By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
Beginning his high school career at O’Dea under coach Monte Kohler and The Fighting Irish’s winning tradition for two years, Franklin running back James Scott, Jr. has evolved into a Metro League nightmare for opponents each week. Scott, a senior who transferred to Franklin prior to his junior year, has helped transform the Quaker football program get back to a place where student athletes are eager to be a part of.
Franklin Head Football Coach Terry Green says that Scott has been very instrumental in the resurgence of the program.
“He helped me build this program when he came from O’Dea,” says Green. “I owe a lot to him. It’s been a blessing to be able to coach him and have a relationship to where he is comfortable with me.”
In his first game wearing new threads, Scott rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries leading the Quakers to a 19-0 win against Black Hills High School. His offensive dominance in that game helped Franklin earn their first victory since the 2013-14 season when they beat Ingraham 21-7, and from that moment Scott has been on a mission against opponents.
Coming off a COVID-19 year in 2020-21 season, Scott had an impressive junior season finishing the season with 527 yards, despite missing a game because he was not ruled eligible by the WIAA until after the season had already started. Despite the loss of time on the field with his teammates, Scott helped lead the Quakers to their first winning season under coach Green at 4-3, finishing eighth in their conference. Even though they were one game above .500, this was one of Franklin’s best seasons since 2010-11, where they made it to the playoffs with an 8-3 overall record and first place in 3A Metro – Sound Division.
“James was convinced that if he went to Franklin that he could help them win,” said his father James Scott, Sr., “He took that dive not knowing what the outcome would be going there, and with that dive he’s done it with a smile.”
Coach Green has nothing but high praises for his running back, who he says has fully embraced what it means to be a Franklin Quaker.
“James is never too high and never too low, which is a part of one our teams’ mantra and that character trait allowed me and my coaches to realize with this being his senior season to take the chains off and just let James be James,” says Green.
Essentially having the green light, Scott has taken full advantage of the opportunity in just two years with the Quakers. While Franklin (2-2 overall, 2-1 in Metro) had hopes of a slightly better record to start the season, individually Scott has still managed to pick apart opposing defenses with his ability to take contact, break tackles, make the right reads, and simply use his quickness and speed to get down field for touchdowns.
Through the first five games of this season, Scott has rushed for 455 yards and five touchdowns. He’s already broken his season-high in rushing yards and touchdowns in a single game with a 257 yard and three touchdown performance against the Cleveland Eagles. Previously, Scott ran for 141 yards and one touchdown in their win against Chief Sealth in week three, and he scored Franklin’s only touchdowns the following week in a 23-14 loss to Lincoln.
When asked about his son’s current journey, James Scott, Sr. expressed, “He encourages his teammates and tells me not to worry, which relieves my stress and allows me to just be fan. James shows me he has confidence in the process, and I believe him. He’s a guy that’s going to bring the locker room together wherever he goes.”
With five weeks of football played and three weeks remaining in his senior season, Coach Terry Green and James Scott look to strive for history. With the likelihood of having winning season for the second consecutive year within reach, the Quakers are hoping to earn a trip to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Scott, who likes to lead by example, believes that he and his team are up to the challenge.
“My mindset right now is that we have to win the rest of our games so we can make it to the playoffs,” says Scott.
