COVINGTON — Franklinton had a 10-6 lead over Covington late in the first half, but struggled at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter in a 40-17 loss to the Lions in Friday’s season opener on the road.

Covington scored two touchdowns to end the second quarter and another at the beginning of the third to take a 26-10 lead.

The Demons went up 10-6 with 4:12 left in the first half on Keaton Catrett’s 32-yard field goal.

Franklinton had a chance to get the ball back, as Covington faced third-and-9 from its own 29, but Blake Sharp connected with Chandler Washington on a 71-yard score. Roger Ponce hit the extra point with 3:12 to go and Covington led 13-10.

Franklinton punted on its next possession and the Lions took over at their 44. Sharp and Washington hooked up on the first play for another touchdown, this one for 56 yards to make it 19-10 after Franklinton blocked the extra point.

The Demons started the second half with the ball, but had to punt from their 36. The punt was blocked. The Lions recovered and took over at Franklinton’s 28 and scored on the drive’s fourth play when Quintez Laurant took it in from the 13. Baron Padilla made the extra point for a 26-10 game with 8:09 on the clock.

“We always talk about the last four minutes of the first half, first four minutes of the third quarter and they won both of those aspects and that really put us behind the eight ball,” Franklinton coach Jonathan Barber said.

Covington added two more touchdowns to go up 40-10.

Sharp threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Washington in the third and Washington ran for a 37-yard score with 10:42 left in the fourth. Padilla made both extra points. Washington had three receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Franklinton made it 40-17 at the 1:12 mark on a pass from Jasper LaSalle to Caleb Brown from 38 yards out. Catrett’s extra point was good for the 40-17 final.

The Demons got off to a good start on Friday.

Franklinton’s Noah Breland recovered a fumble at his own 44 on the first drive of the game, giving the Demons possession.

Franklinton drove 56 yards in 13 plays while taking 6:40 off the clock before scoring on Mike Martin’s 1-yard run. Catrett hit the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 2:33 left in the first quarter.

Covington came back to make it 7-6 on Laurant’s 7-yard run with 18 seconds left. The extra point was blocked.

Franklinton went up 10-6 in the second, but struggled at the end of first half and the beginning of the second half in the loss.

Franklinton begins a two-game homestand on Friday when the Demons host Fontainebleau.