MEADVILLE — As rivals go, both the Franklin County Bulldogs and Hazlehurst Indians know each other well. The pair used to wage war in Division 7-3A for years, until realignment separated them in 2005.

Since the departure as district enemies, the two have become 3A champions. The Indians collected the crown in 05, followed by the Bulldogs in 06. Franklin County beat Hazlehurst 23-6 in the 3A South State Championship in 2006, en route to Jackson.

Last year the Bulldogs opened the year with a 29-0 victory at Hazlehurst, 14 games later they were playing for state again, this time losing to Louisville 21-7 in the final.

Friday night, the battle continues as two of the state’s Top 3A teams are set to tangle in Meadville’s Louie Mullins Memorial Stadium at 7. Revenge is firmly on the Indians minds, while Franklin County is going for a three-peat against them.

“(Hazlehurst) is always good,” said new Franklin County Bulldogs coach Trent Hammond. “They shutout Prentiss and Jefferson County in their Jamboree last week.”

The Indians, are also headlined by a new football coach in Todd McDaniel, a former Alcorn State football player. McDaniel served as the Indians defensive coordinator in 2005, collecting a championship ring. He served as head coach of the 5A Wingfield Falcons the last two seasons before returning to his alma mater.

McDaniel will try to find an answer to Franklin County’s latest dominance of a renewed rivalry. The Indians last beat the Bulldogs in 2004, 14-0 in Hazlehurst.

Franklin County is led by its big three senior attack in QB Jamie Collins, RB/LB Jordan Hunt, and RB/DB Alex Smith beat Port Gibson and lost to Vicksburg in last week’s Cellular South Jamboree.