BROOKHAVEN — For a team like Franklin County 0-2 isn’t an option.

But the Bulldogs — among the favorites to win Class 3A this year — couldn’t change their destiny Friday night against Brookhaven.

The Panthers held off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Bulldogs 26-18 Friday night.

Franklin County ran the ball better in this game than it did in its 12-0 loss to Loyd Star with 203 yards on the ground, but the offense had no passing yards and turned the ball over three times. The Bulldogs’ defense also had a hard time slowing down Brookhaven running back Semmie Smith, who had 19 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith’s second touchdown proved to be a huge one that thwarted the Bulldogs’ comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Less than 30 seconds after Dehendret Collins scored on a 1-yard run to make it a 19-12 game early in the fourth quarter, Smith scored on a 55-yard run and Dewey Stailey’s extra point gave the Panthers a 26-12 lead.

The Bulldogs would not score again in the final quarter until there was 3:03 remaining on a 9-yard run by Frank Hunt.

Franklin County trailed 13-0 before it scored its first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Edward McGehee late in the second quarter. Brookhaven also got a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Duwone Harris, the first on an 8-yard run early in the second quarter and the second on a 14-yard pass to Devonte Stewart just past the midway point of the third quarter.

Darnell Ford led the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with seven carries for 80 yards and Brad Covington led their defense with seven tackles.