6-2, 245) is another excellent two-way player. Senior David Labadie is in his third year up front as well.

“We feel our offensive and defensive lines are very good,” Wilson said. “We feel Gottsche and Bailey have a chance to play at the next level. Labadie is experienced.”

The defensive line features most two-way players, except for junior Eli Sanders. Senior Stark Conner (6-2, 274) will also play both ways with a focus on defensive line. Senior Thinuga Adihetti (5-10, 180) returns and can play both ways as well. Junior Emilio Sequerira will be in the rotation as well. Senior Thomas Currie (6-0, 170) is another who will rotate in up front.

At linebacker, senior Larry Smith III (5-9, 175) has played offensive and defensive line but he has been moved to linebacker. Zachary Klump and Abriel Stringfellow are the other contributors.

“Larry is our leader and will call defensive signals,” Wilson said.

Junior Noah Bercy is a three-year starter who will anchor the secondary. Williams will also start in the deep as a two-way starter.

“We are working on the other starters but like Bercy and Williams,” Wilson said.

Senior Jacob Russell (5-10, 170) is the kicker and is a good one.

“Jacob has a very good leg who plays soccer and baseball,” Wilson said. “This is his third year with us.”

The Falcons will once again not compete for district honors but have a nine-game schedule beginning with a very tough assignment at St. Martin’s Episcopal before facing Fisher, the lone victory for Ben Franklin a year ago.

The Falcons will host St. Patrick Catholic of Mississippi before road games at Pope John Paul II and Thomas Jefferson. Ben Franklin then entertains Jefferson Rise Charter for Homecoming before road games against Albany and The Willow School. The final game of the season is against Cohen.

“The goal is to build up the program to compete for district honors,” Wilson said. “Right now, we are playing a schedule we can compete with. I feel pretty good about it. Harlem Berry at St. Martin’s is one of the best backs in the country. Albany is very physical. Willow School is a big rival. This is our first-time facing Cohen.

Ben Franklin plays Sarah T. Reed Friday at 6 p.m. at West St. John in jamboree.

“We believe we have a chance to grow the win total as we grow the program,” Wilson said.

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