<p>On a night to honor the last unbeaten team in Franklin’s history, the 1969 Grizzly Cubs, today’s Franklin team can be compared to them in one respect.</p>
<p>Granted, it’s just one game, but the Cubs impressed, grinding out a 27-17 win over visiting Danville.</p>
<p>Quarterback Drew Byerly had more than 320 yards in total offense, rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns and tossing for 168 yards and a score.</p>
<p>“We felt like the kids were working hard and we made some big plays," Franklin coach Chris Coll said.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>In winning, the Cubs knocked out a few negatives.</p>
<p>It was the first season-opening win since 2014, and it was the first win in a home opener since a 59-13 trouncing of Seymour a year earlier.</p>
<p>And it’s a good beginning of a quest for Franklin to have its first winning season in 23 years.</p>
<p>Coll, however, isn’t looking that far ahead.</p>
<p>It’s one game and it’s a start, but it’s a good start,” Coll said. “We do feel better about ourselves.”</p>
<p>On defense, Coll was happy with the Cubs’ first stand as the Warriors drove to the Franklin 11 but consecutive sacks forced Danville to settle for a 27-yard field goal.</p>
<p>Even better was the Cubs holding Danville to 30 total yards in the key third quarter.</p>
<p>More importantly, Franklin didn’t panic when it briefly lost the lead. Danville went ahead 10-7 in the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaleb Stevens to Luke Wooten.</p>
<p>“We kept our composure,” Coll said. “Also, how competitive would we be for four quarters? Also, how would we react?”</p>
<p>There was no question, at least in this game.</p>
<p>Byerly scored the Grizzly Cubs first touchdown of the season on an 8-yard scamper in the first quarter, then scored on a 4-yard run to give Franklin the lead back with a minute to go in the half.</p>
<p>In the second half, Franklin’s defense continued to get better.</p>
<p>An example of that was Danville running back Chandler Schubert, who gained 90 yards in the first half but was held to just 15 on eight carries in the second half.</p>
<p>Byerly hit Isaiah Klein for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the third and put the game away with a 34-yard run with 3:28 to go.</p>
<p>Danville did score on a Byerly fumble, with Trevor Gearld returning it 50 yards.</p>
<p>“We need to move our feet better,” Coll said. “We’ll look at the game film and check it out."</p>
<p>The Grizzly Cubs continue their quest next week, when they go on the road to take on nonconference rival Shelbyville.</p>
