Salmen defeats Franklinton, 32-15

Salmen quarterback Julien Troullier helped his team score five touchdowns to lead the Spartans past the Franklinton Demons Friday night, 32-15, at Demon Stadium.

“Troullier is just a phenomenal athlete,” Salmen coach Jerry Leonard said after the game. “He’s a gamer.”

The game was deadlocked 7-7 at halftime, but the senior quarterback was able to capitalize on Franklinton mistakes and score four touchdowns, three on the ground and one in the air, in the second half.

“I think it was a tale of two halves,” Leonard said, adding an early big play by the Demons didn’t help the Spartans (3-2 overall, 1-0 in district).

Franklinton (4-2, 0-1) scored on its first possession when quarterback Terrance Magee threw a screen pass to receiver Chris Briggs, who in turn threw a 67-yard bomb to LeSean Williams for a touchdown.

“It got us on our heels a little bit,” Leonard said.

The Demons held Salmen in check until the second quarter, when, on a fourth-and-two play, Troullier threw a 12-yard touchdown to wide receiver George Williams.

Neither team seemed to gain the momentum until three minutes into third quarter when Troullier was able to score again, this time on a 4-yard quarterback keeper.

Salmen kept up the pressure, snagging a Franklinton fumble a few minutes later on the Demon 23-yard line. Troullier converted that possession 15 seconds later on a 7-yard touchdown run.

“That turnover to start the third quarter was tough,” said Franklinton coach Shane Smith, adding his team could have used some more big plays to keep things pumped up. Other than the big play early in the first quarter, there was nothing really to happen that ignited his team after they got behind.

After Troullier scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:16 to go in the fourth quarter, the Demons did respond with a 55-yard scoring drive.

Magee connected a 4-yard pass to tight end David Hofstetter, and Briggs caught the 2-point conversion to make the score 25-15 with 3:42 to go.

On the ensuing kickoff, Franklinton tried for the onside kick but couldn’t regain possession.

Troullier then nailed the crypt shut on the Demons, throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Isiah Tate with 1:05 left.

“Salmen played great defense and cashed in,” Smith said.

It was the first District 9-4A game for both teams.