Kremer’s all-around contributions boosting unbeaten Franklin

Franklin’s Noah Kremer dives into the end zone for a touchdown, ahead of the tackle attempt by Tippecanoe’s Matt Garber, after blocking a punt during their Division III, Region 12 playoff game at Veterans Memorial Field in Franklin last Saturday night. Kremer helped the Wildcats advance with a 41-40 victory. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

Franklin’s Noah Kremer dives into the end zone for a touchdown, ahead of the tackle attempt by Tippecanoe’s Matt Garber, after blocking a punt during their Division III, Region 12 playoff game at Veterans Memorial Field in Franklin last Saturday night. Kremer helped the Wildcats advance with a 41-40 victory. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD

Noah Kremer doesn’t call himself anything other than a role player on a very good team.

Most observers would say the Franklin High School senior is a big-play guy. As far as Kremer is concerned, so be it.

“That’s not really my say,” he said. “I just go out there and do what I know how to do and just play my role.”

He is savoring a special ride this season, and that’s really all that matters. The Wildcats are 11-0, ranked fourth in Ohio and preparing for a Division III, Region 12 football semifinal against St. Marys Memorial on Saturday at Wayne’s Heidkamp Stadium.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Kremer, a starting wide receiver and safety, is a captain for Franklin. The Wildcats rallied from a 21-point deficit in their playoff opener against Tippecanoe and took a 41-40 victory when junior Ryan Montgomery scored with 18 seconds left.

Kremer provided a scoop-and-go touchdown after blocking a punt with Franklin trailing 21-7 in the second period.

“Noah 100 percent swung the momentum of that football game,” Wildcats coach Brad Childers said. “We work on special teams every day. I kept telling him all week we were going to block a punt and score on special teams. He also blocked an extra point. Those are huge plays.”

Kremer said blocking kicks is a simple matter of “taking your angles and finding the ball and just laying out for it.”

“To be totally honest, I wasn’t even expecting to block that punt,” he said. “I just came in with my hands up like I always do and I ended up hitting it, and then I had no clue where it went. I finally saw the punter run after it and I just kept following it just in case he didn’t pick it up, which he didn’t. So I scooped it up and ran it in.”

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Kremer has five interceptions and 46 total tackles on defense. As a receiver, he holds the career school record for touchdown receptions (19) and has 40 catches for 843 yards and 14 TDs this year.

“What a special year he’s having,” Childers said. “He’s one of those kids I put in the warrior category. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. He’s not going to give up, he’s not going to get himself down, and he’s going to keep his team up and go make the next play.”

It may seem like a long time ago, but Kremer started the 2015 campaign as Franklin’s quarterback.

He completed 19 of 62 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown with five interceptions. By midseason, Kremer had returned to his wideout position.

“We just felt like he was a lot more comfortable at wideout,” Childers said. “He just has a knack. If the ball is anywhere close to him, he’ll catch it. He’ll absolutely catch the football.”

Kremer describes his ballhawking like this: “I’m semi-fast. I can turn on the wheels when I need to, and I’m aggressive. I always go after the ball. If the ball’s thrown up, either I’m catching it or it’s getting knocked down and we’ll live to see another play.”

He suffered a leg injury in Week 2 against Edgewood this year, but Kremer was back on the field the following week against Piqua.

“There was no way I going to miss a game, especially senior year,” he said.

Kremer has scored at least one touchdown in every game except Week 3. He takes his captain role seriously and said he tries to lead by example.

“I try to watch my step,” said Kremer, who grew up attending Carlisle schools and came to Franklin as a freshman.

Kremer wasn’t surprised the Wildcats rallied for their memorable win over Tippecanoe. He believes grit and toughness are part of the package when you play Franklin sports.

Whenever football ends, Kremer will change jerseys and move to the basketball court. He averaged 8.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, shooting 65.5 percent from the floor.

What if he had to choose between football and basketball?

“I have no idea,” Kremer said. “That would probably take a while to pick one. I’m very passionate for both sports.”

His passion is football right now, and he’d love to take Franklin all the way to Week 15 and a spot in the state championship game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 3.

“This means everything,” Kremer said. “Within our football family, we’ve always said we’re going to do this. But for the community, I don’t know if they really expected it. They knew we were going to be good, but I don’t know if they ever expected this.

“We made history. We’re the first Franklin team to be 11-0. You couldn’t be in a better position than what we are right now. We’re really cherishing it.”

Saturday’s game

What: Division III, Region 12 semifinal, St. Marys Memorial (10-1) vs. Franklin (11-0) at Wayne, 7 p.m.

Where: Good Samaritan Field at Heidkamp Stadium, 5400 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights

Last meeting: St. Marys Memorial won 21-7 in 1989

About the Author