Salmen at home for key game against Franklinton

The top two District 9-4A teams in Salmen’s Spartans and the Franklinton Demons meet up tonight at Salmen in a contest that could ultimately determine the district champion.

Salmen (6-1, 2-0) enters tonight’s action after beating Riverdale 35-12. Franklinton (8-3, 3-0) is coming off a 48-0 victory over Pearl River.

Last season, Salmen defeated Franklinton 32-15.

The Spartans run a spread offense.

Junior Matt Lipham, who played in Daniel Sams’ place last week due to a non-football related issue, gets the start at quarterback.

Last week, Lipham clicked on 9-of-19 passing for 92 yards and three touchdowns, all to different wide receivers.

He connected with James Foucha for a two-yard touchdown, Jamal Robinson for an eight-yard TD and George Williams for an 11-yard score.

The running backs are Errol Scott, Evin Claude and Jordan Stevenson and Josh Adams.

Scott had a big game last week, rushing for 104 yards and he had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown. Claude got into the scoring act with a 26-yard scoring run.

Defensively, Salmen is a 3-3 squad. The Spartans forced a turnover on downs on the opening drive to halt Riverdale’s second possession.

Defensive backs Jaron Adams and Joe Jackson each had an interception for the Spartans.

For Franklinton, the Demons have spent this season lighting up the scoreboard and the numbers are amazing.

Franklinton’s lowest scoring output was 44 in the opening game against Amite. The Demons have outscored opponents 430-52. They’ve averaged 53 points per game, while allowing just 6.5.

“Numbers wise, they’re the best in the state,” Salmen coach Jerry Leonard said. “They are right in the high 40s, low 50s.”

The Demons’ offense is led by quarterback Terrance McGee, who has completed 64-of-108 passes for 1,066 yards with 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also tops the team, running for 742 yards on 53 carries, while scoring eight times. The leading receivers are Vincent Wilson and Lesean Williams.

Williams has 19 receptions for 431 yards and seven touchdowns, while Wilson has caught 17 passes for 282 yards and six scores.

The running backs are Reggie Wilson and Josh Robinson. Reggie Wilson has 67-rushing attempts for 583 yards and 11 scores, while Robinson has 550 yards and nine TDs.

Also Corey Jones has added 25 carries for 162 yards and three touchdowns.

As a team, Franklinton has thrown for 1,111 yards and 19 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,201 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Demons have been just as tough. The most points Franklinton’s allowed is 21 against Belle Chasse. The Demons have allowed just three opponents to score in double figures, Covington and Varnado. They have also had four shutouts Amite, Bogalusa, Riverdale and Pearl River.

Going into last week’s game, Damion Dillon led the Demons with 45 tackles, 33 solo to go with two sacks, a pass defensed, a forced fumble, a blocked punt and a blocked field goal.

Ledarrius Bickham and Joshua Marks were tied for second on the club with 37.

Bickham had 26 solo stops with 9.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one interception and two forced fumbles. Marks had 28 individual stops with one sack, one interception and one pass knocked down.

Leonard said Franklinton’s defense is athletic and has a lot of speed.