Franklinton takes to the road tonight, as the Demons head to Salmen and both teams open District 8-4A play.

The Demons enter this week’s game with a 2-3 record and are 42nd in the Class 4A power ratings.

“This is the start of district. It’s been a big rival playing Salmen because they’ve been the second best team in our district over the last 10 years,” Franklinton coach Stephen Burris said. “You want to start district off 1-0. This is the start of a new season. Pre-district season is over and we’ve one more non-district game this season (road contest against Jesuit Oct. 28).”

The Franklinton-Salmen matchup has proven to be very important since the 2007 season.

The teams have met nine times in the regular season, with the Demons going 7-2 in those games. The winner of this game has won the district title outright seven times. These two teams, along with Lakeshore, finished in a three-way tie for the title in 2011. East Jefferson won the district in 2013.

FHS won the district outright in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015. Salmen won the district in 2008 and 2012.

Franklinton won last year’s contest, 39-7.

The teams also met in the 2009 state semifinals when the Demons were victorious, 60-0, in the snow. Franklinton finished as state runner-up that year and won the state title the following season.

Last week, the Demons had a solid passing attack, as Tahj Magee threw for 274 yards with three touchdowns. He also ran for 90 yards and a touchdown.

This season, Magee has 692 passing yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also run for 539 yards and three touchdowns.

Darrius Dawson completed his only pass attempt for a 58-yard touchdown.

Jamarian Crain had a big night at wide receiver, catching six passes for 196 yards (32.6 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Rakerian Conerly had three receptions for 64 yards (21.3) and a touchdown, while Dawson finished with three catches for 50 yards (16.6) and a touchdown. Mike Martin had a catch for 14 yards and Duke Bell had a reception for eight yards.

Crain enters tonight with 12 catches for 303 yards (25.2) and three touchdowns. Conerly has nine receptions for 120 yards (13.3) and two scores. Lagarian Bell has 119 yards receiving on seven catches (17).

Dijimon Jenkins enters with eight catches for 65 yards (8.1), while Marcus Conerly has a catch for 43 yards and Wyatt Hensley has put up four receptions for 28 yards (7).

Martin has run the ball 50 times for 233 yards (4.6 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns. He also has four catches for 34 yards (8.5).

Defensively, Chandler Scott leads the team with 63 tackles. Lamount Harris is next with 44, followed by James Bichham’s 43. Rodney King enters with 35 and J.P. Magee is at 30.

Salmen comes in with a 3-1 record. The Spartans had a bye last week. Their last game was a 16-0 win over Bogalusa. It was second shutout of an opponent by the Spartans. The other was a 9-0 win over East Jefferson to open the season.

Salmen’s defense has been solid all year. The Spartans have allowed just 45 points in the four games, with 42 of the points coming against Covington.

The Spartans’ touchdowns came on a pass from L.J. Leonard to Leevance Williams on a 2-yard pass, and a 1-yard run by Williams.