meadville — The Franklin County High School football team did not get to ease itself into Region 7-3A play this season.

The Bulldogs opened region play last week with a 32-14 loss to undefeated Wilkinson County High School. This week Franklin County looks to avoid a 0-2 region start when it travels to undefeated Hazlehurst High School.

“We have no choice. We have to respond,” Franklin County head coach Rickey O’Quinn said. “We have to bounce back. It’s a must win for us, and we hope the kids have must win in their minds and are ready to battle.”

The Bulldogs know things will not get easier this week against the No. 1 team in Class 3A according to the Associated Press.

“It’s Hazlehurst,” O’Quinn said. “They are the No. 1 team in 3A for a reason.”

O’Quinn said Hazlehurst has a lot of speed, really good linebackers and quarterback Kenneth Coleman is a really good player.

“That kid makes them go,” O’Quinn said. “He’s a ball player, and we’re excited about the challenge.”

Coleman has improved in the passing game this season, O’Quinn said, and the Bulldogs are preparing for a balanced Hazlehurst attack.

The Bulldogs shot themselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties several times against Wilkinson County, O’Quinn said, and they have been focused on cleaning up those errors.

Hazlehurst started its region schedule with a 40-6 victory over Prentiss High School last week, and O’Quinn said he knows how important it will be for the Bulldogs not to fall too far behind the region leaders.

“(This game) is very important, and we stressed that to our kids,” O’Quinn said. “We stressed a win Friday being extremely important.”

Hazlehurst (7-0, 1-0) will host Franklin County (4-3, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.