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.
Granted, it’s just one game, but the Cubs impressed, grinding out a 27-17 win over visiting Danville.
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.
“We felt like the kids were working hard and we made some big plays," Franklin coach Chris Coll said.
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In winning, the Cubs knocked out a few negatives.
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.
And it’s a good beginning of a quest for Franklin to have its first winning season in 23 years.
Coll, however, isn’t looking that far ahead.
It’s one game and it’s a start, but it’s a good start,” Coll said. “We do feel better about ourselves.”
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.
Even better was the Cubs holding Danville to 30 total yards in the key third quarter.
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.
“We kept our composure,” Coll said. “Also, how competitive would we be for four quarters? Also, how would we react?”
There was no question, at least in this game.
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.
In the second half, Franklin’s defense continued to get better.
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.
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.
Danville did score on a Byerly fumble, with Trevor Gearld returning it 50 yards.
“We need to move our feet better,” Coll said. “We’ll look at the game film and check it out."
The Grizzly Cubs continue their quest next week, when they go on the road to take on nonconference rival Shelbyville.
