BURLINGTON, Ky. – Former South Dearborn and Thomas More College football player Cory Franklin gets a trip to the state finals this weekend.

Franklin, seventh-grade social studies teacher at Camp Ernst Middle School in the Boone County school district, is defensive line coach for the Cooper High Jaguars.

Cooper (13-1) will make its first state finals appearance when it takes on Bowling Green for Kentucky’s 5A championship Saturday at the University of Louisville’s Papa John’s Stadium.