WOODVILLE — Despite getting 460 total yards from scrimmage from quarterback Devin Voorhies, Wilkinson County’s defense could not make enough stops to pull off the upset of second-ranked and defending Class 3A state champion Hazlehurst as the Wildcats fell to the Indians 58-40 in an important MHSAA Division 7-3A game for both teams Friday night.

“Just a hard-fought game,” Wilkinson County head coach Kenneth Brown said. “They scored early and we just played catch up the whole game. We couldn’t convert two-point conversions. But it was a hard-fought game, offense and defense.”

Voorhies had a spectacular game for the Wildcats even in a tough loss. He had 20 carries for 280 yards and three touchdowns, completed 11 of 16 passes for 180 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and had seven tackles on defense.

La’Darion Peterson was held to 50 yards on nine carries, but he did have two touchdown runs. He also caught three passes for 32 yards with one touchdown.

Still, it was not enough as Hazlehurst outscored Wilkinson County 22-8 in the third quarter that turned a 20-18 lead for the Indians at halftime into a 44-26 lead. Then it was just a matter of holding on in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Indians did so by putting up 16 points to their 14 points.

Wilkinson County (6-3, 2-1) visits Crystal Springs next Friday at 7 p.m.

Franklin County 52,

Crystal Springs 28

MEADVILLE — Franklin County’s quarterback tandem of Chris Robinson and Malik Moore combined for four total touchdowns as the Bulldogs celebrated homecoming by defeating the Crystal Springs Tigers Friday night in an MHSAA Division 7-3A game.

Robinson ran for 106 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown and his only completion on his only pass of the game was a 26-yard touchdown pass to Demarrius Tyler early in the first quarter.

Moore was 2-for-3 passing for 31 yards with both of his completions resulting in touchdowns — first to Tyler for 11 yards late in the first quarter and then for 20 yards to Austin Wallace with halftime approaching as Franklin County led 40-12 at halftime.

Franklin County’s defense forced four turnovers in the game. Darrin Wiley forced both fumbles and recovered both of them. He also blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and had a 1-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

Danzel Allen and Dontavious Felton each had interceptions for the Bulldogs.

Franklin County (4-4, 1-2) will be on the road at Wesson at 7 p.m. next Friday.

Jefferson County 50, Wesson 42

FAYETTE — Jefferson County got down early, then took a big lead and then had to hold off a late rally by Wesson in a wild fourth quarter as the Tigers got a big win on homecoming over the Cobras Friday night in MHSAA Division 7-3A action.

Rashaard Brown completed eight of 11 passes for 231 yards and six touchdowns. De’Anthony Blake had five touchdown catches for 164 yards and A’Keen Barnes had one scoring reception for 23 yards.

Wesson jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter before Jefferson County got back in the game in the second quarter and trailed just 19-14 at halftime. The Tigers then scored 36 unanswered points to grab a 50-19 lead with 6:40 remaining.

The Cobras tried to rally over the final 5:02 with Michael Hauer scoring a touchdown on both offense and defense, but they ran out of time.

Jefferson County (3-4, 2-1) has a critical division game next Friday at 7 p.m. when the Tigers visit Hazlehurst.