With the game on the line in the closing seconds, Prairieville High School turned to quarterback Skyler Kelly to make the game-winning play, and he came through with a touchdown on a play that caught everyone off guard.

Kelly lined up wide and went to the end zone where he caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Luke Lefebvre with 31 seconds left as Prairieville slipped past visiting Franklinton 27-21 Friday night.

Kelly had already thrown for a touchdown and run for another before making the first touchdown reception 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. "We came back to it when we needed it, and I made the play."

Following the kickoff, Franklinton took over at its own 38. The Demons only picked up 5 yards on four plays, but got a reprieve when Prairieville was flagged for a face-mask penalty on fourth down. Kerston Diddon's desperation heave was intercepted as time ran out to end the game.

The win was the fourth consecutive for Prairieville (6-4), which secured its first winning season after starting up three years ago. The Hurricanes were rated No. 20 in the Division I nonselect power ratings, and will find out their playoff fate on Sunday.

Franklinton (3-7) came in rated 28th in Division II nonselect, but could drop after Friday's loss.

"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," Franklinton coach Nick Saltaformaggio said. "We played a pretty good schedule."

The Demons trailed 7-3 at halftime, but rallied behind the play of wide receiver Jayden Burkhalter and Diddon. Twice in the second half, Burkhalter turned short passes into long touchdowns.

Franklinton tied the game 21-21 on Liam Young's 27-yard field goal, and a 43-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Burkhalter. Following the touchdown, Burkhalter took the ball on a reverse before flipping a two-point conversion pass to Diddon.

Including this first touchdown of 77 yards, Burkhalter caught 11 passes for 213 yards. Diddon was 17 of 32 for 297 yards with two interceptions, but was pressured all game. Prairieville got to Diddon for eight sacks, a total that included three by Hayden Nugent.

Prairieville did most of its work on the ground, where it churned out 275 yards on 43 rushes. Courtnei Payne had 117 yards on 13 carries, and Kelly finished with 97 yards despite being sacked three times. Kelly was 7 of 16 for 91 yards through the air.

"It probably was a game that didn't need to be this close," Prairieville coach Mike Schmitt said. "One thing I've said about starting up a new program — the staff, the kids, the fans, everything — it takes time when you're starting at a brand-new school."

The first half turned into a defensive struggle despite both teams creating offensive chances.

The first chance came on the opening kickoff, when Franklinton recovered an onside kick at midfield. The Demons held the ball for nearly four minutes, but turned it over after driving inside the Prairieville 20.

After an exchange of punts, Prairieville put together the only touchdown drive of the half. Starting at their own 30, the Hurricanes used six plays to find the end zone. The key play came on first-and-10 at the FHS 41. With Franklinton's defense looking for a run, Kelly found X'Zavion Crane all alone behind the Demons secondary.

Franklinton responded by driving deep into Prairieville territory, but Khywan Striggs' interception stopped the threat.