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Franklinton’s Mike Martin ran for three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions and Jasper LaSalle made two big throws in a touchdown drive that proved to be the difference in the game, during a 23-17 victory over previously undefeated Belle Chasse at home Friday night.

Franklinton was up 15-14 and began a drive with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.

The Demons moved the ball to Belle Chasse’s 29, but penalties backed them up to their own 45 where they faced a first-and-36. Following an incompletion, LaSalle connected with Kadarious Mark on a 20-yard play. After an incompletion, the Demons faced fourth-and-16 from Belle Chasse’s 35. LaSalle then completed a pass to Caleb Brown for 18 yards and a new set of downs.

Then Martin, who ran for 151 yards during the game, went to work. First he ripped off a 17-yard gain and then scored on the next play to put Franklinton up seven with 7:54 left. The Demons went for two. Martin got the call and converted to make it a 23-14 contest.

“Boy, Jasper (LaSalle) was incredible on that play,” Franklinton coach Jonathan Barber said. “Great job in the scramble drill for him to find Caleb (Brown). Not only that, he made a play on the quarterback keep on the final drive when we were able to run out the clock. Mike (Martin) ran his tail off tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of him. Our team just battled. We had a lot of adversity, but we were able to get through it and get a good hard-fought win against a really good Belle Chasse team. I’m proud of our guys.”

Following the touchdown, the teams exchanged punts and Belle Chasse had the ball at Franklinton’s 32. The Cardinals moved the ball to the 13 and Tyler Fury split the uprights on a 31-yard field goal, trimming Franklinton’s lead to 23-17 with 3:24 left, but that was the Cardinals’ final possession of the game.

Martin ran four times, LaSalle had a 23-yard run on second-and-14 from Belle Chasse’s 43 and Quaran Warren picked up a first down with 1:15 left on third-and-three to allow Franklinton to run out the clock in the victory.

Friday’s action started early then came to a halt.

The Demons kicked off to start the game. The ball bounced near the sideline and Avant Monnie recovered the kick for Franklinton at Belle Chasse’s 35. Martin ran for 21 plus a penalty on Belle Chasse moved the ball to the 7 and Martin scored two plays later from the 1. Keaton Catrett’s extra point made it 7-0 just 56 seconds into the game.

Belle Chasse scored on the ensuring drive on a 5-yard run by Jordan Mariana. Fury’s extra point tied things up at 7-7 with 7:38 on the clock.
Following an interception, Belle Chasse took over at its 38. Franklinton’s defense pushed them back to the 21, but lightning delayed the game for 41 minutes in the middle of that drive. Belle Chasse was eventually forced to punt.

The game stayed tied 7-7 until the 6:29 mark of the second quarter when the Cardinals’ Brendon Groves returned a blocked field goal 85 yards. Fury’s extra point gave Belle Chasse a 14-7 lead and it remained that way until late in the third quarter.

The Demons started a drive with 5:06 left and scored with 53 seconds to go on Martin’s 7-yard run to make it 14-13. The Demons went for two and Martin made it pay off by running it in and Franklinton had a 15-14 lead and never looked back.

This was 4-2 Franklinton’s third-straight win. The Demons will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 17, with a home game against St. Charles.