Golden Tornado outlasts Dragons

HAYNESVILLE, La. - The last two meetings between border rivals Junction City and Haynesville (La.) were one-sided affairs.

In their first meeting since 2019, the Dragons and Golden Tornado matched one another blow for blow, but Toby Franklin’s touchdown runs of 24 and 57 yards in the second half broke a 28-all tie, as Haynesville topped Junction City 40-28 Friday night.

Franklin ran for 214 yards and four touchdowns for the Golden Tornado (1-2), who had been limited to just seven points in losing their first two games of the season.

Jordavion Williams tallied 160 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries for the Dragons (2-2), who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.

Williams scored on a 69-yard run in the first quarter with Jamal Johnson’s 2-point conversion giving the Dragons an 8-7 lead after one period of play.

Trailing 28-20 at intermission, Williams had a 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that tied the game at 28-28 with Johnson’s 2-point conversion.

However, Franklin’s 24-yard run at the 5:13 mark of the third period gave the Golden Tornado the lead for good.

Haynesville finished with 483 yards of total offense, including 384 yards rushing.

Johnson added 65 yards rushing and a touchdown while also throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jakourion Key in the second period for the Dragons, who had 301 yards of total offense with 230 of those yards coming on the ground.

The Dragons will look to bounce back in their non-conference finale at Beebe next week.

The Golden Tornado face Plain Dealing next week.

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