The Airline Vikings suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, falling to the Franklin Parish Patriots 54-43 at M.D. Ray Field at Airline Stadium.
Airline dropped to 3-1. Franklin Parish, ranked No. 6 in the LSWA Class 4A poll, improved to 3-1 with its third straight victory.
The Vikings led 37-27 after three quarters. The Patriots cut the deficit to four on a 12-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth.
Franklin Parish took the lead on the first play after forcing a punt. LSU commit Trey Martin sprinted 72 yards to the end zone. His two-point conversion put the Patriots on top 41-37 with 8:40 to play.
Airline converted a fourth-and-11 from its 26 on a run by quarterback Chase Williams. The Vikings drove to a first down at the Franklin Parish 28.
But on fourth-and-7, the Patriots recovered a fumble and returned it to the Airline 23. Martin scored on the next play and Franklin Parish led 48-37 with 4:51 left in the game.
The Patriots intercepted a pass and Martin scored his sixth touchdown of the game on a 47-yard run.
The Vikings got a late touchdown on a 4-yard run by Terrance Hays. That was the only TD of the first quarter.
Airline scored on its first possession of the game on a 5-yard run by Chris Hart. Nico Boudreaux made the extra-.point kick.
After Franklin Parish tied it on a 23-yard run by Martin and the PAT, the Vikings regained the lead on a 26-yard pass from Williams to Caleb Nunn.
The Patriots answered with a 72-yard drive capped by a 27-yard run by Martin.
Airline went up 20-14 on a 60-yard pass from Williams to Hays. The PAT was no good.
But Martin took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The extra point gave the Patriots a 21-20 halftime lead.
After forcing a punt, Airline drove 95 yards for a TD. Williams hit Hays for 41 yards then completed an 18-yard pass to Sir’Charles Marsofor the touchdown.
Franklin Parish answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive. Quarterback Chad Allen had a long run and the Patriots converted a fourth-and-16 on a pass completion to the 10 with a 5-yard penalty at the end. The PAT was no good and the game was tied at 27
It didn’t stay that way for long. Hays went through a big hole off the left side and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.
An interception set up a 33-yard field goal by Dylan Jones, giving the Vikings the 10-point lead with 1:11 left in the third.
Airline opens District 1-5A play at Natchitoches Central Friday. The Chiefs (0-4) lost to Tioga 42-14 Friday night.
Evangel Christian 49, Benton 14: The Eagles and LSU commit Peyton Houston were too much for the Tigers to handle in the District 1-5A opener Friday night at Rodney Duron Stadium.
Evangel improved to 2-2 with its second straight victory. Benton dropped to 2-2.
Evangel led 35-7 at the half. Houston threw touchdown passes of 30, 64 and 36 yards and scored on a 66-yard run in the half. per stats kept for the Benton Tigers Sports Network broadcast. The Eagles’ first TD came on a 43-yard punt return.
Houston threw touchdown passes of 4 and 45 yards in the second half.
Madden Raymond scored both of the Tigers’ touchdowns on a 5-yard run in the second quarter and a 21-yard pass from Malachi Zeigler in the fourth. Jake Wroten made both extra-point kicks.
Benton hosts Byrd Friday night. The Yellow Jackets lost to Pleasant Grove, Texas, 47-7 Friday night.
Minden 39, Bossier 0: Playing their second consecutive game without injured quarterback Montrevell Lewis, the Bearkats fell to the Crimson Tide in a District 1-4A opener Thursday night at Memorial Stadium.
Bossier dropped to 2-2 with its second straight loss. Minden improved to 4-0.
Minden led 27-0 at the half.
Bossier freshman quarterback Shante Wells completed 10-of-26 passes for 88 yards, per stats kept for the KASO-AM broadcast.
Demareya Bates rushed for 70 yards on 19 carries. Braylyn Williams had 39 yards on 10 carries.
Jaylen James had three catches for 42 yards. Jamez Cobb had four for 38.
Bossier plays Southwood Thursday at Independence Stadium. The Cowboys (0-4) lost to Booker T. Washington 44-8 Friday night.
North Caddo 21, Plain Dealing 0: The Lions played another competitive game but were shut out for the third time this season Friday night in Vivian.
Plain Dealing dropped to 0-4. North Caddo improved to 1-2.
Plain Dealing visits visits Lakeside Friday. The Warriors (2-2) defeated East Beauregard 28-8 Friday night.