Bragging rights are on the line, as Bogalusa and Franklinton face each other in a rivalry game tonight at Lewis V. Murray Jr. Stadium on the campus of Bogalusa High School. The winner gets the Pine Burr Trophy.

“Everybody’s pumped up,” Bogalusa coach David Roberts said. “Franklinton’s coming into town. We made some adjustments. Hopefully the adjustments pan out and we can move the ball.

“Our defense played well (last Friday against St. James). We’re competing on that side of the ball. Offensively, we’ve come a long way since last week. Franklinton’s a very good team. They’ve played two really good teams (Covington and Amite). They’ve been tested. We’ve been tested. We played St. James — St. James is top five in the state.”

Bogalusa enters this week with an 0-2 record. The Lumberjacks had their first regular season action last week after having to forfeit the opener, and suffered a 32-0 loss to St. James.

The Lumberjacks committed five turnovers.

Thomas Turner threw for 67 yards on 6-of-17 and two interceptions.

Roberts said his front seven played well last week.

“We had some blown coverages in the secondary that cost us, but I thought we did a good job against the run,” Roberts said.

Roberts also praised several of his players.

“(Jamyren Ladner) is going to do some things this week that we asked him to do. He said he’ll do whatever we need him to do,” Roberts said. “O’Trevious Gatlin, same thing. Those two guys are doing what we’re asking them to do to help the team. Defensive wise, Joemon Roberts and Cody Sumrall and Javon Tate are giving me everything they can. They’re doing some things they normally wouldn’t want to do, but they’re doing things for the betterment of the team.

Ladner plays linebacker, defensive end and offensive tackle. Gatlin is a linebacker, offensive tackle and could see time at tight end and defensive end. Roberts is at defensive end and fullback, and could play on the offensive line this week. Sumrall is a defensive end, nose guard and plays everywhere on the offensive line. Tate is a nose guard and running back.

Franklinton won last year’s game 34-20. The Demons have won the last 15 games in the rivalry.

“It’s the big parish rival,” Franklinton coach Stephen Burris said. “They were the dominant team for years. We’ve been the dominant team for about the last 20 years. It doesn’t matter how good or bad either team is, it’s a game that you want to win. It means something to everybody from there and from here.”

Franklinton is 0-2 this season. Last week, the Demons lost to Amite, 48-13.

Burris said the team is battling through some injuries. He said the team is starting to get better.

“We’ve had a great week of practice,” Burris said. “Some of the kids are beginning to grow into their positions. We’re young and inexperienced, but we’re getting better. Offensively, we did some good things in the second half.

“Mike (Martin) is improving each day at running back. If we throw the ball, run the ball and block the way we should, we can’t be stopped and that will take pressure off the defense.”

This season, Tahj Magee has thrown for 162 yards while running for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Martin has 105 rushing yards.

Dijimon Jenkins leads the receivers with six catches for 45 yards.

Defensively against Amite, Chandler Scott recorded seven solo tackles with six assists and 2.5 sacks. James Bickham had six solo tackles, one assist, a half a sack and a forced fumble and Rodney King had five solo tackles, three assists and a tackle for loss.