After a tumultuous month filled with tragedy, the Franklin football program jumped at the chance to put everything aside and finally take the field.

Just as it took a team effort to overcome the deaths of two teammates and all the emotions and events off the field, coach Anthony Burgos was able to get something out of every player in all three phases as the Indians defeated Westminster, 24-14, on Friday night.

“Obviously we had a lot of emotions going into this game,” Burgos said. “These guys showed resiliency and came out and played some good football.”

It was the running back duo of Dylan Eaton and Gerret Boyd that led the way as Eaton broke free on a 78-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. Eaton not only broke off huge gains, but often was relied upon to do the dirty work inside, rushing for some tough yards against a stout Westminster defense.

“I told myself to just keep going,” said Eaton, a sophomore who finished with 129 yards on 15 carries. “This was my first varsity game and I know I’ve done the work to play well at this level.”

Much like in the first moments following tragedy, Burgos looked to his senior leadership to set the example and lead the way. When Westminster answered, his top dogs would be ready.

Quarterback Zander McCracken found senior Tristan Richardson for a 48-yard score for a two-touchdown lead. Even when completed passes were hard to come by, receivers Anthony Gibson and Christian Watson didn’t pout. Instead, they turned their attention on impacting the running game, providing key blocks for several outside runs that turned into big gains.

“We told them all week, the running game and the passing game goes hand in hand,” Burgos said. “They did a great job of buying in.”

The Owls did what they could to slow down the Franklin offense, sending defensive duo Isaiah Taylor and Cooper Whitcomb up the field to disrupt the rhythm of the Indians explosive unit.

“They are both great football players,” Westminster coach Chris Bassler said. “We kind of tailored or defense to showcase them. We want to create scenarios where we can unleash them and let them take over.”

After a slow start, the Owls’ offense started to pick up as quarterback Rory O’Conner threw 72- and 24-yard touchdown passes to keep Westminster within striking distance.

“We made some plays,” Bassler said. “Ultimately, they made one or two more and that was the difference. We hung with a good team”

After already turning the ball over on downs to Westminster earlier in the second half, Franklin still needed a couple of first downs to seal the deal and halt the Owls’ momentum. Burgos turned to Boyd, who finished off a 12-carry, 68-yard day with the touchdown that finally put the game out of reach.

“Sometimes, high school kids don’t understand sharing time, especially when one’s a senior and one’s a sophomore.” Burgos said. “With [Boyd], I challenged him on leading by example and he came up big for us.”

The Indians (1-0) will take their senior leadership and running back duo on the road next week as they travel to Overlea.

Other football scores

Arundel 35, Glen Burnie 7: In their home — and season — opener, the Wildcats overcame an early deficit thanks to the intrepid play of seniors Amir Lowery, TJ Mordecai and Brandon Gorham.

“Our kids really respond when they are challenged,” coach Jack Walsh said.

Mordecai led the charge with two rushing touchdowns while Lowery added a third with a run out of the quarterback position. Gorham led the blitz-heavy defense throughout the game, disrupting Glen Burnie quarterback Jordan Dailey’s rhythm and collecting a fumble midway through the second quarter. Wide receiver Jonathan Coleman got in on the action late, catching Lowery’s pinpoint throw.

“I was telling somebody earlier that although it was a 35-7 final score, that it never felt like that,” Walsh said. “It felt like we were scraping and scratching the whole time.”

— Sean Maslin, For Baltimore Sun Media

Oakland Mills 33, Reservoir 0: A year ago, Oakland Mills was embarrassed against Reservoir. The Gators recorded more than 500 yards of offense and scored 51 points in a statement victory.

Oakland Mills players remembered that defeat all offseason. They got redemption Friday, announcing themselves as an early-season contender for the Howard County title.

The Scorpions were a young team last season, which contributed to a 0-6 start. But a majority of the roster’s top talent returned, giving Oakland Mills a wave of confidence entering the season.

“It’s the tale of two years, we had [only] seven seniors last year,” coach Thomas Browne said. “They’re a year older. Experience was the biggest difference in the game tonight.”

— Sam Jane, For Baltimore Sun Media

Meade 43, Severn Run 6: Severn Run began its story in glory — albeit brief glory.

A 68-yard touchdown pass from Robert Maher to Caleb Adamah whistled through the muggy sky. Wolves coach Troy Gibson drew up the play in December, the day he was hired.

The subsequent fumble recovery wasn’t nearly as planned, but was still a timely grab by senior Omar Kargbo against his old team.

Those sorts of explosive plays and lucky breaks could win games, someday. But on Friday, Meade just made more of them.

Behind new starting quarterback Alijah Johnson, the Mustangs secured their triumph with three rushing touchdowns, a trio of long passing touchdowns and a safety. For a mostly new offense, diversity in scoring is what they hoped for and exactly what they got.

“Last year, we had three All-County receivers, even a running back All-County,” Johnson said. “This year, we’re hoping to get it going with the pieces we have.”

Those pieces include running backs Kam Henry, who rushed 24 times for 167 yards, as well as backs Jayden Rumley (one touchdown) and Keith Waller (two touchdowns). Meade ended its season a year ago on a missed field goal attempt, but on Friday, new kicker Cole Bass made 5 of 6 extra point tries.

