June 25, 2026
FC boys soccer tops Columbia in back-and-forth battle
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The Franklin County High School boys soccer team beat the Columbia Central Lions 5-4 on the road Thursday for the team’s 10th win of the season.
Franklin County’s players saw an early 3-0 lead turn into a 4-3 deficit in the second half, but they fought back to tie the score and ultimately retake the lead later in the half to secure the program’s seventh straight victory.
The first goal of the day came less than two minutes into the contest as Rylan Banks found the corner of the net with a hard shot for his ninth goal of the season.
Franklin County scored again a few minutes later as Kevin Hernandez scored off of an assist by Banks to make it a 2-0 game early.
Hernandez capitalized off of a misplayed ball by Columbia’s defense to score another goal with about 23 minutes remaining in the half to give Franklin County a 3-0 advantage.
The Lions began to chip away at the deficit late in the first half as they scored twice in the last five minutes of the period due to defensive errors.
Franklin County led 3-2 at halftime.
The Lions maintained their momentum with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half to put Franklin County behind by a score of 4-3.
Franklin County found its equalizer midway through the second half as Hernandez outmaneuvered multiple defenders and the opposing goalkeeper to score his third goal of the day and his 19th of the season.
Franklin County was awarded a free kick at midfield with about 10 minutes remaining, and Matthew Waggoner placed the kick right in between the players downfield and Columbia’s goalkeeper with the ball slipping past everyone and into the net to put Franklin County back in front. It was the first goal of the year for Waggoner.
The Lions weren’t able to find another goal in the time remaining as Franklin County held on to win by one.
With the win, Franklin County improved to 10-3 on the season.
The boys soccer team will next play Tuesday at home against Warren County High School in a semifinal game for the District 6AAA tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
