A week ago, Franklin football let a three-touchdown lead slip away in the second half of its Homecoming loss to Rose-Hulman. Mike Leonard's squad made sure not to leave any room for such drama on Saturday.

The Grizzlies refused to let their foot off the gas after getting out in front, stampeding their way to a 48-21 victory at Faught Stadium.

"We knew we had to make a statement today," Leonard said. "I'm excited with the way our guys came out and played."

The Grizzlies (3-3. 1-1 HCAC) took the ball first and immediately marched 62 yards upfield for a touchdown. Marshall Kmiecik completed all five of his passes on the opening drive, the last a 29-yard shot over the middle to running back Trevor Winkles. Manchester responded with a long kickoff return to the Franklin 46 and tied the score at the 6:35 mark of the opening quarter.

Following a swap of punts, Franklin took over at its own 17-yard line and embarked on a nine-play, 83-yard journey that saw Winkles convert a third and short before Kmiecik found Jordan Fonda open in the end zone for a 28-yard score with 12:32 left in the half. The Griz defense then forced a three and out, and Jace Mohr got a running start on a short Spartan punt and took it 33 yards to the house for a 21-7 advantage.

Manchester answered with a touchdown off of a turnover to cut it to seven, but the Grizzlies again punched back with a quick five-play drive. Kmiecik opened with a 14-yard rush and then completed four straight passes, capped by a 25-yard strike to Jeremy Lee with 3:54 to go before the break. The home team had a chance to add to the lead after forcing a turnover on downs, but the Spartans came up with an interception after Franklin had advanced to the Manchester 7. The Griz defense ended the half with a takeaway of its own, as a Devonte Brown sack knocked the ball loose and Max Malone came up with the recovery.

Franklin led 28-14 at the intermission.

"When we get into a rhythm, we feel like we're unstoppable," Lee said of the offense, which outgained Manchester 574-301 on the day. "When we get our first couple of passes completed, it gives us a lot of momentum as a team."

The second half opened with a bang. Franklin forced a quick punt, took over with a short field and cashed in immediately, with Kmiecik and Lee hooking up for a 45-yard score on the first snap of the period to make it a 34-14 game. After another Spartan punt, Kmiecik's deep pass was tipped by a Manchester defender right into the waiting arms of Fonda, who trotted in for a 42-yard score and a 27-point cushion.

The Spartans drove all the way to the Grizzly 3-yard line on their next possession, but a Kaleb Hall pass on fourth and goal was intercepted by Brown and returned to the Franklin 27-yard line. Brayden Wilkins broke a 19-yard run to start the ensuing Griz drive, followed by a 35-yard toss to Marlon Gans. Four plays later, Wilkins punched it in from the 1 for the last Franklin touchdown with 3:05 on the third-quarter clock.

Leonard noted that his team wanted to pick up the tempo after halftime with the wind at its back.

Manchester scored in the opening minute of the fourth period before the Grizzlies killed off most of the remaining time with their second-string offense before being stopped at the 1-yard line. Levi Johnson rushed for a team-high 66 yards, all on that final possession.

Kmiecik hit on 21 of 28 passes for 382 yards and the five touchdowns, with Fonda catching five balls for 129 yards; the Grizzlies also finished with a 187-33 rushing advantage. Haidyn Bulmer and Michael Loehmer led the defense with six tackles apiece.

Franklin plays its next two games on the road, with the first of those tests coming at Mount St. Joseph next Saturday (Oct. 25).

"Stacking good days together at practice," Leonard said. "You've got a good ball club down there in Cincinnati with Mount St. Joe, so we've got to get ready for them."