Prairieville QB Skyler Kelly catches 25-yard go-ahead score to defeat Franklinton 27-21

The final 31 seconds of Friday night’s game at Prairieville came down to a single, risky formation. With the Hurricanes leading by six points and facing a short field, quarterback Skyler Kelly lined up in the wide receiver position. Instead of handing off or throwing a short pass, he remained outside the backfield, waiting for a specific look from the defense. When the snap arrived, he was open in the end zone, catching a 25-yard pass from Luke Lefebvre to seal the 27-21 victory over visiting Franklinton.

Kelly had already established himself as a dual threat earlier in the contest, throwing for a score and running for another. However, the game-winner marked the first receiving touchdown of his career. "We ran the play earlier and I was open, but I didn't get a chance to get the ball," Kelly said after the game. "We came back to it when we needed it, and I made the play."

The outcome improved Prairieville’s record to 6-4, securing the program’s first winning season since it started three years ago. The Hurricanes, ranked No. 20 in Division I nonselect power ratings, will learn their playoff status on Sunday. Their offense relied heavily on the ground game, rushing for 275 yards on 43 attempts. Courtnei Payne carried for 117 yards, while Kelly added 97 yards on the ground despite being sacked three times.

Franklinton (3-7) fought back from a 7-3 halftime deficit, driven by wide receiver Jayden Burkhalter. Burkhalter caught 11 passes for 213 yards, including a 43-yard catch-and-run that tied the game at 21-21. Following that score, Burkhalter took the ball on a reverse and flipped a two-point conversion pass to Kerston Diddon. Diddon finished the night 17 of 32 for 297 yards but faced constant pressure, surrendering eight sacks to the Prairieville defense.

The Demons’ coach, Nick Saltaformaggio, noted that the team’s performance exceeded their win-loss record. "I think we're a little better than our record, but I don't know if we'll have enough power points to get in," Saltaformaggio said. Prairieville head coach Mike Schmitt attributed the close score to the age of the program, noting that a new school requires time for staff, players, and fans to fully develop.

The first half was defined by defensive stops rather than scoring. Franklinton recovered an onside kick at midfield but turned the ball over after driving to the Prairieville 20-yard line. Prairieville answered with a six-play drive, capped by a pass from Kelly to X'Zavion Crane who was left open in the backfield. Franklinton’s next drive ended when Khywan Striggs intercepted a pass, keeping the Hurricanes in control of the first half.