The second time Franklin quarterback Jackson Thornton touched the ball Friday night, he threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Steven Smothers.
Thornton's fourth pass was a 42-yard completion to Reggie Ellis.
The quarterback rushed for a score on Franklin's sixth offensive play.
Thornton was just getting warmed up as were his teammates.
The host Indians (10-1) scored 17 points in the first four minutes en route to a 38-22 victory over Hereford in the Class 3A North Region semifinal in Reisterstown.
Franklin's big-play ability was too much for the Bulls (7-4). Thornton threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, completing 13 of 23 passes.
The Indians' Reggie Ellis also rushed for a 57-yard touchdown.
No. 3 River Hill 48, Mount Hebron 13: Jason Park had two interceptions for touchdowns and Stephan Osong had a 15-yard return on a blocked punt all in the first half for the host Hawks (11-0) in Class 3A East.
No. 11 Atholton 21, Reservoir 20, OT: Host Atholton (10-1) edged Reservoir (6-5) in the 3A East regional semifinals.
The Raiders dominated time of possession in the first half, building 14-0 halftime lead on a 30-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Luke Casey to Keyon Pinnock and a short run by junior Isaac Murray.
But Reservoir stopped Atholton twice on fourth down by inches in the second half, and scored twice — on an 18-yard pass from Max Schuster to James Simms, and a 77-yard double-pass play from Mohamed El-zein to Robert Armstrong — to send the game to overtime.
Atholton's Jamal Washington blocked the kick after the first touchdown, but the Gators scored on a 2-point conversion pass from Schuster to Simms on the second score to make up for it.
Casey scored first in overtime on a 5-yard run, and freshman Kyle Butts kicked his third extra point of the game to put Atholton ahead, 21-14.
Reservoir then needed only one play — a 10-yard run up the middle by junior Avian White — to score its touchdown.
The Gators opted to go for the game-winning conversion run rather than kick the extra point, but Raiders junior linebacker Cody Stolar stopped White a few yards short to seal the victory.
The Raiders will visit rival River Hill (11-0) Friday night for the regional championship.
—Andrew Conrad
Sherwood 26, Catonsville 7: The Comets (7-4) trailed 13-7 with eight minutes left in the game, but the Warriors (9-2) scored two late touchdowns.
DeAndre Lane ran for 114 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries for Catonsville.
Sherwood's Moses Vines ran for 112 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.
