Franklinton and Bogalusa played even for the first two and a half quarters, but the Demons had a 22-point run that propelled them to a 34-20 victory over Bogalusa in the battle for the Pine Burr Trophy Friday night at FHS.
The game was tied, 12-12 midway through the third quarter. Bogalusa’s Tymothy Toussaint had just scored his second of three rushing touchdowns. On the ensuing drive, Franklinton faced a fourth-and-3 from the Lumberjacks’ 40. Relik Wilson got the call and he delivered. He got into the open field and was tackled at the 23 after a 17-yard gain.
“He’s one of our senior leaders and he made a play in a critical situation that helped us,” Franklinton coach Shane Smith said. “But we look forward to trying to clean some stuff up going into next week.”
Azende T. Magee, who led the Demons with 131 rushing yards to go with one touchdown on the ground and another receiving, then ran for 21 yards before Franklinton went back to Wilson and he capped off the drive by scoring from the 2. The extra point was no good, but the Demons were in front, 18-12 with 3:56 left in the third quarter.
The Demons added to their lead in the fourth quarter when Tahj Magee, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown and threw for 69 yards with a touchdown and an interception, ran right and got in from the 10.
Magee then hit Ryché Jenkins for the two-point conversion to make it a 26-12 lead at the 9:50 mark of the fourth quarter.
Franklinton added one more score midway through the final period. Bogalusa lined up to punt. Tremario Magee caught the ball at the Lumberjacks’ 46 on the left side of the field. Magee took off and ran it back 46 yards for the touchdown. Wilson then ran in the two-pointer and Franklinton’s lead was up to 22.
Bogalusa continued to battle back. On the next possession, the ‘Jacks drove 80 yards in 12 plays and finished the drive when Toussaint ran it in from the 26. He then found Tremarcus Levi for the two-point conversion to reflect the 34-20 final.
Toussaint finished with 113 yards on the ground with three touchdowns on 21 carries and he threw for 36 yards.
Bogalusa coach David Roberts praised his signal caller.
“Tym Toussaint is a combination of Hercules and the Incredible Hulk,” Roberts said. “He’s a great kid. He’s our team leader. Anything you ask him to do, he does it. He’s a quiet leader. He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around.”
Franklinton got on the board first. The Lumberjacks won the toss and elected to defer. Franklinton drove 69 yards on the opening possession and scored when Tahj Magee found Azende T. Magee for a 20-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, keeping it 6-0 with 8:47 left in the first period.
It stayed that way until early second quarter.
Facing fourth-and-four at FHS’ 30, Bogalusa decided to go for it. Toussaint dropped back to pass, but decided to scramble. Toussaint broke a couple of tackles and dove for the end zone and scored on the 30-yard run. The extra point was no good, keeping it tied, 6-6, just 50 seconds into the second quarter.
Franklinton took the lead with 3:24 left in the first half. Bogalusa had an errant snap and Chandler Scott recovered the loose ball for Franklinton at the BHS 23. On the first play from scrimmage, Azende T. Magee took the handoff and ran 23 yards for six points. The two-point conversion was no good and the Demons took a 12-6 lead to halftime.
Bogalusa began the second half with the ball and had to punt, but on the second play from scrimmage, the Demons fumbled and Jaylon Carson recovered for the Lumberjacks.
Five plays later, Toussaint capped the drive by running left and scoring the tying touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, but the teams were even at 12-12.
Franklinton scored the next 22 points before Bogalusa tallied at the end.
Both teams are back in action Friday. Franklinton begins a two-game road trip by playing West Monroe. Bogalusa is at home against Salmen.
West Monroe defeated Madison Central of Mississippi, 23-22, Friday. Salmen lost to Covington, 49-7, Friday.