WINDSOR—The Windsor High Dukes stayed a few steps behind Franklin High all night and fell 32-20 in the regular-season finale for both teams here Saturday night.

Windsor finished the season 4-6 overall, 1-3 in the Tri-Rivers District. Defending state champion Franklin improved to 8-2 overall, 3-1 in the district, and advances to the first round of the Group A, Region A playoffs next week.

The Dukes put up a fight in Saturday’s game, which had been scheduled for Friday but postponed due to inclement weather.

Windsor marched 70 yards on its first possession of the game, capped by David Cooper’s 10-yard touchdown scamper. The extra point failed.

The Broncos answered as Lavon Evans powered his way for a 15-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed and the game was tied 6-6 with 2:22 left in the first quarter.

Franklin took the lead on a 44-yard run by Martinez Hill, who also ran for the two-point conversion to put the visitors up 14-6.

The Dukes countered in the second quarter as Cooper pulled in a catch and lateraled to R.J. Edwards, who carried the ball 44 yards for a TD. The first half ended with the Broncos up 14-12.

The Broncos’ Melquan Mitchell added the only points of the third quarter on a 31-yard run. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the Broncos carried a 20-12 lead into the final period.

Mitchell broke another big run for 43 yards and another TD in the early minutes of the fourth quarter to put Franklin up 26-12.

The Dukes’ Jahfur Eure took the ensuing kickoff, broke up the middle and outran all Bronco defenders to score on an 80-yard touchdown.

Edwards ran the two-point conversion to pull Windsor within 26-20 with 10:52 remaining in the game.

The Broncos then committed what appeared to be a crucial turnover — a fumble recovered by Murphy. The Dukes drove inside the red zone but, on a fourth-and-4 play, were whistled for a false start. A pass play failed, giving the ball back to Franklin.

The Broncos’ offense went back to work as Mitchell broke another run for 32 yards.

Derek Boone exploded for a 44-yard run, and Evans finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the game away.

Mitchell led the winners with 10 rushes for 153 yards, followed by Hill with 140 yards. Franklin finished the game with 417 yards on the ground and just 3 yards in the air.

For the Dukes, Edwards had 12 rushes for 128 yards. The Dukes had a total of 177 yards on the ground and 54 in the air.

The Broncos face West Point in postseason play Friday night. The away game begins at 7 p.m.