— Katherine Fominykh

Randallstown 34, Owings Mills 14: Randallstown’s Elijah Lee knows what it feels like to lose to Owings Mills. Friday night, the senior made sure he didn’t have to feel that again.

Lee rushed for touchdowns of 72 and 43 yards and a 2-point conversion, totaling 165 yards on 10 carries, to lift the visiting Rams over Owings Mills in the opener for both Baltimore County schools.

Before the win, the Eagles had beaten the Rams six straight times.

“It feels good to finally beat them,” Lee said. “We played with more heart. I just trusted my coaches and my line and the holes were there. Our game plan was to stop their run, and we did that. It was a team effort.”

— Mike Frainie, For Baltimore Sun Media

Bel Air 27, Fallston 20: Each year for the past four, Bel Air vs. Fallston has been decided on the last drive — sometimes the last play. Every meeting winds up a thriller. “This is 29 million years in a row, it feels like,” Bel Air coach Eric Seigel said. “It’s always a one-score game.”

Last year, the Bobcats on, 22-21, when JT Ouandji Nana rushed up the middle for a 2-point conversion. Friday night, it was an interception from senior Michael Graham on fourth down that foiled Fallston’s two-minute drill and sealed Bel Air’s victory.

Graham aside, it was Bel Air’s sophomores and juniors who protected home turf for a team that arrived at Week 1 dreadfully depleted. The Bobcats were without their upperclass core quartet because of injuries. That meant no Julien Horton, Ouandji Nana, Patrick Sullivan or Evan Freeney — all difference makers on both sides of the ball.

Conversations of making up for lost production entering Friday were simple. “It’s try to do the little things great,” Siegel said. “One of those philosophies we try to install.”

The Harford County preseason favorites fended off the Cougars because younger talent stepped up and, as their coach says, were great at the little things.

— Sam Cohn

Guilford Park 34, Hammond 8: You only get one chance to make a debut. Guilford Park didn’t squander that moment.

After an 8-1 junior varsity season last year, Friday night marked the Panthers’ first football game as a varsity program. Hosting Hammond, 2,133 people packed the stands. Guilford Park exploded for 28 second-half points to satisfy the crowd.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” Guilford Park coach Thomas Montag said. “Last year, they probably hated me because I’d tell them, ‘Hey, I don’t care who we’re playing, the success we’re seeing, this is junior varsity. This isn’t the end goal, right?’ All of the kids we have this year, a majority of them were playing last year for us. I’m just proud of them because it shows me that they’re listening, and they’re bought in.”

It was a long journey to get to Friday. Both junior Khadea McDonald and sophomore Tyler Lee described a mix of excitement and nerves as the regular season moved closer. However, the Panthers underwent consistent hard practices to prepare themselves.

Friday’s action wasn’t just long awaited for the football team, but the entire school community. Tickets sold out for the game shortly after 1 p.m., and the Panthers faithful showed out in full force, including the packed student section with a mix of white and neon T-shirts.

“It made me feel like I’m an NFL player,” McDonald said. “I’ve got to put on for the people.”

— Jacob Steinberg

Catonsville 37, Dulaney 18: It didn’t take long for Catonsville coach John Youngberg to get comfortable on the sideline for the Comets’ home opener.

It was his 32nd year with the program, but what was different was that it was his first as a head coach. The host Comets kept the coach undefeated as the big cheese with a victory over the Lions.

Senior Tyler Boyd rushed 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns and classmate Gunnar Gemmell was 7-for-11 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Youngberg took over the head position from former Comet and the school’s all-time leading rusher, Jaren Maybin, who was there for six years, and the new leader continued his familiar role calling the plays.

— Craig J. Clary

South Carroll 7, Chesapeake-AA 0

Williamsport 40, Winters Mill 16

Annapolis 40, Old Mill 20

Severna Park 14, Glenelg 9

Dundalk 36, Crofton 0

Severn 35, Seed 18

South River 22, Southern 20

Broadneck 28, St. Mary’s 13

Spalding 45, Archbishop Stepinac (NY) 0

Marriotts Ridge 42, Mt. Hebron 0

Perryville 39, North Harford 0

Digital Harbor at Patterson Mill, postponed

Girls soccer

Eastern Tech 5, Friends 2

Towson 6, Gerstell 0

St. Mary’s 8, St. Mary’s Ryken 0

Severn 4, Glen Burnie 1

St. Paul’’s 1, Bel Air 0

Marriotts Ridge 1, Wilde Lake 0

Boys soccer

Fallston 3, Rising Sun 1

Eastern Tech 1, Patterson Mill 0

Towson 2, Crofton 0

Hereford 3, North Harford 2

Chesapeake-AA 3, Severn Run 0

Glen Burnie 2, Westminster 0

Volleyball

Perry Hall 3, Harford Tech 0

Aberdeen 3, Edgewood 2

Perryville 3, Elkton 0

Glen Burnie 3, North County 2

Baltimore Sun Media staff contributed to this article.