The Franklinton Demons football team fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Cecilia Bulldogs 35-28 in a game that they didn't trail in until less than two minutes were left in the game. The Demons end the season with a 5-6 record in Coach Guy Lecompte's first season.
The Demons got off to a fast start as they took advantage of a fumble recovered by the Demons Timarion Partman at the Bulldogs six when senior quarterback Zion Anders ran in for a touchdown. Kade Lavigne added the extra point and the Demons were up 7-0.
The Bulldogs answered on a 44 yard run by their quarterback to tie the game with 6:21 left in the first. The Demons responded with a quick strike from Anders to Kelly Daniels for 56 yards to retake the lead at 5:46 on the clock in the first.
The Bulldogs returned the kickoff to the Demons 25 and scored one play later when they passed into the end zone for the tying touchdown at the 5:29 mark. Again, the Demons responded with a quick strike as Anders hit Kollin Williams for a 52 yard touchdown to put the Demons up 21-14 with 5:09 left in the first.
The Demons defense then forced a turnover on downs and the offense drove inside the Bulldogs thirty where they settled for a 36 yard field goal attempt, which was wide. The Bulldogs then used a long, time consuming drive to make the score 21-20 on a one yard quarterback sneak and a missed extra point kick and that score would hold at the half.
The Demons scored in the third to go up 28-20 when Anders hit Williams on a beautiful 96 yard pass that he caught at midfield and outran the defense for the touchdown.
The Demons then had a golden opportunity to go up even more when the Bulldogs had a high snap go over the punters head giving the ball to the Demons at the Bulldogs twelve. But a crucial offsides penalty bogged them down and they settled for a field goal attempt, which was missed.
After the teams traded possessions, the Bulldogs scored with 5:40 left in the game and were successful on their two point conversion to tie the game at 28-28.
The Demons couldn't move the ball and punted, then forced a Bulldog punt. There was a fumble on the return which the Bulldogs recovered giving them new life.
Their quarterback then ran for 44 yards and a touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 35-28 with 1:34 left in the game.
The Demons looked to have moved the ball to the Bulldog two yard line as Anders hit Daniel Bryant on a long pass play but a holding call brought that play back. The Demons managed to move the ball to the Bulldogs 25 yard line and two passes from Anders were incomplete as the time ran out.
Zion Anders led the Demons with 386 yards and 3 touchdowns passing on 16 completions of 33 attempts with one interception. He also rushed for 31 yards on 7 attempts. Micah Hart rushed 8 times for 25 yards and Rayshone Manuel rushed twice for 13 yards.
In the receiving department Kollin Williams had a career day with five catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly Daniels had three for 98 yards and a touchdown, Daniel Bryant had two for 30 yards, Micah Hart had three receptions for 21 yards and Conner Magee had three for 29 yards.
