<p>Franklin hasn’t exactly been known as a football hotbed over the past quarter century, but it enjoyed a night for the ages on Friday.</p>
<p>Every time the chips were down in the fourth quarter, the Grizzly Cubs made a big play to keep hope alive. And then, Drew Byerly happened.</p>
<p>The senior quarterback bulled in for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:25 remaining, the decisive play in Franklin’s thrilling 15-13 triumph over longtime nemesis Whiteland.</p>
<p>While the entire community celebrated around him, though, Byerly was already focused on the next item of business.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>"It was awesome," he said of the victory, "but we play another game (at Martinsville) next week. So we have to enjoy this one tonight and be ready to go tomorrow."</p>
<p>The Warriors had won the last 22 meetings in the series, but the Grizzly Cubs — who move to 4-0 for the first time since 1996, the last year they finished with a winning record — weren’t going to be denied.</p>
<p>First, the defense came up with a critical stop, forcing a punt that gave Byerly and the offense possession at the Franklin 35 with 2:29 remaining.</p>
<p>Then, with his team down by four and facing fourth and 10, Byerly scrambled for a 21-yard gain, and a late-hit penalty moved the ball to the 12. He called his own number again on the next play, pushing across the goal line and sending a packed set of bleachers into a frenzy.</p>
<p>Finally, it was the defense’s turn again, as Brodie Rinehold came up with an interception to clinch the long-awaited victory.</p>
<p>"Our line was awesome," Byerly said. "I don’t know how many yards rushing we had tonight, but it had to be a lot. They were awesome, and our defense especially. (Giving up) 13 points? That’s something special. I’m proud of those guys; I’m proud of all of our guys."</p>
<p>The visitors drew first blood, getting a defensive stop and then taking the ball 83 yards in the other direction. Melvin Taylor accounted for the final 54 of those yards on three rushes, the last one a 21-yard scoring dash with 5:05 to go in the first quarter.</p>
<p>A Byerly pass in the red zone on Franklin’s next drive was tipped and intercepted by Ardeth Maldonado, but the Warriors gave the ball away on two of their three second-quarter possessions, and both led to points for Grizzly Cubs.</p>
<p>Whiteland’s first fumble set up an 86-yard Franklin march, with a Jalen Ward 1-yard run cutting the gap to 7-6 with 5:17 left in the half. The Warriors then fumbled away a punt with 8.7 seconds on the clock, and Owen Mahin converted a 27-yard field goal for the Grizzly Cubs as time expired.</p>
<p>Franklin had a short field early in the third quarter after a fourth-down stop but couldn’t cash in, and the Warriors made the home team pay for the missed opportunity when Chase Valentine broke free up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown run at the 5:26 mark to make it 13-9.</p>
<p>That slim advantage held up until Franklin came up with the late heroics.</p>
<p>Byerly had his difficulties passing the ball (8 of 21 for 56 yards) but rushed for 172 yards, 76 of those in the fourth quarter. Ward added 157 yards as the Grizzly Cubs totaled 330 yards on 45 carries.</p>
<p>"We’re better up front," Franklin coach Chris Coll said. "It’s a similar group of guys from last year — most of them played last year, but they just understand things and execute better, so we’re better in the run game."</p>
<p>Taylor finished with 121 yards rushing for the Warriors (1-3, 0-2), with Valentine adding 85.</p>
