Franklinton got off to a great start, but struggled after that point in a 49-13 loss to Covington in the season opener at home Friday night.

The Demons (0-1) returned the opening kickoff to their 26-yard line. Tahj Magee completed a long pass to Marcus Conerly for 43 yards. Magee, who threw for 126 yards and ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns, scored on the next play when he ran 31 yards to give his club a 6-0 lead. Raif Branch added the extra point and the Demons led 7-0 just 29 seconds into the game.

But just two minutes later, Covington was on the board when junior Devin Brumfield tallied his first of four touchdowns with a 20-yard run. Devin Jenkins, who hit all seven of his extra points, tied the game with his first.

Brumfield finished with 135 yards on 22 carries.

That began a string of 49-unanswered points by the Lions.

Franklinton coach Stephen Burris talked about what went wrong on defense.

“Not getting off blocks, struggling defensively, linebackers aren’t making reads and aren’t making plays,” Burris said. “I had one guy making plays and that was Chandler Scott. Nobody else is making a (darn) play. And then in the passing game, we couldn’t cover anybody. Once we stopped the run, we couldn’t cover them.”

After the initial touchdown, the Demons were held scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t block anybody the whole game and we couldn’t run the football,” Burris said. “The whole game we didn’t run the football. Until they got the J.V. out there, we didn’t move it. We threw it, there was people in his face every play. He’s the best player on the (darn) field, but when nobody protects him, you aren’t doing to do very well.”

The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter, but Covington had driven to Franklinton’s 8 by the time that quarter ended ended. On third-and-3, Brumfield tallied his second touchdown on the first play of the second period. Jenkins’ extra point made it 14-7.

Covington added two more touchdowns courtesy of Brumfield before halftime, on runs of 1 and 2 yards. Covington led 28-7 at the break.

Covington went to the passing game at the start of the third quarter. Joshua Alfaro, who threw for 239 yards, tossed a pair of touchdown passes. Mason Cialona and Milton Clark had catches for 18 and 62 yards respectively to make it 42-7 at the 6:48 mark and Liam Vinciforia added one more with 2:19 on the clock. Jenkins hit all three extra points and it was 49-7 through three.

Magee scored with 6:20 left on a 73-yard run. A high snap led to an incomplete pass on the extra point.

Franklinton is back in action Friday when the Demons travel to Amite.