Salmen went toe-to-toe with high-scoring Franklinton on Friday, but in overtime quarterback Terrance Magee scored on an option keeper up the middle, helping his team remain undefeated with an exciting 20-14 victory at Salmen.

Magee said in the huddle, everybody was talking about making it count.

“It was open. I told them, we make the block, I’m putting it in there and that’s what we did,” Magee said.

Salmen’s Errol Scott attempts to break an ankle tackle by a Franklinton defender during Friday’s game at Salmen. (Photo by Jason Ball)

Franklinton coach Shane Smith said the Demons went back to their base offense.

“We told our offensive guys going into the overtime that we’re going to our base offense and they’re going to have to stop us and if they stop us then they deserve to win the football game,” Smith said. “That’s what we did. We went back to our base offense.”

Salmen (6-2) slipped to 2-1 in district play. Both of the Spartans losses have been in overtime. Franklinton (9-0) clinches District 9-4A and finishes league play at 4-0.

In overtime, each team got the ball first-and-goal from the 10. Franklinton had it first. Josh Robinson picked up four yards on the initial play before Magee tallied the touchdown. The extra-point snap was bobbled and the holder was tackled.

Following the TD, Salmen quarterback Matt Lipham, who threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns, tossed an incompletion on first down. Then he hit Greg Brickley for two yards, but two-straight incomplete passes ended the game.

Through out the contest, the Spartans had opportunities, but failed to cash on many.

“The bottom line, we squandered some opportunities that we had and you just can’t do that against a good football team,” Salmen coach Jerry Leonard said. “You got to give credit to them. They hung around, hung around and hung around and then took advantage of a few opportunities late and that won the football game for them. Had we been able to take advantage of a few early on, maybe it’s different, but you’ve got to give them credit. They hung around long enough find a way to create some opportunities and they did.”

Franklinton got the ball to begin the game. On third-and-three from its own 38, the Spartans defense came up big, recovering a fumble at the Demons’ 28.

On second-down, the Spartans nearly scored. They ran a halfback pass with Errol Scott throwing a touchdown to Jamal Robinson, but Salmen was flagged for illegal motion. Eventually, they turned it over on downs at the 27.

Franklinton took the next drive to Salmen’s 39, but was forced to punt. B.J. Martin got off a great kick that was downed at Spartans’ 1 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

Salmen’s offense put together an 11-play, 99-yard possession, which featured five first downs.

It began with Franklinton jumping off sides. Scott and Jordan Stevenson went to work for the next four plays, moving the ball to the 23. Scott picked up a big first down on third-and-three as he pushed the pile to move the chains.

After gaining no yards on a run and the losing two with a pass, Lipham found Jamal Robinson for 25 yards to keep it going. The two connected for 22 more on the next play as Robinson went up for a one-handed reception, bringing it down to the Demons’ 32. Three plays later, on fourth-and-eight from the 30, Lipham hooked up with Brickley for the touchdown. Chris Gulino’s PAT gave Salmen a 7-0 lead with 11:03 left in the first half.

Franklinton came right back with a six-play 77-yard possession. It ended when Magee hit Vincent Wilson for a 33-yard scoring strike. The PAT was no good and Salmen led 7-6 with 8:22 remaining.

Scott returned the ensuring kickoff 64 yards to Franklinton’s 28, giving the Spartans a scoring chance. On third-and-one, Lipham kept, but was stopped and fumbled. Scott Mitchell picked up the loose ball and returned it 22 yards to the 50.

Franklinton advanced it to the 26, but on fourth-and-seven Zephaniah Rudolph stopped Magee, giving Salmen the ball.

On the next drive, the Spartans punted from the 50 and David Diaz’s had his boot downed at the Demons’ one with 2:30 on the clock.

After a three-and-out, the Spartans had a chance to tally as they took over Franklinton’s 31, but missed a 31-yard field goal on fourth down with 13 ticks remaining. Salmen led 7-6 at halftime.

The Spartans offense began the second half with a 64-yard scoring drive. On third-and-eight from the 11, Lipham found Jamal Robinson for a touchdown pass. Gulino’s PAT gave the Spartans a 14-6 advantage with 9:27 showing.

Following a Franklinton three-and-out, it appeared the Spartans would extend the lead. Salmen moved the ball to the nine, but on third down, Lipham hit Scott and he fumbled. The Demons recovered to end the drive at the 4:14 mark.

In the fourth Franklinton tied the game. Salmen fumbled a pitch play, which the Demons recovered at the Spartans’ 15.

On second down, Josh Robinson ran left and in for an 11-yard tally. Magee ran in the two-point conversion, knotting the contest at 14-14 with 9:07 remaining.

The game stayed that way until Magee broke the tie with his overtime run.

Salmen’s season continues Friday with a road game against Pearl River.