News File Photo Alcona’s Brock Franklin (44) runs for a touchdown during a football game against Hillman back in Week 2 of the 2016 season.

Playing in front of your home town and representing your school on Friday nights is one of the thrills of being a high school athlete. Leaving behind a legacy that may be unmatched is just another example of one of those thrills.

For Alcona’s Brock Franklin, he is the example of what it takes to have a legendary career.

Franklin recently capped off a stellar high school career while proudly wearing the blue and gold. As a three-year varsity starter, Franklin accumulated numbers that the school may not see again for quite some time.

“It really seemed to me that my high school football career went by in a flash, despite every year it felt like football season took forever to come around,” Franklin said. “I was really fortunate to have a great team, a team that loved to lift weights and set big goals. I felt at home when I was on the field with them. I was also very fortunate to have great coaches that always taught us more than just football. Without my coaches and teammates, the records would have been untouchable.”

Franklin currently holds six school records and many of the records came during an outstanding senior year. During the 2016 season, not only did Franklin help lead the Tigers to an 8-1 regular season record, but Alcona also won a playoff game which had only been done one other time in the school’s history. Franklin was also apart of a team that set the school record for most points in a single season, along with several individual records.

During the 2016 season, Franklin racked up 2,496 yards rushing with 40 touchdowns, which are both school records. He also set the single game rushing mark with 345 yards in a 56-55 come from behind win against Oscoda in 2015, but surpassed that record with 350 yards in a 52-0 win over Mio in the 2016 regular season finale.

In that same 2015 game against Oscoda, Franklin broke the school record for touchdowns in a single game when he found the end zone seven times to help the Tigers rally from 19 points down in the fourth quarter.

The three years of hard work and effort also led Franklin to become the career rushing leader with 5,521 yards and break Alcona’s touchdown record with 79 career scores. Franklin was also the all-Alpena News player of the year, along with earning Division 8 first team all-state honors for his efforts.

“The biggest factor for my success was hard work and dedication. The offseason is the most important part of football,” Franklin said. “Out of all of the touchdowns I was able to score, the most memorable one was the touchdown I had late in the fourth quarter to beat Whittemore-Prescott during my senior year.”

The touchdown run against Whittemore in Week 5 was the game-winning touchdown as Alcona topped the Cardinals 22-16 thanks to Franklin’s score. It was the only time that the Tigers defeated their rival with Franklin on the team and was just the second time in 24 years that Alcona defeated Whittemore.

Franklin is currently looking to continue his football career at the collegiate level and the next few months will be busy for him attending camps and enjoying the recruiting process.

“My plan is to play college football. It has been a dream of mine my entire life. I plan on studying sports science with the hopes of becoming a college strength and conditioning coach in the future,” Franklin said.

Despite Franklin’s high school football career being over, his legacy will remain as one of the best players to come through Alcona High School.

“I feel honored to have had the opportunity to play football for Alcona. I made so many memories that will last a lifetime, from playing alongside all of my teammates to being able to be on the field with my brother during my freshman year, I am truly grateful,” Franklin said. “I feel lucky to have set an example for upcoming players. I always stress to them to get in the weight room because having a great work ethic sets you apart from others.”

News File Photo
Alcona’s Brock Franklin (44) runs for a touchdown during a football game against Hillman back in Week 2 of the 2016 season.