Chris Hymer chuckles when he recalls his start in the game of football.

In his first few seasons of pee-wee football, Hymer played wide receiver.

“It was different,” Hymer said with a laugh. “I was a real skinny kid… I wasn’t too big.”

Hard to imagine when Franklin football fans look at the 5-foot-9, 180 pound senior, who enters Friday night’s playoff tilt with Turpin with 1,487 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.

“I felt like I was always getting pushed out,” Hymer said of his early years. “I started lifting in the seventh grade. I just wanted to be the best possible athlete I could be to help the team. That’s what drove me to do the extra lifting and running.”

Hymer, coincidentally, moved to running back in seventh grade.

“It just goes to show you how things change,” Franklin coach Rodney Roberts said. “He would just as soon carry five times for five yards if we win. He doesn’t care, he is more team than anything — as long as we win. He is not a stat watcher.”

Hymer has gone over 100 yards in 10 of 11 games this year, including a season-high 222 yards and three scores against Northwest in the Wildcats’ playoff opening win last week.

Hymer believes one of the big reasons he has had more room to run this year is the passing attack orchestrated by sophomore quarterback Luke Kennard. Kennard has thrown for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Wildcats have averaged 185 yards on the ground and 168 through the air.

“Having Luke at quarterback helps because we have a run threat and a pass threat,” Hymer said. “It helps me out, but it helps him out to. I trust my line. I don’t care if the other team puts 11 in the box, my line will get the job done.”

After helping the Wildcatas record their first playoff win since 1993 last week, Hymer says week 12 is the same as the first 11, with one exception.

“We prepare for each week the same way,” Hymer said. “But it is a little different because we know if we lose, we are done. I can’t wait to be out there Friday night.”

Franklin (10-1) faces undefeated Turpin (11-0) Friday in a Division II, Region 8 semifinal at Mason High School.