Late score carries Franklin to win

For the previous two seasons, defending 3A state champion Franklin has grown accustomed to comfortable leads and winning games in dominating fashion.

Friday night’s game against Columbus was anything but comfortable. However, it did show the grit and determination of a team that simply refused to lose.

In a thrilling playoff game worthy of a state championship setting, the Lion’s Bryson Washington scored on a fourth down 4-yard reverse with 27 seconds remaining to propel Franklin to a heart-stopping 24-21 win over Columbus in the Region III-3A Division I final at Tomball Stadium.