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Salmen Rolls Past Franklinton 41-7 in LHSAA Playoff Opener at Spartan Field

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Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 is wrapped up by Salmen defenders No. 21, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 29 during the LHSAA playoff game at Spartan Field in Slidell.

The road to the Dome runs through Slidell for at least one more week. No. 5 Salmen, the District 7-4A champion, opened the LHSAA Division II Non-Select playoffs with a 41-7 rout of No. 28 Franklinton on Friday night at Spartan Field, beating the Demons for the second time in two weeks and extending the Spartans’ win streak to six games.

Salmen defenders No. 11, No. 8 and No. 29 stand over Franklinton ball carrier No. 22 after a tackle at Spartan Field.
Salmen’s No. 11, No. 8 and No. 29 stand over a Franklinton runner after another stop by the Spartans’ defense. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

The rematch came fast. Salmen closed the regular season with a 42-26 win at Franklinton on October 30, part of the run that carried the Spartans to their first district title since 2023 and the No. 5 seed in the bracket. Franklinton made the trip back to Slidell as the No. 28 seed, looking to flip the script in the bi-district round.

Franklinton Landed the First Punch, Then Salmen Scored 34 Straight

Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 runs with the football past a fallen Salmen defender as another Spartan gives chase.
Franklinton’s No. 1 breaks into the open field after slipping past a diving Salmen defender. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

The Demons struck first, jumping in front with an early touchdown, and for a few minutes the upset watch was on. Salmen answered to tie the game at 7-7, and from there the night belonged to the home team. The Spartans scored 34 unanswered points the rest of the way, with the ground game doing the early damage. Korde Harris broke free for a long touchdown run, and senior quarterback DaJohn Howard kept the ball for a long scoring run of his own.

Salmen receiver No. 7 leaps high with both hands on the football to complete a catch at Spartan Field.
Salmen’s No. 7 rises up to haul in a pass under the lights at Spartan Field. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

The backbreaker came late in the first half, when the Salmen defense jumped a Franklinton pass and took the interception all the way back for a touchdown. The pick six sent the Spartans into halftime up 27-7, and the second half played out as a formality. Salmen tacked on two more touchdowns after the break to close out the 41-7 final.

A Defense That Would Not Budge

Franklinton defenders grapple with a Salmen player at the line of scrimmage during the playoff game in Slidell.
The fight in the trenches, as Franklinton’s front battles Salmen at the line of scrimmage. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

After the early Franklinton score, the Spartans’ defense slammed the door. Demon runners kept meeting a wall of black jerseys at the line of scrimmage, and drive after drive ended the same way, with Salmen’s front swarming to the football and the secondary taking the ball away.

Franklinton No. 83 and Salmen No. 66 grab each other's jerseys in a one on one battle during the game.
Franklinton’s No. 83 and Salmen’s No. 66 go facemask to facemask in a one on one battle. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

It was the same formula that carried Salmen through the back half of the regular season. Win the line of scrimmage, tackle in groups, and let the offense work with short fields. On Friday night, the formula produced a defense that gave up nothing after the first quarter.

Franklinton receiver No. 10 leaps with both arms raised to catch a pass as a Salmen defender closes in.
Franklinton’s No. 10 stretches out to reach for a pass downfield. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

Friday Night at Spartan Field

Salmen players stand in a line on the sideline, with No. 7 in front holding his helmet at Spartan Field.
Salmen’s No. 7 holds his helmet as the Spartans stand along the sideline at Spartan Field. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

There is nothing quite like a November Friday night in Louisiana. The Spartans lined the sideline shoulder to shoulder, the home crowd stayed loud long after the game was decided, and every Salmen score pulled more of the home side to its feet.

Franklinton quarterback No. 3 prepares to throw the football while a teammate blocks a Salmen pass rusher.
Franklinton’s quarterback sets to throw behind his protection as the Salmen rush closes in. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

Franklinton’s fans made the trip from Washington Parish in numbers, and the Demons kept swinging until the final whistle. Their No. 1 back broke free for the kind of runs that kept the Salmen defense honest all night, even as the scoreboard tilted further and further toward the home team.

Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 sprints away as Salmen defender No. 10 dives and misses at his feet.
Franklinton’s No. 1 leaves a diving Salmen defender on the turf as he breaks free. Photo by Enrique Luis Photography.

What Is Next for Both Teams

Salmen (8-3) moves on to the regional round and stays home at Spartan Field, where the Spartans will host No. 12 West Feliciana. West Feliciana reached the regional with a 49-7 win over No. 21 Minden on Friday night. Regional games are set for the November 19 to 21 window, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals and the road to the state finals at the Caesars Superdome on December 10 to 12 still open.

Franklinton’s season ends at 3-8, with the Demons’ last two losses both coming against Salmen in the final two weeks. The Demons struck first on the road against the district champion on Friday night before the Spartans pulled away, and they close the year having made the trip to the playoffs.

High school athletes across Louisiana can tell their own story with a We Speak Sports Athlete Spotlight, a full feature built around the athlete, in their own words.

Photo Gallery

Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 is wrapped up by Salmen defenders No. 21, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 29 during the LHSAA playoff game at Spartan Field in Slidell.
Salmen defenders No. 11, No. 8 and No. 29 stand over Franklinton ball carrier No. 22 after a tackle at Spartan Field.
Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 runs with the football past a fallen Salmen defender as another Spartan gives chase.
Salmen receiver No. 7 leaps high with both hands on the football to complete a catch at Spartan Field.
Franklinton defenders grapple with a Salmen player at the line of scrimmage during the playoff game in Slidell.
Franklinton No. 83 and Salmen No. 66 grab each other's jerseys in a one on one battle during the game.
Franklinton receiver No. 10 leaps with both arms raised to catch a pass as a Salmen defender closes in.
Salmen players stand in a line on the sideline, with No. 7 in front holding his helmet at Spartan Field.
Franklinton quarterback No. 3 prepares to throw the football while a teammate blocks a Salmen pass rusher.
Franklinton ball carrier No. 1 sprints away as Salmen defender No. 10 dives and misses at his feet.

