Franklinton celebrates homecoming night tonight, as the Demons host Salmen in the second meeting of the year between the two teams at 7 p.m.
Salmen won the first meeting, 34-33, which was a non-district contest that took place Oct. 5 at Salmen.
Franklinton attempted a two-point conversion at the end and were unsuccessful with 35.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Demons nearly erased a 34-20 fourth quarter deficit by forcing three turnovers in the second half.
Tonight’s game is a District 8-4A game.
Franklinton coach Stephen Burris talked about playing a team for the second time.
“Offensively, I don’t think they’re going to do anything different,” Burris said. “They’ve done the same thing versus every team. I don’t see them changing. I see them running the same thing they ran last time and hopefully we can make the adjustments and play it better. They were limited to what they could do in the passing game on us. They’ve made a living off the counter and I don’t see them changing that. They’re going to run counter, counter, counter, counter, counter and we’ve got to stop it.”
This game is probably as close to a “must-win” as it gets for Franklinton.
“If we don’t win out, the chances of making it (to the playoffs) aren’t very good,” Burris said.
The Demons enter this week with a 2-6 overall record and are 0-1 in district play, following last week’s 59-22 loss to 8-0 Lakeshore.
Franklinton is 30th in the unofficial LHSAA Class 4A power rankings.
One factor that helps the Demons is their strength of schedule. In the LHSAA’s unofficial power rankings, Franklinton is tied for fifth in the state with John Ehret in strength rating with a 9.63. Catholic of Baton Rouge (10.38) is first, followed by Lake Area New Tech (10.25). Brother Martin (10.00) and Evangel Christian are tied for third.
This season, Franklinton quarterback Tahj Magee has thrown for 1,153 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 877 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Trequan Charles enters tonight’s game with 593 yards on the ground and five touchdowns, with Rakerian Conerly at 180 yards and three scores.
Conerly leads the receivers with 466 yards and six touchdowns. He is second to Lagarian Bell with 32 catches.
Bell has 36 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
Shayland Allen begins with 12 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. Charles has 16 catches for 117 yards.
Defensively, LaMount Harris tops the team with 61 tackles.
Salmen enters this week with a 7-1 record and is ninth in the unofficial LHSAA Class 4A power rankings.
The Spartans are coming off of a 35-0 win over Pearl River. Salmen’s only loss was in week two, 28-14, to Northshore (4-4).