The Franklinton Demons football team continues on the road through the playoffs as they defeated a tough Lakeshore Titans team 41-40 last Friday night. The win moves the Demons’ record to 11-1 and they will host the #5 seeded Iowa Yellowjackets this week in Demon Stadium in the Division II state semi-finals at 7 pm Friday (Dec. 6).
The Yellowjackets have a 12-1 record. The winner of this game will play the winner of the Cecilia vs Plaquemine game for the dtate championship.
The Titans got on the scoreboard first with 6:44 on the clock in the first quarter before the Demons tied it at 7-7 just two plays later. Chakyn McClain intercepted a pass to end a threat and allow the Demons to take a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
The Titans responded as they scored but their extra point was blocked by the Demons and the score stood at 14-13.
After the Titans recovered a fumble they scored to take a 20-14 lead with 4:52 left in the first half. The Demons drove and tied the game at 20-20 after the extra point was blocked. This score would stand at halftime.
The Demons opened with possession in the second half and drove for a 27 yard touchdown run by Sy Austin to go up 27-20. The Titans drove to the Demons 40 but turned the ball over on downs there. The Demons scored with 1:13 left in the third quarter on Jacob Crain's one yard run for a 34-20 lead.
Lakeshore responded with an 80 yard drive and score to tighten the game at 34-27 before the Demons again went up 41-27 when Crain passed to Conner Magee for a 65 yard touchdown.
Lakeshore again drove for a score to cut the lead again to 41-34 with 8:40 left in the game. The Demons moved into Lakeshore territory but turned the ball over on downs when a fake punt was short. Lakeshore scored on a 12 yard run with 4:10 left on the clock. The Titans elected to go for the two point conversion to take the lead but Elisha Hart smothered the back in the backfield to preserve the Demons 41-40 lead.
An onside kick attempt was covered by the Demons and they ran out the clock to win the game.
FHS Coach Nick Saltaformaggio spoke about how tough the game was afterwards.
"In the state quarterfinals it isn't going to be easy and against a team that has been through it a bunch and we haven't been through it since 2015. 41-40 or 3-2, as long as we have the 41 or the 3, I'll take it. We deserve to be here; we're hosting a semi final Friday night and we'll play as hard as we can for as long as we can and hopefully it gets us to the 'Dome. But I know this, the Franklinton Demons are going to be a tough out for a long, long time."
Coach Salt also explained the defensive call on the Titans’ two point conversion attempt. "I didn't blitz the entire night, not one time did I blitz. We got in a double eagle look and I sent both inside linebackers. I felt like they were going to give it to #4 on speed because they had done it twice for touchdowns. We got the penetration and we got the play."
Sy Austin led the Demons offensively with 217 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 35 carries. Conner Magee rushed for 10 yards on 4 carries. Jacob Crain passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns on 7 completions of 9 attempts while rushing for 15 yards and a touchdown on 6 carries. DJ Anders rushed for 3 yards on 1 carry. DaMikies McClain caught two passes for 43 yards while Magee caught 3 for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Austin caught one pass for 25 yards and Christian Young caught one pass for 13 yards. Gabe Ezell was 5 of 6 on extra points with one being blocked.
