Visiting Loranger scored 36 points in the second half, as the Wolves defeated the Franklinton Demons 50-34 Friday night.
The defeat spoiled a strong offensive performance by Franklinton quarterback Tahj Magee, who ran for four touchdowns and passed for another. He also threw two interceptions.
“Tahj is a warrior and a great player,” Franklinton coach Stephen Burris said. “We played well in spurts tonight, but we just weren’t strong defensively. It’s been a problem all year for us, and it was problem again tonight.”
Franklinton’s record fell to 3-4 overall, and 1-1 in District 8-4A. Loranger improved to 5-2 overall, and 2-0 in district.
The Demons led 21-14 at halftime, but Loranger took a one-point lead just 1:25 into the third quarter. Franklinton would continue to battle offensively in the second half, but could never get back in front.
Magee got the Demons onto the board with a 6-yard run and Raif Branch added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 5:06 left in the first quarter. Loranger answered and tied the game up on its next possession.
Franklinton responded as well, with Magee scoring from 3 yards out to put the Demons ahead 14-7 after Branch’s extra point with 10:48 left in the second. The Wolves punted on their next possession, and Franklinton drove down to the Loranger 21 before losing a fumble.
The Wolves took advantage of the turnover, marching all the way down the field and scoring to tie the game at 14-14 with 3:13 left in the second quarter. But Franklinton answered when Magee broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run with 1:59 left in the first half.
Loranger used some trickery to get its first lead of the game. Facing fourth-and-10 from the Franklinton 47, the Wolves faked a punt and Evan Johnson got loose to score a touchdown on the play. After an offsides penalty by the Demons, Loranger elected to go for two points, and Johnson converted to put his team ahead 22-21 with 10:35 left in the third quarter.
Magee threw an interception on Franklinton’s next drive, giving the Wolves the ball at the Demons’ 34. On the very next play, quarterback D.J. Hoofkin passed to DeJuan Carter for a touchdown, and Carson Reed’s extra point made it 29-21 with 9:18 remaining in the third.
Loranger made it 36-21 when Hoofkin scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:28 left in the third.
The Demons sacked Hoofkin and forced him to fumble later in the quarter, giving Franklinton good field position at the Loranger 37. Five plays later, Magee scored on a 3-yard run and Branch’s extra point cut the lead to 36-28.
Magee’s second interception gave Loranger the ball on the Franklinton 30, and two plays later Johnson broke away for a 25-yard touchdown run. Reed’s extra point put the Wolves ahead 43-28 with 41 seconds left in the third quarter.
Magee connected with Mike Martin for a 21-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, and the Demons elected to go for two but failed. Loranger still led, 43-34, with 9:53 left in the game.
The Wolves then ate up most of the quarter with a 61-yard, 13-play scoring drive. During the drive, Loranger converted a third-and-28 and a fourth-and-6. Johnson scored on a 19-yard touchdown run and Reed added the extra point with 2:49 left in the game.
Although the Demons put a strong drive together on their final possession, time ran out as they advanced to the Loranger 23.
Burris said that his team has a lot of potential, but is young and still learning. The Demons had several missed tackles and dropped passes in the second half.
“We’ve got a lot of first-year guys who are having to start,” he said.
Franklinton will travel to face Lakeshore next Friday in another district game.