Arellano's Brace Powers Franklin County to Region 4AA Final

WINCHESTER, Tenn. — Lightning delayed the match. It couldn't stop the Rebels.

When Monday night's Region 4AA semifinal resumed following a weather delay that left both teams cooling their heels for over an hour, Franklin County didn't miss a beat. Instead, they poured it on, turning a one-goal edge into a convincing 4-1 victory over Stone Memorial that wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggests.

Junior striker Loui Arellano played the role of executioner, netting two goals including the tone-setting opener just ten minutes into the contest. His long-range effort—a dipping shot from 25 yards that skidded off the rain-slicked turf—proved too much for Stone Memorial's goalkeeper to handle.

That 1-0 advantage held until Mother Nature interceded early in the second half, sending players and fans scurrying for cover as lightning lit up the Winchester sky.

The Rebels did exactly that, unleashing a three-goal barrage that transformed a tight match into a rout.

Sophomore Weber Bradford provided the first blow, finding space in a crowded penalty area and burying a clinical finish off Alex DeWolfe's well-weighted pass with 22:22 remaining. The goal seemed to break Stone Memorial's resolve.

Six minutes later, those shoulders slumped further when Bradford turned provider, slipping a through ball that Arellano converted with a low, driven shot across the goalkeeper. The goal—Arellano's 15th of the campaign—essentially clinched the outcome and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Not to be outdone, junior Nic Vega added his name to the scoresheet in the 75th minute. His strike from the top of the box capped a slick build-up that featured senior Santiago "Santi" Rosas at its heart. When the ball nestled into the corner of the net, the celebration began in earnest.

Stone Memorial managed a consolation goal with just 27 seconds remaining, spoiling what would have been goalkeeper Garrison Orr's seventh clean sheet of the season. But by then, the damage was done, and Franklin County's ticket to the region final was punched.

The victory continues a remarkable postseason run for the Rebels (11-5-3), who captured the District 8AA title last week and now stand just one win away from securing a spot in the TSSAA Class AA state tournament.

Those goals will be put to the test Wednesday night when the Rebels host Central Magnet—a team they battled to a scoreless draw last month—with the Region 4AA championship on the line.

Photo Credit to JC Shots