Boys soccer: St. Edward's Franklin had a 'Mt. Rushmore' season, career

When the 2017 boys soccer season began, St. Edward forward A.J. Franklin had no idea what the single season goal-scoring record was, let alone the fact the IHSA kept records as such.

But by Senior Night this season, Franklin knew the IHSA did and the chase for 72 was officially on.

"We ended up winning 5-0 against Timothy Christian and I scored 5 goals," Franklin said. "I don't remember where I was at (goal wise) after that game. And then coach (Tim Brieger) came up to me and said, 'you're on track to beat the state record.' And I said to him, 'are you kidding me?' I went home and checked IHSA, looked it up and said 'wow, I could actually do it.' "

The count after the Timothy win on October 3 was up to 56. The senior had one more game left in the regular season and theoretically a whole postseason run to break a 41-year old record set in 1976 by Robert Meschback of Gordon Tech.

The mission was simple: average about 3 goals per game through state finals. From his previous results it was certainly within range; in 21 games prior he averaged 2.67 per game, which included 11 hat tricks-plus. Franklin scored 4-plus goals three times and scored just single goals in just 2 games prior.

"You're doing the stats and you go, 'Wow, he's averaging three goals a game in conference, he's averaging a hat trick!" Brieger said. 'I sat there and said, 'there's something special going on here.' "

Indeed there was. A 5-1 loss to Fenton two days later saw Franklin get just 1 goal to total 57 for the regular season. Postseason-wise he was back to his typical ways. Franklin had 3-straight games of 3 goals through regionals and sectionals to get him to 66 by the time St. Edward battled Aurora Central in the Class 1A sectional final.

"I think he fine-tuned his shot, he's got a cannon for a leg," Brieger said of Franklin's prowess this season. "The goalie from U-High Urbana said after a game, 'coach, my hands still hurt from saving that kid's shot.'

"I think he added finesse to his shot. If you look at his goals last year, he was just going to rip your head off. He was bringing it at your head and you had better duck or get hurt. This year he was bending it in upper-90 or cutting it back. He chipped one past a goalie this year. He just became more of a complete scorer."

ACC learned the hard way during St. Edward's 3-2 sectional final win as Franklin answered his critics and hit the Chargers with 2 goals for 68 going into the supersectional against Francis Parker, where Franklin scored the game-winner and his 69th goal in the final minutes to help the Green Wave to state.

Unfortunately, Franklin's pursuit wasn't a secret anymore once he got to state. For the first time all season, Franklin was held scoreless in a 2-0 state semifinal loss to Monmouth-Roseville. And while Franklin finished 1 goal short of the record with just one tally in a third-place win over Chicago Acero-Garcia in East Peoria, Franklin was the first player since 2011 to really threaten the record.

And for those efforts and his 70-goal output this season, Franklin, the second all-time single season goal scorer in state history, has 70 reasons why he's the Honorary Captain of the Daily Herald's Fox Valley All-Area boys soccer team for 2017. He's the first Wave boys player to earn the honor since Joe Keating took home the accolade in 2005 and after the career Franklin had at Greg True Field, he's firmly cemented on the Mt. Rushmore of St. Edward boys soccer.

"This kid is unstoppable - I told him you're a legend," Brieger said. "If you made an all-St. Edward Mt. Rushmore, it'd go A.J. first followed by Chris Holze, Joe French and Joe Keating. That's our Mt. Rushmore."

But if you ask Franklin, who finished with 31 assists that go unnoticed and a sizzling 139 career goals, good for 10th all-time in IHSA history, the records aren't everything.

"I just wanted to win the state championship more than anything," said the senior striker, a 6-foot-3, 165-pound sharpshooter for the Green Wave basketball team. "I could've broken the state record by 10 goals but I would trade in all my goals for a state championship if I could."

His best friend and co-star on the Wave, Will Gaston, certainly echoed that sentiment. He would know, since he's been along for the ride with Franklin going back from their days together on the Elgin Kickers. He became close again when Franklin chose St. Edward over Streamwood High School his freshman year, and they play together on the Chicago Alliance.

"I don't think it was in his mind to focus on beating the record," Gaston said. "He just comes out every game and tries to do the best that he can for the team. I think his main goal was for that state title and to be known as a 1A state champion."

But it's hard not to recognize that Franklin's 2017 was more than his last 3 years combined, which even includes 40 goals from last year. He went from 8 to 21 to 40 to 70.

"This year he just went crazy," Gaston said. "His speed and foot skills, he basically just has that ability to get around defenders, speed past everyone and lace one to the net. He has the best ball skills I've ever seen he can just go through everyone no matter who it is. And his shot is just a laser, it's like nobody can stop him."

When did Franklin's knack for soccer start? Age 4. There's no truth to the rumor he has every park district record but it helps his dad, Jim Franklin, who played soccer at Rolling Meadows, was his inspiration.

"He put me in park district ball then and I basically loved it ever since," said A.J. "My competitiveness pushes me to win but I also want to make my dad proud, that's the one thing that pushes me in soccer. He was a good striker at Rolling Meadows and broke records, and I just wanted to follow in his footsteps and make him proud."

Franklin's looking at computer science, a career in IT or math if professional soccer doesn't work out. Whether he chooses DePauw, DePaul or Benedictine, Franklin will make people proud. He's already left a lasting image on his peers, friends and school.

"He's just a guy everyone loves and everyone supports because he is such a great player and such a great person," Gaston added.

And that's something maybe the IHSA should start keeping a record of.