Photos by Enrique Luis Photography.

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Want your own Athlete Spotlight? Your story deserves more than a box score. The We Speak Sports Athlete Spotlight is a full feature built around you, with your photos, your answers and your name in the headline, in front of coaches, fans and family.

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Enrique Luis Chibberton is the photographer behind Enrique Luis Photography, based in Slidell, Louisiana. He covers football, volleyball, baseball and softball across the Northshore and the New Orleans area, shooting the games and the athletes who play them.

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We Speak High School Football

Graham Shuts Out Lee 43-0 in Region 2D Playoff Opener

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2 hours ago

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November 15, 2026

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Four Graham G-Men football players in black jerseys and maroon helmets celebrate together on the field at night.
Graham’s Nos. 3, 7, 11 and 12 celebrate together during the G-Men’s 43-0 playoff win over Lee. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

The Graham G-Men opened the VHSL Class 2 playoffs the way a top seed is supposed to, with the offense rolling and the defense pitching a shutout in a 43-0 win over the Lee Generals on Friday night at Tazewell High School in the Region 2D quarterfinals.

Graham's No. 1 hands the football to No. 7 in the backfield during a night game.
Graham’s No. 1 hands off to No. 7 during the G-Men’s 43-0 win over Lee. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

Graham came in as the No. 1 seed in Region 2D at 9-1, and Lee arrived as the No. 8 seed at 5-5, and the night followed the seeding from the opening drives. The G-Men built their lead behind a ground game that kept moving the chains, and by the middle of the third quarter the game was out of reach. Je’Von Lane’s 5-yard touchdown run and the extra point made it 30-0 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

Lee never found an answer. The Generals were kept off the scoreboard for all four quarters, and Graham’s defense closed the door for good in the fourth. Jeremiah Quick intercepted a Lee pass and returned it for a touchdown with 8:11 to play, and after the two-point try failed, the 43-0 score stood as the final.

Graham's center crouches over the football at the line of scrimmage with the quarterback behind him.
Graham’s center sets over the ball with No. 1 behind him against Lee. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

A Defense That Slammed the Door

The shutout was the story inside the blowout. Graham has now blanked its last two opponents, closing the regular season with a 56-0 win over Richlands before holding Lee scoreless in the playoff opener. Quick’s interception return touchdown was the defense scoring on its own, the kind of play that turns a comfortable win into a statement.

Graham's No. 5 celebrates with his arms out, wearing gold gloves, during a night game.
Graham’s No. 5 celebrates during the G-Men’s shutout of Lee. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

For Lee, the night ended a 5-6 season that still carried the Generals into the postseason. The trip to the playoffs is the part the program takes into the offseason, even as the final score showed the gap between the No. 8 seed and the top of Region 2D.

What It Means

A Graham coach wearing a headset talks face to face with player No. 56 on the sideline.
A Graham coach talks with No. 56 on the sideline during Friday night’s game. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

Graham moves to 10-1 and keeps the region’s top seed playing like one. Head coach Tony Palmer’s team has won its last two games by a combined 99-0, and the G-Men head into the second round with a defense that has not given up a point in two weeks and an offense that put Friday’s game away before the fourth quarter began.

Four Graham G-Men football players in black jerseys and maroon helmets celebrate together on the field at night.
Graham’s Nos. 3, 7, 11 and 12 celebrate together during the G-Men’s 43-0 playoff win over Lee. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

What Is Next

Graham hosts No. 4 Gate City in the Region 2D semifinals on Friday, November 20. Gate City advanced with a 49-14 win over Southern Gap, and the winner moves on to the Region 2D championship game on November 27 or 28. Lee’s season is complete at 5-6, and the Generals turn the page to the offseason.

Three Graham players celebrate together near the goalpost after the game.
Graham’s Nos. 2, 74 and 7 celebrate near the goalpost after the 43-0 win. Photo by Elijah Hicks.

Photo Gallery

A Graham ball carrier holds the football on the ground as a Lee defender in a white jersey tackles him.
Graham's No. 1 hands the football to No. 7 in the backfield during a night game.
Graham's center crouches over the football at the line of scrimmage with the quarterback behind him.
Four Graham G-Men football players in black jerseys and maroon helmets celebrate together on the field at night.
Three Graham players celebrate together near the goalpost after the game.
Two Graham players celebrate while Lee players in white jerseys stand nearby on the field.
Graham and Lee players stand together on the field between plays at night.
Graham's No. 5 celebrates with his arms out, wearing gold gloves, during a night game.
Graham's No. 2 faces the camera with teammates Nos. 5 and 74 behind him.
A Graham coach wearing a headset talks face to face with player No. 56 on the sideline.
Graham football players huddle together on the sideline under the lights.
Graham's No. 7 celebrates with a teammate near the sideline with fans in the bleachers behind them.
A Graham lineman wearing No. 53 claps his hands on the sideline during a night game.
A Graham football player wearing a striped knit cap points from the sideline during a night game.
Graham's No. 74 jogs onto the field, seen from behind, with the Lee team on the far sideline.

Photos by Elijah Hicks.

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Want your own Athlete Spotlight? Your story deserves more than a box score. The We Speak Sports Athlete Spotlight is a full feature built around you, with your photos, your answers and your name in the headline, in front of coaches, fans and family.

More from We Speak Media
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