After getting hammered by South Pike a week ago, not many people gave Franklin County High School a chance to defeat an undefeated team in Leake Central High School.

Especially with the Bulldogs having to go on the road for the second straight week, only this one was much farther in terms of miles and time than the previous one was. And they were having to take on another MHSAA Class 4A opponent.

Apparently, Franklin County did not get the message as the Bulldogs got standout performances from their defense and special teams in a 29-14 upset win over the Gators Friday night.

“I felt like our kids, it was important to them,” Bulldogs head coach Anthony Hart said. “They decided tonight was the night they got up and played.”

Even with De’Mantre Collins out with an injury and Bernard Selmon having to start at quarterback in his place, Franklin County still won the game despite putting up just 71 yards of total offense — all on the ground — to go with a mere six first downs.

“When we got the lead, we played more conservatively. We asked Bernard to just manage the game,” Hart said. “We didn’t try to do anything (special).”

The only offensive touchdown by the Bulldogs was a 34-yard run by Courtney Smith with 8:01 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7. How Franklin County got its final 22 points was quite shocking.

Dontavious Felton blocked a punt that led to a safety with 6:25 to go in the opening quarter that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good at 9-7. That was one of two blocked punts by Felton during the game.

Danzel Allen fielded a short punt and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 10:50 remaining in the second quarter for a 16-6 lead that they would take into the halftime. Then it was Michael White’s turn to get in on the act. First, he returned the opening kickoff of the second half 96 yards for a touchdown with 11:48 left in the third quarter. Then he intercepted a pass by Leake Central quarterback Kishaun Henson and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown with 3:13 left in that same quarter and the Bulldogs had a 29-7 advantage.

“Special teams was big,” Hart said. This was a team win.”

Jessie Hoye, who got the Gators on the board with an 18-yard run early in the first quarter, scored on a 16-yard run with 1:00 left in the ball game.

Smith finished with 60 yards rushing on 15 carries while Deanthony King and Chris O’Quinn led the defense with 15 tackles each.

Franklin County (2-3) now turns to the Division 7-3A portion of its schedule when it hosts Wilkinson County High School at 7 p.m. next Friday.