Franklinton jumped out to an 18-0 lead, Bogalusa scored 14 straight and the Demons hung on for a 39-30 victory to capture the Pine Burr Cup in winning the rivalry game for the 17th-straight time on Friday at FHS.

“We had some injuries that hurt in the secondary,” Franklinton coach Stephen Burris said. “We had a chance to put them away and we didn’t score twice in the red zone. It killed us with the DBs (defensive backs) being out. We couldn’t get the quarterback on the ground, tackle him. We struggled. They never stopped us. We stopped ourselves. They never slowed us down offensively. Everything that happened was because we made mistakes. I’m extremely disappointed.”

Franklinton scored the game’s first points on a Trequan Charles 5-yard run with 1:57 left in the first quarter that completed a 99-yard drive.

Tahj Magee hit Rakerian Conerly with 6:48 left in the first half and Conerly scored on a run from the 5 with 2:57 left in the second quarter. The first extra point hit the left upright, the second was short and the Demons were unable to convert a two-point conversion on the third touchdown.
It was 18-0 with 2:57 left in the second period.

Bogalusa trimmed it to 18-8 by halftime when Chas Smith intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards to paydirt. Diante Lenoir converted for two points and it was 18-8.

It remained that way until the 5:58 mark of the third quarter. Lenoir scored from the 8. The Lumberjacks were unable to convert the two points, but had the deficit down to 18-14.

Bogalusa continually stayed in the game, but never could get the lead.

“I’m proud of my guys. They played hard,” Bogalusa coach David Roberts said. “When you’ve got four varsity coaches and 30 players and they play both ways all night and they busted their butts — we just came up a little short. We made too many mistakes. We’ve just got to find a way to get over that hump.

“There’s a difference between teams that have winning programs and teams that have been losing. Winning teams find ways to win and losing teams find ways to lose. We came a long way this year so far. I think our future is looking bright.

“We play a tough schedule. I mean — Chalmette’s a 5A school, Northlake Christian’s a good school, we’ve got Salmen next week and then we’ve got to go to South Plaquemines and they’re a good ballclub.”

Bogalusa got as close as two points at 32-30 with 1:06 left when Lenoir scored on a two-yard run and then ran in the two-point conversion. Franklinton’s LaMount Harris recovered the onsides kick and Tahj Magee scored a late touchdown with Raif Branch hitting the extra point to seal the nine-point win.

Both teams will be back in action Friday. Franklinton heads to Tylertown in Mississippi while Bogalusa is home to face Salmen.