Opportunities were presented to the Franklin football team early Friday night.
And the Grizzly Cubs didn’t waste them.
Three first-quarter interceptions, two by school record-holder Brodie Rinehold, helped Franklin to a 48-21 win over visiting Mid-State Conference foe Martinsville.
The turnovers definitely took the pass-happy Artesians out of their game plan early, while giving the Cubs momentum they didn’t relinquish.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“I liked the way we practiced this week and I think it showed,” Franklin coach Chris Coll said. “There were some plays created by special teams, and defense created some opportunities so it was a great team win.”
Franklin (3-2, 2-1) definitely didn’t waste the early gifts.
The first interception was really a two-player effort as the Grizzly Cubs’ Grant Roberts smashed into Artesian quarterback Tyrus Martin as he was passing. The ball wobbled in the air and into the hands of Tyler Fuqua, who took the ball to the Martinsville 4. Two plays later, John Shepard powered in from the 2.
Three minutes later, Rinehold picked off Martin and raced to the 2, which set up Jalen Ward for the score.
Rinehold then recorded his school-record eighth career interception in style, returning it 43 yards for a touchdown.
“We had some good team play,” Rinehold said. “We had a five-man front and rushed all our linebackers, giving the quarterback little time. (The record is) humbling and a good feeling. It’s a lot easier when your team is doing a lot better.”
Franklin scored perhaps its most impressive touchdown on its opening possession of the second half, going 80 yards. Quarterback Reed Roberts capped the drive off, hitting paydirt from the 5 to make things harder for Martinsville.
Ward led the Cubs on the ground with 128 yards and three touchdowns. Reed Roberts added 124 and a score, and he also threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to senior flanker Max Lancer.
Martinsville (2-3, 1-2) may have had a tough night passing, but the Artesians were not without a big play or two, as running back Tyler Cox scored on a 75-yard run in the second quarter and finished with 212 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Martin finally got untracked and hit Braxton Dilley for a 3-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
“Martinsville is a nice team and we played pretty solid, pretty hard and pretty physical,” Coll said. “I think we played together as a team the best all season.”
Rinehold wasn’t the only Cub to set a school record. Senior Harris Eason recorded three sacks to give him seven for his career, both establishing new marks.
Franklin continues Mid-State play next week at Mooresville. A win against the Class 4A No. 2 Pioneers would keep the Cubs in the running for the conference title.
