The Magee Trojans saw their playoff run come to an end Friday night in a hard-fought 23–20 loss to the Franklin County Bulldogs, ending a game that swung wildly after a dominant Trojan start.
Magee opened the night with confidence, taking a 7–0 lead midway through the first quarter after capitalizing on a Franklin County turnover on downs. The Trojans controlled field position early, forcing multiple Bulldog punts and carrying the advantage into the second quarter.
Early in the second, Magee struck again through the air, connecting on a touchdown pass to extend the margin to 13–0 before tacking on the extra point for a 14–0 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half. Franklin County answered late in the quarter with a rushing touchdown and successful PAT, trimming Magee’s lead to 14–7 just before halftime.
At the break, momentum felt firmly in Magee’s hands—but the second half flipped the script.
Franklin County came out running, breaking off a long gainer moments into the third quarter before the Trojans responded with a drive-killing sack. But Bulldog running back Armond Adams took over soon after, punching in a rushing touchdown around the 10-minute mark to tie the game at 14–14.
A sequence of costly mistakes then put Magee in trouble. The Bulldog defense brought pressure that resulted in a safety, pushing them ahead 16–14. Minutes later, Franklin County connected on a momentum-swinging touchdown pass, extending the margin to 23–14 after the PAT.
Magee battled through the fourth quarter, eventually narrowing the deficit to 23–20 following a score correction posted in the final minutes. But with time winding down and Franklin County controlling possession, the Trojans were unable to mount a final drive.
The 23–20 defeat closes a hard-fought postseason for Magee, who showed resilience in both rounds of the playoffs. Despite Friday night’s loss, the Trojans demonstrated growth on both sides of the ball and showcased the kind of offensive explosiveness and defensive toughness that lays the groundwork for the coming year.
With a strong core returning and valuable playoff experience now behind them, Magee heads into the offseason with plenty of optimism—and motivation—to take the next step in 2026.
Special thanks to Elandis Thompson for providing pictures throughout the season.
