Getting 100 career wins is never an easy task, but then again, neither is getting number 101.
Now the new number Franklin coach Chris Coll will be reaching for is 102, after his Grizzly Cubs came away with an impressive 35-12 win over visiting Mid-State Conference rival Plainfield on Friday night.
The win keeps alive the Cubs’ slim chances for a share of the Mid-State Conference title.
“It wasn’t easy,” Coll said. “I know what the score looks like, but this game was a lot tighter than that. We’re not perfect, but we played hard; we didn’t get rattled. We hung in there.”
But make no mistake, Coll’s 101st win was big, and it happened against a team that was on a recent roll, having running its win streak to three with an impressive 34-32 overtime win against Decatur Central last week.
Franklin opened impressively on Friday with a 14-play, 68-yard drive, culminating in John Shepard going in from the 2.
Plainfield was also impressive driving to the Cubs’ 10, but the Franklin defense, helped by two penalties, kept the Quakers from getting in the end zone.
Right before the half, the Grizzly Cubs scored again when Beau Baker, running out of the wildcat formation, took the snap and ran in from the 6. Plainfield threatened again, getting to the Franklin 25, but Zach Klein’s interception kept them off the scoreboard.
The Quakers later got a 42-yard touchdown strike from Hunter Newell to Noah Hessong, but the Grizzly Cubs drove right back down to the Plainfield 3, where freshman quarterback Greyson Betts, taking over for the injured Clay Pinnick, showed poise and hit Max Clark on a slant for a 21-6 lead.
Then came a huge gift.
Plainfield, looking to close the gap, drove to the Grizzly Cubs’ 2 but running back Antonio Williams didn’t get a grip on the handoff and the ball popped from him. Baker grabbed it and raced 98 yards for the score to give Franklin some space and a three-touchdown lead.
“I grabbed it and scooped it up and scored,” Baker said. “Everybody on the team made the plays. We were out here scoring touchdowns, so it went pretty well.”
That play demoralized the Quakers. After a punt, Shepard scored on a 34-yard run.
Franklin used a balanced offense that kept the Quakers off the field for much of the first half and then some.
Shepard led all rushers with 128 yards and two touchdowns, while Betts threw for 74 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s a player.” Coll said of his freshman QB. “(Betts) is a competitive athlete and experienced a lot of competition at a young age. He understands situations.”
Plainfield’s air assault, led by Newell, was effective at times, just not at the right ones. Newell tossed for 288 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Newell also had to run for his life as the Cubs sacked him four times. Jake Houston got two of those to bring his season total to four.
Franklin’s defense delivered a huge assist with the interception and fumble return when the Quakers were in the red zone.
“The kids have been through some battles,” Coll said. “I can’t say enough about these seniors. It’s an outstanding senior class and the credit has to go to them.”
Next Friday, Franklin (5-2, 3-2) travels to longtime rival Greenwood for its penultimate regular-season game.
