Jefferson County head coach James Herrington said he doesn’t know how many football players Raymond picked up, but added that it is a good thing for the Rangers’ football program.

“The guys they have are some good athletes. I know it was a great thing for them to add (those players) to their program,” said Herrington about his opponent Friday night.

Both teams are off to 0-2 starts in 2014. Herrington said if his Tigers were going to pickup their first win, ball security would be a big factor. He noted that turnovers hurt them in both losses, especially last week’s 34-28 loss to Natchez High.

“One of the disparities we have is holding on to the football. The defense is trying to take the ball away from the opposing team. He has to do a better job of holding on to the football,” Herrington said.

Jefferson County will be without junior offensive lineman/linebacker Keyshawn Nelson, who suffered an ankle injury last Friday night.

“He’s day to day. We’ve got him on light duty. There’s a possibility we’ll put him on ice. We have a week off next week, so we might sit him and let his ankle heal,” Herrington said. “Other than that, we’re good (on the injury front).”

Raymond runs a 3-4 defense and on offense the Rangers their version of the Georgia Tech wing — which means a lot of running and very little passing. And Herrington said his defense would have to rally to the ball, play its assignments and make the tackle.

Franklin County at McComb

meadville — Coming off its first win of the season against a good North Pike team, the Franklin County High School Bulldogs are now focusing their attention on another MHSAA Class 4A team in the McComb High School Tigers.

Kickoff for Franklin County’s game at McComb is set for 7 p.m. Friday. Last year, Franklin County defeated McComb 33-28 for its first win of the season after an 0-2 start.

McComb is off to a 2-0 start after defeating Class 5A Vicksburg 26-21 in Week 1 and Class 6A Forest Hill 33-27 in overtime last Friday night. But despite those two wins, the Tigers are still not ranked in the latest statewide (Mississippi Associated Press) Class 4A poll. And they’re not even receiving any votes.

As for what the mood in the locker room was after Franklin County’s 28-20 win over North Pike, head coach Anthony Hart said, “We were glad to get a win.”

Hart said that practice has gone well so far this week, adding, “It’s been the same. The kids have worked hard all year, and they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. If we can get past this part of the schedule, it can be more conducive to us.”

Hart said that McComb runs a 3-front on defense and a spread offense. He also said that the Tigers are a very big and very athletic team with a lot of good skill people.

“Their quarterback (sophomore Venchenza McCray) is good. He is the main guy on offense. They throw the ball a lot. They do both (running and passing out of the spread),” Hart said. “They’re multiple (on defense). They do some of (blitzing and man-to-man). Their linebackers are very good. It’s not just one guy. It’s multiple people that we have to stop.”

WCCA at Bowling Green

WOODVILLE — Something will have to give Friday night when two teams with struggling offenses and defenses square off as MAIS Class AA Bowling Green School (0-2) plays host to Class A Wilkinson County Christian Academy (0-2) in Franklinton, La. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Under first-year head coach Kyle White, a young and inexperienced WCCA team has had its share of problems with turnovers, penalties, putting points on the board, and keeping the opposition out of the end zone.

The Rams were almost shut out by Adams County Christian School in their opener before scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter in a 52-6 loss. They did move the ball better against Tri-County Academy last Friday night, but by the time they got on the scoreboard, they were already down 36-0 before going down 43-12.

The same could be said for the Buccaneers this season. They began their season with a 36-7 loss to Class AAA Columbia Academy before suffering a beat down at the hands of Class AAA Oak Forest Academy 49-0. Against those two teams last year, both of them losses, the final scores were much closer — 13-12 and 27-12.

Oddly enough, both teams went into last year’s game with 0-2 records before Bowling Green held on for a 28-20 win over WCCA.