Shelbyville was definitely the cure for Franklin.
Not that the Grizzly Cubs were ailing, but after Franklin sputtered in its season opener last week at Danville, they were looking for at least a quick cure.
Four first-quarter touchdowns were more than enough as Franklin hammered visiting Shelbyville, 63-6, on Friday evening.
It was the third consecutive year the Grizzly Cubs have beaten the Golden Bears.
“I liked our attitude and I like our focus,” Franklin coach Chris Coll said. “We were dialed in and did what we needed to do.”
Shelbyville’s problem has been the same one since last year, and that’s scoring.
Coming into this game, the Golden Bears had scored only 28 points in their past 13 games going back to their 2018 sectional loss. Included in that drought were seven straight shutouts last year — one of them 69-0 to Franklin.
Not as bad this time, but the dearth of scoring has been such for Shelbyville that it hasn’t hit double digits in a game since Sept. 14, 2018.
And except for a first-quarter score by running back Skylar Pickett, Franklin’s defense allowed no more.
“Our defense played really, really well,” Coll said.
Speaking of defense, it was an interception return that opened the scoring for the Cubs as senior Brodie Rinehold caught a deflected pass and raced 35 yards into the end zone untouched at the 10:07 mark of the first quarter.
After Shelbyville’s score at the 5:35 mark, Franklin returned the kick to the Golden Bear 30, where senior Jalen Ward ran in for a score on the next play from scrimmage.
Ward scored again from the 13 and quarterback Reed Roberts scored on a keeper from the 15, and it was 28-6.
Franklin continued to roll the rest of the game. Another pick-six, this one by Tyler Fuqua for 21 yards, increased the lead. Ward then scored again and Max Lancer scored twice, once on a 34-yard pass from Roberts and then on a 42-yard punt return just before the half.
Coll called off the dogs in the second half as Franklin only scored once — a late 2-yard plunge by junior Titus Phillips.
“It’s kind of tough,” said Coll. “It’s only the second game and you want to play yourself into game shape and get some reps and have our guys continue on that progression.”
Although he played for only one half, Ward still had a great night, running for 80 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.
Franklin is home once again next week, hosting Perry Meridian in its Mid-State Conference opener.
