Tonight, for the first time this season, Pearl River will play a game after a loss when they host the Franklinton Demons.

Pearl River suffered an 18-13 setback to Salmen last week, while Franklinton captured a 54-27 win over Holy Cross.

Both teams come in with gaudy records and they are tied for second in District 9-4A play with 3-1 marks in league play. Overall, the Rebels are 7-1, while Franklinton is 7-2.

Pearl River'€™s Will Reed runs left as Salmen'€™s Chrishawn Dupuy (3) tries to get off a block in a District 9-4A game held last Friday at Salmen. (File Photo by Chris Kinkaid)

This is an important game for both teams. If Riverdale beats Salmen, that would mean the squad that comes out ahead gets a share of the district title.

PRHS coach Joe Harris said the Demons are a tough opponent.

“They are a talented football team,” Harris said. “They have a lot of speed, athleticism and aggressiveness. They do all the things good football teams do.”

Last year, Franklinton beat Pearl River, 33-7.

Demons’ coach Shane Smith talked about the Rebels.

“They’ve got a team with a lot of returning starters,” Smith said. “They play good defense and tackle well.”

PRHS plays an odd-stack defense. Harris said senior linebackers Stephen Arthur and Seth Craddock have been playing well.

Last week, senior defensive back Will Reed, who also plays running back, had an interception.

They will be taking on a team that runs a lot of spread offense, but will vary. The quarterback is sophomore Terrance Magee. This season, he leads the Demons in running and passing. He has run for 747 yards of his team’s 2,167, while adding 16 touchdowns. Magee has also hit on 60-of-118 throws for 852 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.

Coach Harris said Magee is a tough signal caller.

“The quarterback is the man,” Harris said. “He does a good job of running with it. He started as a freshman on a real good football team.”

The running back situation is by committee for the Demons. Franklinton will rotate four backs, including junior Devonta Flowers along with sophomores Jeromy Burton, Vincent Wilson and Reggie Wilson.

This year, Flowers has run for 453 yards and seven touchdowns. Reggie Wilson has gone for 311 yards with two scores, while Burton has 288 yards. Vincent Wilson has recorded 171 yards on just 10 carries, while adding three TDs.

Franklinton’s leading receivers are Lesean Williams and Chris Briggs. Williams has 20 catches for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Briggs has 13 receptions for 162 yards and a score.

Offensively, PRHS runs the Wing-T with senior Matt Smith under center. Against Salmen, he threw for 32 yards.

The feature running back is junior James Gillum.

In last week’s game, he rushed for 60 yards on 23 carries with a score. Junior Jeremiah Levy tallied the Rebels’ first touchdown with a 25-yard run, which gave Pearl River a 7-0 lead.

Defensively, Franklinton varies with a 3-3 and 3-4. Joshua Marks has been in on 59 tackles to lead the Demons.

Chazz Tate, who knocked down four passes and had two sacks last week, has been in on 40 tackles and he has 12 sacks.