MEADVILLE — Friday night’s game between Hazlehurst and Franklin County was a showdown between not only two former Division 7-3A rivals, but also two of the last three Class 3A state champions.

And for the fourth straight season, Franklin County came out victorious despite its struggles in the passing game as the Bulldogs defeated the Indians 21-6.

This game also featured new head coaches on each sideline — Trent Hammond at Franklin County and Todd McDaniel at Hazlehurst.

“I’m happy we won. But we made too many mistakes. You can’t be a good team and make that many mistakes,” Hammond said. “We showed promise, but we’ve got to get better for next week.”

Jamie Collins struggled throwing the ball against Hazlehurst’s defense, completing just one of eight passes for 75 yards with one interception. However, that one completion went to Milton Griffin for a touchdown with 1:01 to go in the first quarter. Collins ran in for the two-point conversion to give the second-ranked Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.

“We dropped some balls. I’m not disappointed, because we did score a touchdown. But I’m not happy with going one for eight,” Hammond said.

Collins, however, could not be stopped as far running the ball was concerned as he had 20 carries for 120 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter for a 21-6 lead.

Frank Hunt scored Franklin County’s first touchdown of the game when he recovered a Hazlehurst fumble and returned it 10 yards at the 5:00 mark of the first quarter.

Hazlehurst’s only touchdown of the game occurred with 2:14 to go until halftime when Justin Durr threw a 38-yard pass to Fred Fuller. The two-point conversion, however, was no good.

Franklin County’s ball-hawking defense forced Durr to throw four interceptions and recovered three fumbles. The Bulldogs also held the Indians to just 215 yards of total offense.

Franklin County (1-0) will travel to McComb to take on the Tigers next Friday at 7:30 p.m.